Benefit rates April 2013

Payment rates for Work and Income benefits and entitlements from April 2013

Benefit type Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs Accommodation Supplement *
Entry threshold Maximum rate
Rent or board Mortgage Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
Unemployment Benefit or Sickness Benefit: without children
Single, 18 to 19 years, at home $137.47 $153.60 $88.11 $52 $62 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 18 to 19 years, away from home $171.84 $192.00 $88.11 $52 $62 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 20 to 24 years $171.84 $192.00 $88.11 $52 $62 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 25 years or over $206.21 $230.40 $122.81 $52 $62 $145 $100 $65 $45
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (total) $343.68 $384.00 $230.42 $86 $103 $160 $125 $75 $55
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (each) $171.84 $192.00
Unemployment Benefit or Sickness Benefit: with children
Sole parent $295.37 $335.18 Note 1 $97 $116 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (total) $343.68 $384.00 Note 1 $109 $131 $225 $165 $120 $75
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (each) $171.84 $192.00

Benefit type Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs Accommodation Supplement *
Entry threshold Maximum rate
Rent or board Mortgage Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
Young Parent Payment
Sole parent, 16 to 17 years, living with or supported by parents who earn less than the Family Tax Credit threshold $137.47 $153.60 Note 3 $58 Note 4 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Sole parent $295.37 $335.18 Note 3 $97 $116 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (total) $343.68 $384.00 Note 3 $109 $131 $225 $165 $120 $75
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (each) $171.84 $192.00

Benefit type Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs Accommodation Supplement *
Entry threshold Maximum rate
Rent or board Mortgage Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
Youth Payment
Single, 16 to 17 years $171.84 $192.00 Note 3 $52 $62 $145 $100 $65 $45
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (total) $343.68 $384.00 Note 3 $86 $103 $160 $125 $75 $55
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (each) $171.84 $192.00

Benefit type Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs Accommodation Supplement *
Entry threshold Maximum rate
Rent or board Mortgage Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
Domestic Purposes Benefit or Widows Benefit
Woman alone or single adult $214.79 $239.99 $129.82 $54 $64 $145 $100 $65 $45
Sole parent $295.37 $335.18 Note 1 $97 $116 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Domestic Purposes Benefit - Care of Sick or Infirm
Single, 16 to 17 years $208.58 $233.05 $117.40 $64 $77 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 18 years or over $257.75 $289.58 $166.62 $64 $77 $145 $100 $65 $45
Sole parent $338.60 $387.58 Note 1 $108 $129 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Half married, civil union or de facto rate $214.79 $239.99 $129.82

Benefit type Net weekly rate (after tax at "M") Gross weekly rate Special Benefit standard costs Accommodation Supplement *
Entry threshold Maximum rate
Rent or board Mortgage Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
Invalids Benefit: without children
Single, 16 to 17 years $208.58 $233.05 $117.40 $64 $77 $145 $100 $65 $45
Single, 18 years or over $257.75 $289.58 $166.62 $64 $77 $145 $100 $65 $45
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (total) $429.58 $479.98 $303.96 $107 $129 $160 $125 $75 $55
Married, civil union, or de facto couple (each) $214.79 $239.99
Invalids Benefit: with children
Sole parent $338.60 $387.58 Note 1 $108 $129 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2 Note 2
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (total) $429.58 $479.98 Note 1 $131 $157 $225 $165 $120 $75
Married, civil union, or de facto couple with 1 or more children (each) $214.79 $239.99

 

* Accommodation Supplement entry thresholds and maximum rates for non-beneficiaries are the same as those for Unemployment Benefit or Sickness Benefit clients. Those for 16 to 17 year old non-beneficiaries are the same as those for 18 to 19 year old non-beneficiaries.

Note 1: Special Benefit standard costs for these clients are equal to 70% of the unabated main benefit and unabated family tax credit combined.

Note 2: Accommodation Supplement maximum rates for these clients are:

Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4
$160 $125 $75 $55
$225 $165 $120 $75

Note 3: Special Benefit isn't available for these clients.

Note 4: The mortgage rate isn't relevant as these clients are living at home or away from home and supported by their parents.

Note 5: Rates, entry thresholds and maximum rates for Emergency Benefit are the same as those for the analogous benefit.

Benefit type Weekly rate, non-taxable
Standard Disability Allowance - maximum $60.54
Special Disability Allowance $37.76
Child Disability Allowance $45.62

Weekly rate, non-taxable
Aged under 5 years

$143.32
Aged 5 to 9 years

$166.32
Aged 10 to 13 years

$183.53
Aged 14 years or over

$200.65

Weekly rate, non-taxable
Aged 0-4 years

$143.32
Aged 5-9 years

$166.32
Aged 10-13 years

$183.53
Aged 14 years and over

$200.65

Family home

$187.09

Family tax credit for each child - maximum Rate
First or only child, aged 0 to 15 years $92.73
First or only child, aged 16 years or older $101.98
Second or subsequent child, aged 0 to 12 years $64.44
Second or subsequent child, aged 13 to 15 years $73.50
Second or subsequent child, aged 16 years or older $91.25

Pension type Net weekly rate
(after tax at "M")		 Net weekly rate
(after tax at "S")		 Gross weekly rate
NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension - standard rates
Single, living alone $357.42 $338.57 $410.32
Single, sharing $329.93 $311.08 $377.05
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, both qualify (total) $549.88 $512.18 $620.68
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, both qualify (each) $274.94 $256.09 $310.34
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, with non-qualified spouse included (total) $522.62 $484.91 $587.46
Married, civil union, or de facto couple, with non-qualified spouse included (each) $261.31 $242.46 $293.73
NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension - non-standard rates
Married couple, with non-qualified spouse included before 1 October 1991 (total) $549.88 $512.18 $620.68
Married couple, with non-qualified spouse included before 1 October 1991 (each) $274.94 $256.09 $310.34
Qualified partner in rest home with non-qualified partner in the community $257.75 $238.90 $289.47
Hospital rate $42.64 Note 1 $47.57
Non-taxable amounts
War Pensioner's Funeral Grant $2,409.71
World War I veteran's lump sum payment on death $14,403.96
Other veterans lump sum payment on death $5,712.64
Veteran’s spouse's lump sum payment on death $4,356.05

Note 1: The hospital rate is always taxed at the "M" rate.

For more information about war pensions and allowances, please phone Veterans' Affairs New Zealand on 0800 483 8372 (0800 4 VETERAN)

Type of benefit combination Without children With children
Rent or board Mortgage Rent or board Mortgage
NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension and Invalid's Benefit $122 $147 $146 $175
NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension and Unemployment Benefit or Sickness Benefit or non-beneficiary $112 $134 $135 $162
Domestic Purposes Benefit - Care of Sick or Infirm and Unemployment Benefit or Sickness Benefit or non-beneficiary $97 $116 $120 $144
Domestic Purposes Benefit - Care of Sick or Infirm and NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension $122 $147 $146 $175
Domestic Purposes Benefit - Care of Sick or Infirm and Invalids Benefit $107 $129 $131 $157

From 27 September 2010 there are two sets of income thresholds for childcare assistance. These are:

  • a set of lower thresholds - for people who did not receive childcare assistance in the12 months prior to 27 September 2010.
  • a set of higher thresholds - for people who did receive childcare assistance in the 12 months prior to 27 September 2010.

Each set of thresholds is listed below. The rates of Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR Subsidy are the same for both sets.

Below are the income thresholds for people who did not receive childcare assistance in the 12 months prior to 27 September 2010.

Number of children Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR subsidy rates
Gross income per week
1 child Less than $1,200.00 $1,200.00 to $1,299.99 $1,300.00 to $1,399.99 $1,400.00 or more
2 children Less than $1,380.00 $1,380.00 to $1,489.99 $1,490.00 to $1,599.99 $1,600.00 or more
3 or more children Less than $1,540.00 $1,540.00 to $1,669.99 $1,670.00 to 1,799.99 $1,800.00 or more
Rate that applies - see the chart below Rate 1 Rate 2 Rate 3 Nil

Below are the income thresholds for people who did receive childcare assistance in the 12 months prior to 27 September 2010.

Number of children Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR subsidy rates
Gross income per week
1 child Less than $1,274.00 $1,274.00 to $1,379.99 $1,380.00 to $1,485.99 $1,486.00 or more
2 children Less than $1,465.00 $1,465.00 to $1,580.99 $1,581.00 to $1,697.99 $1,698.00 or more
3 or more children Less than $1,634.00 $1,634.00 to $1,771.99 $1,772.00 to 1,909.99 $1,910.00 or more
Rate that applies - see the chart below Rate 1 Rate 2 Rate 3 Nil

Below are the rates of Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR Subsidy that apply to both sets of income thresholds listed above.

Assistance type Rate 1 Rate 2 Rate 3
Childcare Subsidy hourly rate, non-taxable $3.93 $2.74 $1.52
Childcare Subsidy up to 50 hours per week, maximum, non‑taxable $196.50 $137.00 $76.00
OSCAR Subsidy hourly rate, non-taxable $3.93 $2.74 $1.52
OSCAR Subsidy during term time up to 20 hours per week, maximum, non-taxable $78.60 $54.80 $30.40
OSCAR Subsidy during holidays up to 50 hours per week, maximum, non-taxable $196.50 $137.00 $76.00

Rate
For other than NZ Superannuation, Veterans Pension, Orphans Benefit, or Unsupported Childs Benefit $47.64 (gross, weekly)
$42.64 (net, weekly, after tax at "M")

Rate
Income and asset-tested - maximum $1,971.37

Category Gross weekly cut-out point
Single, 16 to 17 years $509.10
Single, 18 years or over $595.92
Married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship with or without children $882.79
Sole parent with 1 child $710.02
Sole parent with 2 or more children $748.07

Family size Gross annual cut-out point
Single, sharing accommodation $25,046.00
Single, living alone $26.554.00
Married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship $39,664.00
2-person family - 1 adult, 1 child $47,888.00
3-person family $57,992.00
4-person family $66,028.00
5-person family $73,899.00
6-person family $82,695.00
For each additional family member add $7,750.00

Duration Rate, non-taxable
Weekly - maximum $104.58
Yearly - maximum $4,183.20

Category Net weekly allowance
(after tax at "M")		 Gross weekly allowance
Single student without dependent children
Under 24 years, at home - up to $137.47 $153.60
Under 24 years, away from home - up to $171.84 $192.00
Independent circumstances $171.84 $192.00
24 years or over, at home $164.96 $184.31
24 years or over, away from home $206.21 $230.40
Student with earning partner
Student with earning partner, at home $74.50 $83.24
Student with earning partner, away from home $110.98 $124.00
Couple without dependent children
One student, one dependent partner $343.68 $393.74
Both eligible students (each) $171.84 $192.00
Both students, one eligible $206.21 $230.40
Single student with dependent children    
Single student with 1 or more children $295.37 $335.18
Couple with dependent children
Both students, one eligible, with 1 or more children $295.37 $335.18
Both students, both eligible, with 1 or more children (each) $171.84 $192.00
One student, one dependent partner, with 1 or more children $343.68 $393.74

Weekly rate
Student Loan living cost component - maximum $173.56