Visit the Work and Income NZ 'Check what you might get' guide [1]
This is a payment for the primary carer while they take time off work on parental leave. The birth mother will be the primary carer in the first instance, however she can transfer all or some of her parental leave payment entitlement to her partner if:
If you or your partner are not giving birth to the child, you will need to decide who will be the primary carer.
For information about who can get this and how much you can claim, call Employment New Zealand on 0800 20 90 20 or see information about Paid Parental Leave, on the Employment NZ website. [2]
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) website also has information about Paid Parental Leave [3].
Working for Families is a package which pays extra money to many New Zealand families working and raising children.
You may be able to receive one or more of these payments - it depends on your situation.
Check the IRD website for information about Working for Families tax credits [4]
Working for Families Tax Credits are payments for families with dependent children aged 18 and under. The payments are to help you raise your family. Entitlements are based on your yearly family income and circumstances.
There are 3 ways to register for Working for Families payments.
Find out more about how to register for Working for Families [5].
Registering for Working For Families Tax Credits: Transcript [6].
To make sure you get the right Working for Families payments, you need to keep IRD up to date with any changes in your family.
Find out more about managing Working For Families Tax Credits [7].
Managing Working For Families Tax Credits: Transcript [8].
Check the information about benefits and payments at the Work and Income NZ website [9] to make sure you're getting the help you're entitled to. You can also use the 'Check what you might get [1]' guide at the Work and Income NZ website.
Work and Income may be able to help you with childcare costs - it depends on your circumstances and how much you and your partner earn. Check the Work and Income NZ website for information about childcare and the options available [10].
You may be able to get Home Help to help with costs if:
For more information, check the information about Home Help at the Work and Income NZ website [16].
The Community Services Card can help you and your family with the costs of healthcare. You'll pay less for some health services and prescriptions. If you have not received one, and think you should have, please phone Work and Income on 0800 999 999.
You can also visit the Work and Income NZ website for information about the Community Services Card [17].
This is financial support paid by a parent not living with their child or who share care of their children with another person. See the Inland Revenue website for information about Child Support [18], or call 0800 221 221.
Unsupported Child’s Benefit is a weekly payment which helps carers supporting a child or young person whose parents can't care for them because of a family breakdown. Check the Work and Income NZ website [19] to see if you qualify.
Orphan's Benefit is a weekly payment which helps carers supporting a child or young person whose parents have died or can't be found, or can't look after them because they have a long-term health condition or incapacity. Check the Work and Income website [20] for more information.
Work and Income NZ has a wide range of financial help available to people on a benefit or working in a variety of circumstances. If you have costs that you can't meet on your own, contact Work and Income on 0800 559 009. Or, visit the Work and Income NZ 'Check what you might get [1]' guide and check information about extra help at the Work and Income NZ webpage [21].
Financial support may be available because of your child's special needs. See Financial help when your child has a disability or chronic condition [22].
This page last reviewed 11 July 2022.
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Links
[1] https://check.msd.govt.nz/
[2] https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/parental-leave/
[3] https://www.ird.govt.nz/paid-parental-leave
[4] https://www.ird.govt.nz/working-for-families/eligibility
[5] https://www.ird.govt.nz/working-for-families/applying/working-for-families
[6] https://www.ird.govt.nz/about-us/videos/campaigns/registering-for-working-for-families
[7] https://www.ird.govt.nz/working-for-families/managing
[8] https://www.ird.govt.nz/about-us/videos/campaigns/managing-working-for-families
[9] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/index.html
[10] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/children/childcare.html
[11] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/childcare-subsidy.html
[12] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/flexible-childcare-assistance.html
[13] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/oscar-subsidy.html
[14] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/guaranteed-childcare-assistance-payment.html
[15] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/early-learning-payment.html
[16] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/home-help.html
[17] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/a-z-benefits/community-services-card.html
[18] https://www.ird.govt.nz/topics/child-support
[19] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/unsupported-childs-benefit.html#null
[20] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/orphans-benefit.html
[21] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/income-support/extra-help/index.html
[22] https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/carers/care-child-with-a-disability.html
[23] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1755?language=zh-hans
[24] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1756?language=zh-hans
[25] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1757?language=zh-hans
[26] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1758?language=zh-hans
[27] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1820?language=zh-hans
[28] https://kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fkidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F135%3Flanguage%3Dzh-hans