Other help for families

Find out more about other help for families who are working and check who to contact for more information.

To be eligible to apply for any of the help listed below may depend on:

• your income
• your financial assets, and/or
• the number and age of your children.

Help with health costs

Community services card

The Community Services Card can help you and your family with the costs of health care. You'll pay less on some health services and prescriptions.

For more information visit the Work and Income website, or call the community services card centre on 0800 999 999:

• Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm, or
• Saturday from 8am to 1pm.

High use health card

If you don't qualify for a community services card, you may be able to get a high use health card if you visit the doctor often for an ongoing medical condition. Ask your doctor about this card.

Find out more information on the high use health card on the Ministry of Health's website.

Pharmaceutical Subsidy Card

You may also qualify for a Pharmaceutical Subsidy Card if you need a lot of prescriptions. Ask your pharmacist about this card.

Find out more information on the pharmaceutical subsidy card on the Ministry of Health's website.

Help from Work and Income for people with disabilities

Disability allowances

If you, your child or someone you're caring for has a disability, you may be able to get a disability allowance to help with the costs of having a disability.

• The disability allowance is for people who have a disability and need ongoing medical care and help with everyday tasks.
• The modification grant helps with the costs of special equipment you may need at work.
• The child disability allowance helps with the extra care needed for a child with a serious physical or intellectual disability.

Find out more information on disability allowances on Work and Income's website.

Help from Work and Income with essential needs

Special needs grant

This is a one-off payment to help out with urgent things like food, bedding and emergency dental or medical treatment.

Find out more information on the special needs grant on Work and Income's website.

Temporary additional support

This is a weekly payment to help you meet your essential living costs.

Find out more information on temporary additional support on Work and Income's website.

Recoverable assistance payment grant

This is a one-off payment to help you buy something essential immediately if you can't afford to pay for it right now. You may be able to get the grant for things like appliances, furniture, bedding, rent or school uniforms.

Find out more information on the recoverable assistance payment grant on Work and Income's website.

Help from Work and Income with family costs

Home help

This may help with your costs if you:

• have had a multiple birth
• have a domestic emergency, or
• need domestic support.

Find out more information on home help on Work and Income's website.

Away from home allowance

This helps with the living costs of dependent children aged 16 to 17 who have to live away from home to do tertiary study or go on a training course.

Find out more information on the away from home allowance on Work and Income's website.

New employment transition grant

This helps with your costs if you lose income in your first six months of working after being on a benefit because:

• you, your spouse or partner or child are sick, or
• you have problems with your childcare arrangements.

Find out more information on the new employment transistion grant on Work and Income's website.

Help from Work and Income with work costs

Transition to work grant

This is a payment to help meet the additional costs of job search, attending a job interview or entering employment for:

• people who meet the qualifying criteria and face small gaps between jobs (up to four weeks) or who are re-entering the workforce
• people who receive a main benefit from Work and Income, and
• students.

Find out more information on the transistion to work grant on Work and Income's website.

For more information

Visit the Work and Income website or call them on 0800 559 009:

• Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm, or
• Saturday from 8am to 1pm.

Find out more

• Other help from the Working for Families package

 

Date published: 28 May 2009

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