Emergency Financial Support
This is what you can get under the new Government package.
If you’ve lost your job or you need help with a place to stay, food, clothes or bedding.
You can get money from Work and Income (WINZ). Ask Work and Income to pay your rent for you if you can’t because of COVID-19. To get help paying your rent, you do not need to be on a benefit. You will get a one-off payment but you have to pay it back.
Call 0800 559 009 between Monday to Friday 7am–6pm, Saturday 8am – 1pm, to see if you can get this support.
Wage Subsidies
Wage subsidies is a money top up that the Government gives to businesses so they don’t have to lay people off.
If your business is able to get the subsidy, they must pay you a minimum of 80 percent of your normal pay.
The COVID-19 Wage Subsidy pay rate is as follows:
- It is $585.80 for people working 20 hours or more per week.
- It is $350.00 for people working less than 20 hours per week.
The top-up is paid in one big payment and is to cover 12 weeks per worker. This top-up is for wages only.
Leave Payment
If you have caught Covid-19 or need to ‘self-isolate’ because you met someone with Covid-19, the Government might be able to pay you holiday pay to cover your pay while you’re on leave.
Increase for beneficiaries and superannuitants from April 1st, 2020
The Winter Energy Payment rate will increase Single people, with no children will now get an extra $40.91
Couples and people with dependent children will now get $63.64
There is also going to be a $25 increase for all people on a benefits.
The ‘stand down periods’ for beneficiaries have been removes till November 23, 2020.
Contact Details
To find out more about getting support from the Government, visit Work and Income New Zealand or call Monday to Friday – 7am and 6pm, Saturday – 8am and 1pm – 0800 559 009 or on 0800 22 66 57 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday).
