Family Assistance
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7637
Printed Date: 19 August 2025 at 10:47pm
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Topic: Family Assistance
Posted By: WRXnKids
Subject: Family Assistance
Date Posted: 18 May 2007 at 8:31pm
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ive tried to understand how this works but i am so lost!!!
After you get your 12 weeks pay after you have baby what happens next do you live on one income till you go back to work or is there a form of assistance for this period? Im finishing work end of Nov as our the owners are movin into the flat we are in and moving cities as DP wants to start a business with his mate. He is likely to have a part time job just so there is a couple hundred a week guarenteed. I am giving him a year to see if the business will work out otherwise we come back and i can go back to my job. Im just a bit worried about how we will be able to survive and give DP the chance he really wants if there is no assistance when it gets though. -------------   
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Replies:
Posted By: Bubbaloo
Date Posted: 18 May 2007 at 9:04pm
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You still get family assistance or working for families after the 12 weeks is up it depends on what your income is to how much you get I have a look on their website http://www.workingforfamilies.govt.nz - Working for Families or phone them 0800 227 773 hope this helps you. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08 |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 10:06am
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The only paid leave a mother gets is for that initial 12 weeks, yes, but.... if your (combined) income falls below a certain threshold (I think $70k per annum for 1 child) then you are also entitled to Family tax credit - the new name for Family Support - to supplement your income.
Also pays to look into accomodation supplement. -------------  |
Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 10:53am
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ring them and ask them to send you a application pack, in the booklet you get has all the rates of income and also what they will give you.
------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: Mikaela
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 2:10pm
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I thought it was 14 weeks paid maternity leave? ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 3:30pm
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Could be... I only know it as 3mos (never was entitled to it). ------------- |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 3:46pm
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https://interact2.ird.govt.nz/forms/famcalc2008/ - Link to Family Tax Credit (Family Support) calculator
Just enter your annual income, amount of children, and where the income is from (e.g. benefit/wage?). It's an excellent tool, if you qualify you still need to apply with the IRD and can't do that until the baby is born. ------------- |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 3:52pm
| Yeah it's 14 weeks |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 5:14pm
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I was wondering about this aswell, as when im on maternity leave when I finally get pregnant, we will be on one wage from my partner and thats only about $350 a week, so we will need some kind of family assistance, we will have to look into that aswell!
Good to know there is help tho  ------------- |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 7:25pm
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It is 14 weeks and you only get it if you are intending to return to your work. So if you are moving away from your work, you might want to keep that quiet - have you applied for leave or signalled intent to resign?
if you are resigning then you can get that lump payout, but I think the maternity leave money is higher? Could be wrong on that. Then you can look at accomodation assitance and working for families, depending on your Dp's income. In your situation wrxchic, I reckon you would find there is a fair bit of support for you - at least I hope so! the whole one income thing is just a bit scary really! -------------  
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Posted By: BabyOnBoard
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 7:36pm
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So you can get some money even if you resign?! Is this influenced by your 'Significant others' income? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 8:57pm
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The 14 week thing works like this: you give your boss a letter asking for paid maternity leave in anticipation of your return. Then if you change your mind once you're on leave, you can write another letter giving your resignation (but only after you have already started on leave otherwise you forfeit). The Govt still pays if you change your mind.
We're on a single income with accomodation supplement and family support (I'm a full-time mum), I don't mind answering questions etc if you're still stuck and want to PM me. ------------- |
Posted By: lil_miss
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 9:01pm
| does it go based on your income before being pregnant - or your combined income with you not working? Thats where it confuses me |
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 9:01pm
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so when you put in your income is that what you would normally earn that year or what you will actually earn since you cant work? ie just my partners income as i wont have any after the 14 weeks until i return to work?
At this stage i havent told my boss but when i do i will make it clear i am returning but will be moving to Nelson for the year. -------------
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 9:12pm
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Accomodation supplement is assessed on a week by week basis. ie it's based on the current week's income and updates the moment your income changes (you have to tell them of course). If your income changes from week to week you'll have to call every week - bummer but still worth the $$. It's dished out by WINZ.
Family tax credit is based on yours and your partner's combined income for that financial year - ie April through to March. When you file your IR3 (tax return) at the end of the year they will double-check that you've been paid the right amount, with a credit/debit due. ------------- |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 19 May 2007 at 10:52pm
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the 14 weeks payment and the lump sum type payment work out to be the same figure - well it did for me! We get @$305 a week for 14 weeks which is the maximum
we worked out we would have to have at least 9 kids before we would be eligible for the tax credit - gotta love nz tax system huh? |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 20 May 2007 at 9:02am
wow!!!!! |
Bombshell wrote:Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 20 May 2007 at 9:08am
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Check out this site - http://www.ird.govt.nz/wff-tax-credits/entitlement/what-is-wfftc/ftc/ - here
for info re family tax credit. |
Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 20 May 2007 at 5:20pm
lol haha yea we would have to have at least 4-5 kids before we could get any family assistance too, its quite anoying ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 20 May 2007 at 10:12pm
Surely that means you're on a higher income though? Still, 9 kids! No thanks 
It's definitely a lot easier if you're on a salary, because you don't have to ring every week. You can also choose to get paid weekly or receive your assistance at the end of the financial year (only really an option for those that are really good at living on one income already I guess). |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 21 May 2007 at 8:54am
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Oh yeah, it means you are on a higher income, but what it doesn't take into account is the fact that (certainly in our case) you are going down to half your income (as we earn the same amount), but do not suddenly halve our expenses.
Take Aklnd mortgages for example - now you need an entire average wage to service the average mortgage, that cost doesn't just go away when you go on leave! The big difference is that people on higher incomes who don't qualify for any assistance usually save like a demon leading up to the leave period, then live off their savings to cover the basics of life over and above their mortgage. -------------
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 21 May 2007 at 9:01am
i think tho we are talking about family assistance etc that does take into consideration the one income you are on, not the parental leave payment which is less than some peoples average wage. my husband and i knew that we would be going to one wage after our first was born so in that case took steps to ensure we could survive comfortable. and in most cases people get at least 7-8 months to prepare. If you ask me tho if you earn enough on one income to have 4 kids without qualifying for any assistance you aint doing too badly at all. 
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Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 21 May 2007 at 9:30am
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I agree G&T, I think if we had 2 kids we would get some family assistance. I just wanted to point out that just because you earn more doesnt mean that your expenses miraculously disappear when you want them to. Especially in todays mortgage market. -------------
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 21 May 2007 at 10:09am
| oh i know - i agree with that too. its lucky i think that we are pregnant for 9 months. its not just emotional preparations we need but financial too. |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 21 May 2007 at 2:10pm
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Absolutlely! it astounds me that some people leave looking at finances right till the last minute then freak when they realise how tight things are going to be - much better to be prepared for tight finances for a few months before bubs arrives -------------
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Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 21 May 2007 at 8:54pm
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My concern is that with my partner wanting to start a new business that we cant guarentee income week to week and as he is using the money he has at the moment to fund the business it will be up to my wage to save up and cover us which isnt going to be much on top of buyin baby things. He has orgainised part-time work at this stage for when we move but we cant live off $200 a week so what is normally a decent joint income will be well less than half so im hoping family assistance will allow for this -------------
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 03 June 2007 at 3:06pm
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wrxchic - you'd be able to get help from winz as well as the family tax thing.
It is possible to survive on one income for those who haven't been able to save anything. We moved towns as I'd been offered a new job then 2 weeks before I started we found out about the baby which resulted in the job being withdrawn, not to mention the fact that DH had taken a rather large paycut when we shifted. I was then far too sick to find another job so we've spent the last 8 months on one (rather small) income. No chance to save, baby things to buy and the normal day-to-day expenses. We've survived though. Hasn't always been easy but with a sensible budget and bugging winz to get as much extra support as possible then its ok. We get 8 weeks of payments from IRD after bubs is born because we don't get maternity leave so that helps. You can apply for that at the same time as the family tax cut one. -------------   
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Posted By: MissCandice
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 1:34pm
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Glad i found this page, im kinda worried about the same thing, im working up untill 4th aug and im due 23rd but after that it will be one income. I dont apply for maternity leave thru work as you have to be there 12 months and i was only there 10.5 months.. So does that mean i can get the 8 weeks from IRD? iv tried looking at their site but its so confusing.. we will be living off DF's $500 a week.. ------------- ~ Mummy to a beautiful girl ~ |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 2:36pm
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Im worried about $ aswell when I finally get pregnant and have my baby, we will be living off DF's 350-400 a week, and my maternity leave for a few months, but Im not going back to work for a while, I want to stay at home with bubs rather than spend all my wages on child care and miss all of baby's "Firsts". So we will be on a very tight budget, and im pretty sure we will be able to get family assistance so that will help a lot cos I really want to stay at home and DF wants me to be able to be at home with our child aswell
I guess its just a matter of budgeting really well and sticking to it. ------------- |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 4:17pm
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babytyme - you should get Paid parental leave -
The current entitlements of the Parental Leave policy for women who have worked over 10 hours a week for the past 12 months are: 1. 10 days special leave (for antenatal visits etc) 2. 14 weeks paid parental leave, at a maximum of $372.12 per week before tax, and 3. 52 weeks unpaid extended leave (including the 14 weeks of paid parental leave). Those who have been in paid employment for the past 6 months or are self-employed will also be eligible for the 14 weeks paid parental leave. So if you have been there 10 months, that is more than the 6 months you need to have been there for! talk to whoever is in charge of payroll at your work. Also print the forms off the IRD site, fill them in and give them to your boss to complete - he will send them to the IRD and they will let you know exactly what you qualify for. With your DP's wage you will qualify for other support like working for families too. it won't be loads, but hey - every bit counts! -------------
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Posted By: MissCandice
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 4:43pm
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I have already talked to my manager and in our contract it says we have to have worked there for 12 months and i have only been there ten? ------------- ~ Mummy to a beautiful girl ~ |
Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 4:47pm
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Ok so i have a question just out of curiosity as we have been on/off 1 income family since Bay was born (i only went back to work on off over the 3 years)so not affected by it.
When IRD are working out whether someone is entitled to get family assistance after bubs is born - do they take into account Dad AND mums wage??? if so that really sucks!! cos its not like you are going to still be getting mums wage!!!
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 4:51pm
| Yup it takes into account any money that mum has earned in that financial year. And yup it sucks! |
Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 5:30pm
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yup they take into account both wages which really sux
as with our business and hubbys day job we arnt entitled to anything, as when u have a business they go on the anual turnover so even tho we arnt even making a profit off the business yet we still dont get anything from family assistance. if we didnt include my wage we would get $18 a week ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 5:55pm
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I get where you're coming from BS ... one thing that irks me is that although DH and I would have a reasonable income from him, we wouldn't be entitled to any family assistance (aside from PPL), but we're not going to be rolling in money by any stretch of the imagination. It's in fact a bit scarey how little surplus there will be. I wonder how some people do it? Part of the reason our expenses are so high are things like insurances - health, life - and DH's super scheme, that sort of thing. So, although we are working hard to take care of ourselves in all respects, we're paying quite a price for it as well ...some family assistance to buffer the week by week budget would be lovely ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 6:39pm
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Ginger you would be surprised how you manage...you really learn to do away with so much but to be honest you don't miss it...well we don't anyway.
We don't get family assistance and would get minimal with 2 kids but then again we're not who the Working for Families is aimed at so as nice as it would be...fair enough. We just learn to budget a little better is all.  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 7:23pm
Budget? What is this 'budget' of which you speak? 
I must admit that we're learning a bit about that at the moment with the large bills about to start rolling in with fertility treatment! And, let's face it ...who wants to catch baby sick on a $200 top ...? Not me thanks.------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: MyBelly
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 8:13pm
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Does anyone know what happens if you are a student?
IM doing a three year course and am due 15th november (about 3 days after course ends!) and im planning on still doing course and then taking baby to course next year (early childhood education, so no problem!) But what i want to know is if i get any assistance that anyone knows of, or if it will be me, DH, and baby, not to mention stepdaughter when we have her, all on one income??? Oh man i hope we arent going to be on one income!! |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 10:27pm
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MyBelly, just talk to someone at the right place ie. IRD or something. They'll tell you if you should apply under student allowance or WFF or both. I know as a student, you are entitled to certain hours of childcare free etc if you are on a low income.
On another note, I get what people say about not getting WFF, but it could be worse. And, yeah its right when people say you learn to go without. We are only on one income at the moment, I have no money for clothes, we never go out for dinner or away for the weekend etc. We also have to get a foreign language student in just to pay the mortgage, so you can make ends meet. Plus working 2-3 part time jobs. Anyway, the moral - it can be done! You can live on one income, you just have to prioritise. I guess we are lucky because we bought in an area we didn't really want to buy in and an old house so that we could afford to live off one income. So maybe I guess just a bit of forward planning? And yeah, most people have 8-9 months to prepare. A bit off the topic, but yeah, its achievable and WFF is really there for lower income families. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 10:43pm
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MyBelly, will you be getting the UBSH over Nov-Feb holidays? If so, you will not be entitled to the PTC unfortunately (any benefit or student allowance means you can't get it) but you will be eligible (providing your DH's income is small enough) for family support (IRD). Your accomodation supplement is probably paid via your student allowance? When Briona was born I was working for $50/week and DH was a full-time student (mid-year).
The best cost-saver when you go down to one income is the dress code from work to home. So much cheaper (and more comfy lol)! ------------- |