Low Income Assistance
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8219
Printed Date: 26 October 2025 at 12:25pm
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Topic: Low Income Assistance
Posted By: emeldee
Subject: Low Income Assistance
Date Posted: 13 June 2007 at 12:19am
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Let me start by saying... I DON'T WORK FOR WINZ.... however, all of the information in the media recently regarding low income earners and people with families not accessing assistance made me think...
Did you know... that you may be eligible for emergency or extra assistance with Work and Income provided you meet certain income limits that can be found http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/manuals-and-procedures/deskfile/extra_help_information/special_needs_grant_tables/special_needs_grant_income_limits.htm#P9_113 - here The income is established weekly (unlike IRD who take an annual income level to determine whether you qualify). That means that if your income drops for a week or two because you don't have sick pay or due to some other unforeseen circumstance, WINZ may be able to help you out. Special Needs Grants are for essential or emergency needs (e.g. food assistance, emergency medical or dental treatment) and usually don't need to be paid back. A recoverable assistance payment provides non-taxable, interest free, recoverable financial assistance to people not on benefits to meet essential immediate needs for specific items or services. Rates and limits can be found http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/manuals-and-procedures/deskfile/index.htm#P40_905 - here It's also worth checking out the Working for Families website to see if you qualify for regular Accomodation or Childcare Assistance ( http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/get-assistance/extra-help/childcare-oscar-subsidy.html - Childcare rates Ahh well, I hope that this helps someone out there in computer land...and please, if you know someone that might qualify for assistance, please, please please encourage them to get the help that's available....it's not like these places are good at advertising.... ------------- |
Replies:
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 13 June 2007 at 8:55am
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Actually most grants are required to be paid back... people on benefits are "allowed" one or two that arent but once you use that up then you do have to pay them back. also by the time you fill in the paperwork and they process your application and fit you on for a meeting your emergency may be over anyway.
your right tho in that they dont advertise what you can and cant get and until you ask they dont volunteer much info at all. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: 11111
Date Posted: 13 June 2007 at 10:29am
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Ok I have to say something here caue I am the first to complian about the service at WINZ. However some of you may have read my other post which expalin's my washing machine broke thinking there was not hope i went to bank etc to get help. With no luck so off I wen t to WINZ expecting to have to beg plead and cry. I did not need to do any of this as my case manager saw me straight away and before i finished explaing thing's she told me there is no prob she can have the money loaned to me. I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT HAVING TO PAY IT BACK. I think it is awsome that they are able to do that plus it is interst free what is better then that . IMHO I think having to pay it back is a good thing cause you are less likely to take advantage of it. I think it is about time that us hard working tax paying families get a break. For the fist time ever I am not worried about being a SAHM. ------------- Deborah Mum to:   
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Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 13 June 2007 at 3:10pm
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Recoverable Assistance Payments (RAPS) and advances generally need to be paid back, but for a family with two or more kids, $550 per year of food grants that you don't need to pay back are available. There's also $300 of emergency dental treatment that isn't paid back. It might not seem much, but could help out in an emergency situation for an already stretched budget.
Some case managers are disorganised and make you wait - it's pretty much a regional variance - but there are loads that will see that if you are waiting and have kids, they'll make the effort to see you straight away. You can also let the receptionist know if you have somewhere you need to be quickly (eg home for the school kids) and most will make the extra effort. In terms of paying things back, $5 or even $20 a week that is interest free is a lot better than a credit card at 20+% ------------- |