WINZ Food Grants - how do they work?

Hi just a few quick questions, in light of us moving and all that's been going on we are REALLY struck for money ...so much so that I don't have any money left to buy our weekly groceries (had bills due to be paid, moving costs, healthcare costs (ugh and an ambulance fee due to arrive any day) and all the rest). I know my parents can tide us over for a few days with the essentials but can anyone enlighten me as to how I go about getting a food grant from WINZ?

I've never asked for one before, how much are you allowed ...and do you have to pay it back like on a loan basis or is it just granted to you as a one off thing?

Is it just a matter of showing them all my bank statements that clearly show we have nothing ....or could I still not qualify?

I'm paying back moving costs (for both the mouldy house AND the new place) to them at the moment so not overly keen on getting us into more debt if we have to pay it back, but we do need to eat and I need to buy some cleaning stuff for the next house..ugh.

Don't even remind me it's nearly Xmas, everyone is getting homemade stuff and DS is lucky I bought years ahead in the toy sales when we were financially better off!

Any advice on dealing with WINZ/food grants and what have you, greatly appreciated!

My friend got one not long ago, she is on a benefit. She had to take in a bank efpos statement & an unexspected bill to show where the money had gone.

From what I hear it is luck of the draw if you get a nice sympathetic one you should be alright. You need to ring the main number & make an appointment, they will ask what you want & may tell you that you wont get one but still go as there is nothing like face to face.

I think it sucks how you pretty much have to beg for these. My friend said she is allowed about $400 a year but has to beg for a bit of it so only gets about 1 a year & gets small part of that.

You need to produce a bank statement (printed off that day ideally), your ID, and a copy of bills and reciepts to show where the money has gone.

The amount they grant you is dependant on a few things - how many people there are to feed, how long it is until the next pay, etc. The maximum a parent or parents with kids can claim in a 26 week period is $450. Unfortunately, the food bank likes to know you've been to winz before them as not enough food is donated these days.

I went in for one a few weeks back and got turned down cause I had $30 in my account! I was so pissed!

you don't have to be receiving a benefit but some sort of allowance at least from them.
you need proof of ID, bank balance or statement with the last 10 transactions, proof of income if hubby/partner works

also if you have a couple of extra unexpected bills then copys of those

Yep if you're on a benefit you'll need to take in a current bank statement and any verification of the bills that you've paid. Kaiz231 and Flutterby are both right with working out how much they will give you but it can still be luck of the draw too. If you weren't receiving a benefit you would have to meet an income test to get one. Good luck on monday

Are you in Auckland? I have cleaning stuff and tins of food that I'd be only too happy to get rid of.