Temporary Additional Support

You may be able to get Temporary Additional Support when you're a student if you:

• are over 16
• are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
• normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here
• have essential living costs that you have no other way to pay for.

It may also depend on:

• how much you and your partner earn
• any money or assets you and your partner have
• whether we can help you in other ways
• the types of costs you're paying for
• what you're doing to reduce your costs or increase your income.

There are certain types of essential costs that can be included for Temporary Additional Support. These costs must be ongoing and regular expenses, and essential to meet you and your family's daily living needs.

Essential costs can be:

• Accommodation costs, e.g:
  • rent
  • board
  • home ownership costs
• Child support you have to pay through Inland Revenue that's formula asessed
• Employment-related costs, e.g:
  • public transport to work
  • childcare if the caregiver is working
  • vehicle repayments or running costs
• Essential household items, e.g:
  • bed or mattress
  • lounge or dining suite
  • fridge or freezer
  • TV
  • washing machine
• Health and disability costs, e.g:
  • dryer
  • vehicle repayments, or
  • childcare if the caregiver is disabled or seriously ill.

Not all essential costs are listed here. Talk to us if you're not sure whether a cost can be included as an essential cost.

How much you get depends on your situation and it can be paid for up to 13 weeks.

1. Complete the Temporary Additional Support application form.
2. Get evidence of your situation (the application form will tell you what to provide).
3. Log in to Connect and upload your form and evidence.

If you're eligible, we can grant you the Temporary Additional Support from the date you first contact us to ask for help, as long as you complete your application within 20 working days of that date.

Getting a benefit from Work and Income

If you're getting a benefit from Work and Income, you need to contact Work and Income

If you’re already getting Temporary Additional Support and your costs change, you need to let us know. If you don't let us know, you may get a debt.

Email us with 'Temporary Additional Support' as your topic, or call us

If your costs go up, you may need to provide proof of this.