Maximum weekly rates by area (1 April 2026)
| Your situation | Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 3 | Area 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $165 | $105 | $80 | $70 |
| Couple without children | $235 | $155 | $105 | $80 |
| Couple with children | $305 | $220 | $160 | $120 |
| Sole parent, 1 child | $235 | $155 | $105 | $80 |
| Sole parent, 2+ children | $305 | $220 | $160 | $120 |
Area 1 is central and metropolitan Auckland. Area 2 covers outer Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown Lakes and other high-cost centres. Area 3 includes Hamilton, Tauranga, Christchurch and Nelson. Area 4 is the rest of New Zealand — where the maximum for a single person is $70 a week, less than half the Area 1 rate.
Entry thresholds: the rent you must be paying first
You only get the supplement on rent above your entry threshold, which depends on the benefit you receive:
| Benefit and situation | Rent or board threshold | Mortgage threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Jobseeker Support — single, no children | $93 | $112 |
| Jobseeker Support — couple, no children | $158 | $190 |
| Jobseeker Support — sole parent | $168 | $202 |
| Jobseeker Support — couple with children | $205 | $247 |
| Sole Parent Support | $168 | $202 |
| Supported Living Payment — single | $106 | $127 |
| Supported Living Payment — couple with children | $227 | $273 |
| NZ Super — single, living alone | $139 | $167 |
| NZ Super — couple, both qualify | $214 | $256 |
If you are not on a benefit or pension, your thresholds are the same as Jobseeker Support — which is important for working families on low incomes who assume the supplement is only for beneficiaries.
The calculation, step by step
A sole parent with two children renting at $650 in Area 1:
- Rent: $650.00
- Less entry threshold: $650.00 − $168.00 = $482.00 of eligible rent
- 70% of the excess: $482.00 × 70% = $337.40
- Area 1 maximum for a sole parent with 2+ children: $305.00
- Supplement payable: $305.00 — the cap applies
The cap is the reason the supplement does not keep rising with rent. Two households paying $650 and $800 in the same area can receive the same $305.
Income and asset tests
- Cash assets: $8,100 or less for a single person, $16,200 for a couple or sole parent. These are hard cut-offs.
- Income: the supplement reduces by 25 cents for every dollar of income above a threshold that varies by benefit and household type.
- Boarders and renters: payments from boarders or renters count as income.
- Public housing: you cannot get the supplement if you rent a Kāinga Ora or community housing property.
Applying, and getting it backdated
- Call Work and Income first — assistance can be granted from the date you first make contact, provided the application is completed within 20 working days.
- Apply through MyMSD or complete an Extra Help application form if you are not already getting payments.
- Provide proof of costs: tenancy agreement, rent statement, board arrangement, or mortgage documents plus rates.
- Report changes in rent, address, income or household composition — the supplement is reassessed when any of them change.
- Reapply if declined. A decline is often caused by a missing document or a benefit you have not yet claimed rather than a genuine ineligibility.
Deep dive — 2026 update
Three worked examples in different areas
| Household | Rent | Threshold | 70% of excess | Area cap | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, Area 4 | $150 | $93 | $39.90 | $70 | $39.90 |
| Couple no children, Area 2 | $520 | $158 | $253.40 | $155 | $155.00 |
| Sole parent, 2 children, Area 4 | $420 | $168 | $176.40 | $120 | $120.00 |
Two patterns stand out. First, the cap bites quickly: two of these three households would receive more under the formula but are limited by the area maximum. Second, a single person paying modest rent in Area 4 receives a small payment — $39.90 in the example — which is still worth claiming, because it can be reassessed automatically each year without a new application.
Three declines and how to fix them
- "Your rent is below the entry threshold." Check which benefit threshold was applied. Supported Living Payment and NZ Super thresholds are higher than Jobseeker Support's, and non-beneficiaries are assessed on Jobseeker thresholds. If you started getting a different benefit, ask for a reassessment.
- "Your cash assets are over the limit." The limits are $8,100 single and $16,200 for a couple or sole parent, and ACC lump sums and independence allowance payments can raise them. Ask for the asset calculation in writing and check what has been counted — a joint account with someone outside the household is a common error.
- "Your income is too high." The supplement reduces by 25 cents per dollar above an income threshold, so a decline usually means income above a specific level rather than any income at all. Asking for the threshold that was applied will tell you whether the assessment is right.
Changes that trigger a reassessment
- A rent increase — report it the week it takes effect; an unreported increase is money you do not receive.
- Moving house, including within the same city, if it changes your area band.
- Income changes — a new job, extra hours, or a partner's pay rise.
- Household changes — a partner moving in, a child being born, or a child leaving care.
- Starting or finishing a benefit — the entry threshold changes even if nothing else does.
The supplement is not taxed, does not affect your other payments and does not affect your Income Related Rent. Report changes through MyMSD, and check the payment advice after each change to confirm the new amount.