Beneficiary Advisory Service
Grant directory
Apprenticeship boost
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Can be recoverable if conditions are not followed
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$500 per month during the eligible apprentice's first 24 months of study (max of $12,000
Domestic Violence and Witness Protection (relocation) Programme
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Non-recoverable travel grant to relocate overseas
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Non-recoverable set-up grant to assist with costs associated with establishing life in relocation country
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Non-recoverable living expenses grants
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The above grants are not available for those under New Zealand police witness protection programme
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Grants may become recoverable if not used for the intended purpose
Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme
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Improving client outcomes and assisting with the transition to employment
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May be weekly payments but can be a one-off grant in some circumstances
Funeral Grant
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The maximum amount available is $2,559.20
Orphans and Unsupported Child’s Benefit Programme
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Establishment grant
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$350 one-off payment
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Also available - School and year start-up payments (rates dependant on the age of the child)
Seasonal Work Assistance Programme
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Non-recoverable (You don't need to pay this back)
Sole Parent Study Assistance Programme
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Recoverable (You will need to pay this back)
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$500 per calendar year
Special needs grants for emergency housing
Recoverable (You will need to pay this back)
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People in need of emergency housing
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Security deposit
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Emergency housing contribution
Student Allowance Transfer Grant Programme
Non-recoverable (You don't need to pay this back)
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Amount equivalent to the working-age benefit that would be payable to the applicant
Transition to Work
Non-recoverable (You don't need to pay this back)
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Up to $1500 in a 52-week period
$5K to Work
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Must be repaid if obligations are not met
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Must be relocating to take up employment that can be proven to last over 91 days
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Employment must be 30 hours per week minimum and if not client must be able to support themselves for more than 91 days without a main benefit
Housing support program
Bond grant
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Recoverable - You must pay this back
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Moving costs grant
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Recoverable - You must pay this back
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Max amount $1500
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Rent in advance grant
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Recoverable - You must pay this back
Rent arrears
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Recoverable - You must pay this back
Tenancy costs grant
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Money owing to the landlord that is in excess of the bond paid
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Conditional
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Must be paid back to MSD
Transition to alternative housing grant
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Moving from social housing to alternative housing
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Non-recoverable - You do not need to pay this back
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Conditional
Recoverable Assistance Payments
For needs considered both immediate and essential
Can cover things such as:
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Ambulance subscriptions
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Attendance at funerals (up to $200)
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Basic furniture
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Car repairs (up to $400)
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Child restraints and safety harnesses (up to $200)
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Clothing ($150 for a single person with no dependent child, $300 for a couple with no dependent child, $400 for a couple or sole parent with dependent child)
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Dentures and hearing aids (up to $1000)
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Driver licensing
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Emergency payments - special circumstances (up to $200)
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Emergency household needs - outstanding bills (up to $200)
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Loss of property from fire or theft (up to $1000)
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Power or gas bills
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Glasses (up to $1000)
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School costs such as fees and stationary (up to $200) and uniforms (up to $300)
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Telephone installation (up to $200)
Recoverable Assistance Payments
For needs considered both immediate and essential
Can cover things such as:
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Ambulance subscriptions
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Attendance at funerals (up to $200)
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Basic furniture
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Car repairs (up to $400)
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Child restraints and safety harnesses (up to $200)
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Clothing ($150 for a single person with no dependent child, $300 for a couple with no dependent child, $400 for a couple or sole parent with dependent child)
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Dentures and hearing aids (up to $1000)
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Driver licensing
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Emergency payments - special circumstances (up to $200)
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Emergency household needs - outstanding bills (up to $200)
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Loss of property from fire or theft (up to $1000)
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Power or gas bills
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Glasses (up to $1000)
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School costs such as fees and stationary (up to $200) and uniforms (up to $300)
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Telephone installation (up to $200)
Special Needs Grants
non-recoverable for essential needs
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Food grants - one per 26 week entitlement
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$200 for a single person with no dependent children
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$300 for a couple with no dependent children
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$450 for a couple or sole parent with 1 or 2 dependent children
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$550 for a couple or sole parent with 3 or more dependent children
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Grant for termination of pregnancy or vasectomy
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Up to $300
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Removal of birthmarks
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Up to $300
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Wigs and hairpieces - on the grounds of a medical condition
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Up to $300
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Health travel costs
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Up to $300
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May be extended to $400 if the person requiring treatment is a child, or whanau support is required
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Bedding
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On conditions of a long-term illness or disability, or additional child has been born into or adopted into the immediate family
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Up to $200
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Reestablishment payments for released, sentenced, and remanded prisoners
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Non-recoverable grants up to a total of $350
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For accommodation, beds, essential appliances, connecting telephone, food, clothing and toiletries
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Young person leaving care to live independently
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Recoverable grant of up to $800 for accommodation costs
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Non-recoverable grant of up to $1200 for bed, bedding, essential appliances, electricity/gas, connecting a telephone
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Sole parent high-income
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Recoverable
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Serious hardship
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Recoverable
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MSD will consider under exceptional circumstances
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Single applicants only
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Persons becoming sick during a non-entitlement period
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Non-recoverable
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Renewals of existing driver's license
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Recoverable
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New drivers license
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Recoverable
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Grants to farmers, orchardists, etc
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Non-recoverable
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If the primary industry is in financial difficulty
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Travel costs for visits to designated health practitioners
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Non-recoverable grant of up to $200
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Travel must be more than 8km or less than 8km with no public transportation available
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Repair and maintenance of on-site effluent treatment systems
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Up to $300
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Dental treatment
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Immediate and essential treatment only
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Up to $1000
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Emergency medical treatment
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Up to $300
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Overseas medical treatment
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Must be approved by a health agency
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Cash assets of person/couple must not exceed $5000
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Other emergency grants
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May be recoverable or non-recoverable
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Must be considered by MSD as special circumstances
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Up to $500
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Refugees, protected persons, Afghan interpreters and Afghan evacuees
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Non-recoverable grant up to $3,500
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Sole parent
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Recoverable grant of up to $800 for accommodation
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Non-recoverable grant of up to $600 for beds, bedding, essential appliances, and electricity/gas
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Long-term patient resettling in the community
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For those who have spent over 6 months in a hospital or residential unit
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Recoverable grant of up to $800 for accommodation or
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Non-recoverable grant of up to $1200 for beds, bedding, essential appliances, electricity/gas, clothing and toiletries
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Applicants applying for residence class visas who have lost the financial support of their sponsors
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Non-recoverable grant at MSD discretion
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Applicants in New Zealand under relocation arrangement
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Weekly non-recoverable grants
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Non-recoverable set-up grants exceeding no more than $5000 in total
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Victims of people trafficking
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Weekly non-recoverable grants if the recipient and/or family are in hardship
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Beneficiaries transferring between benefits
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Non-recoverable
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Transfer compensation grants
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Non-recoverable
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Applicable if MSD changes the payday of a benefit from fortnightly to weekly
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Grants during stand downs, strikes, application process, or pre-benefit activities
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Recoverable
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