Health condition, injury or disability: Jobseeker Support, Supported Living Payment and Disability Allowance

The three payments side by side

Jobseeker Support with a health condition or disability

• You need a Work Capacity Medical Certificate from your doctor or nurse practitioner. It shows how many hours you can work and for how long.
• Unable to work for now: you can have no work obligations for the period the practitioner sets. When it ends, you must tell Work and Income you are ready or provide a new certificate.
• Able to work part time (for example 15 to 30 hours): you still need to look for suitable work for those hours.
• Renew the certificate before it expires or payments may stop. Work and Income sends a reminder letter.
• Reapply every 26 weeks. In some cases Work and Income can require an assessment by a designated doctor.

A Kōrero Mahi 'Into work' seminar applies to people who have part-time work obligations because of a health condition or disability. If you cannot attend because of illness, tell them and rebook.

Supported Living Payment

• Health route: age 16+, permanently and severely unable to work because of the condition, or totally blind; condition affects work for more than 2 years, or life expectancy is under 2 years; you can't regularly work 15 hours a week or more in open employment.
• Carer route: you provide full-time care at home for someone (not your partner) who would otherwise need hospital or residential-level care; you are 18+ with no dependent child, or 20+ with a dependent child.
• Income of you and your partner is tested. You can still work a few hours.
• Medical information may be requested every 2 years; circumstances are reviewed at least every 52 weeks (return the Confirming your Circumstances form or payments stop).
• Apply through MyMSD with proof (medical certificate). If you're already on a benefit, call 0800 559 009.

Disability Allowance: a separate top-up

You don't need to be on a benefit. It helps with regular, ongoing costs of a disability that is likely to last at least 6 months, that aren't fully covered elsewhere. A health practitioner must confirm each cost, and you provide proof.

• Costs that can be included (Work and Income's examples): medical and specialist fees, prescriptions, counselling, medical alarms, travel related to your disability, power and heating, clothing, phone, rental equipment, special foods and supplements. Your health practitioner must confirm the costs.
• Income limits (only apply if you receive NZ Super or no main benefit, weekly before tax): single 18+ $870; single 16-17 $696.60; couple $1,295.11; sole parent 1 child $971.51; sole parent 2+ children $1,023.59.
• Apply in MyMSD or with the Extra Help form, plus a Disability Certificate and receipts. Renew when asked and review every 52 weeks.