New Zealand Supported Living Payment: weekly rates

Supported Living Payment rates depend on age and family circumstances, with separate eligibility for health conditions and full-time caring.

Single 16–17, no children

$355.87 net / $405.90 gross weeklyWork and Income, benefit rates at 1 April 2026

Single 18+, no children

$424.60 net / $489.21 gross weeklyWork and Income, benefit rates at 1 April 2026

Couple, no children, total

$721.44 net / $823.56 gross weeklyWork and Income, benefit rates at 1 April 2026

Sole parent

$581.96 net / $679.95 gross weeklyWork and Income, benefit rates at 1 April 2026

Couple with children, total

$756.94 net / $866.60 gross weeklyWork and Income, benefit rates at 1 April 2026

The April weekly rates and tax basis

Work and Income's table gives benefit rates at 1 April 2026. For Supported Living Payment without children, the single rate at age 16–17 is $355.87 a week after tax at the M tax code, or $405.90 before tax. For a single person aged 18 or older without children, the published weekly rate is $424.60 after tax at M or $489.21 before tax. Work and Income, benefit rates at 1 April 2026 (opens in a new tab).

Couple totals and families with children

Without children, the couple total is $721.44 after tax at M or $823.56 before tax each week. The table separately gives $360.72 after tax or $411.78 before tax for each person. With children, the sole-parent weekly rate is $581.96 after tax at M or $679.95 before tax. The couple total with children is $756.94 after tax or $866.60 before tax; each person's rate is $378.47 after tax or $433.30 before tax. Work and Income, benefit rates at 1 April 2026 (opens in a new tab).

Health-related eligibility

Supported Living Payment helps people who have, or care for someone with, a significant health condition, injury or disability. For a health-related application, the applicant must be at least 16 and either totally blind or permanently and severely restricted in the ability to work. Work and Income describes a condition affecting work capacity for more than 2 years, or life expectancy below 2 years, and inability to regularly work 15 hours or more a week in open employment. Work and Income, Supported Living Payment (opens in a new tab).

Caring and the individual assessment

The full-time caring route requires care at home for someone other than the applicant's partner who would otherwise need hospital or residential-level care. A carer must be at least 18 without a dependent child, or at least 20 with a dependent child. General criteria include citizenship or residence status, continuous residence and ordinary residence. The amount depends on the applicant's situation and their own and partner's earnings; Work and Income may exclude some income in health-related cases. Work and Income, Supported Living Payment (opens in a new tab).

Scope of this explanation

This is general information about selected published weekly rates and eligibility routes. It does not assess medical evidence, determine recognised caring responsibilities or establish an individual's entitlement. No benefit calculator or worked payment example is provided. The guide does not select a tax code, calculate income deductions, cover every partnered category or promise the amount deposited in a particular bank account.

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