Examples - calculating the rate of accommodation supplement
Example 1 - client is paying rent
Nadiya is getting Supported Living Payment on the ground of having a health condition, injury or disability. Nadiya is living in Wellington (Area 2), is married with 2 children, and pays rent of $375.00 a week.
First we need to know the entry threshold for a couple with 2 children, see: Entry thresholds and maximum rates
The entry threshold for Supported Living Payment for a health condition, injury or disability is $227.00 as at 1 April 2026.
The couple's rate of Accommodation Supplement can be assessed using the following calculation:
Accommodation costs (Rent) | $375.00 |
Less cost of part of property not lived in | $0 |
Less accommodation income | $0 |
$375.00 | |
Less entry threshold (as at 1 April 2026) | $227.00 |
Equals | $148.00 |
The couple is eligible for up to 70% of $148.00 | |
$148.00 x 0.70 equals | $103.60 |
Round up to the nearest whole dollar | $104.00 |
The last thing that remains to be done is to check the regional maximum Accommodation Supplement payable to a couple with 2 children. For Wellington (Area 2) this is $220.00 per week (as at 1 April 2026).
- the couple may only get $104.00 per week
Example 2 - client is paying board
Lev is getting Sole Parent Support and has 1 dependent child. Lev lives in Tauranga (Area 1) and pays board of $400 a week.
First check the entry threshold for a sole parent with 1 child, see: Entry thresholds and maximum rates.
The entry threshold for a sole parent, 1 child is $168.00 as at 1 April 2026.
Lev's rate of Accommodation Supplement can be assessed using the following calculation:
Accommodation costs (Board) | $400.00 |
Total board amount x 0.62 | $248.00 |
Less cost of part of property not lived in | $0 |
Less accommodation income | $0 |
$248.00 | |
Less entry threshold (as at 1 April 2026) | $168.00 |
Equals | $80.00 |
The couple is eligible for up to 70% of $80.00 | |
$80.00 x 0.70 equals | $56.00 |
Round up to the nearest whole dollar | $56.00 |
The last thing that remains to be done is to check the regional maximum Accommodation Supplement payable to a single person with 1 child. For Tauranga (Area 1) this is $235.00 per week (as at 1 April 2026).
- Lev may only get $56.00 per week
