Example - beneficiary with partner in the community
A couple with a 1 year old child, receiving Jobseeker Support - health condition, injury or disability, living in Auckland (area 1) with weekly costs of $450.00 for rent, $55.00 for car repayments and $25.00 for fridge repayments.
Note the benefit rates used in this example are as at 1 April 2026.
Step 1
A. Calculate in weekly amounts the client's essential ongoing costs in the community.
Essential ongoing costs | Weekly amount |
Rent | $450.00 |
Hire purchase for fridge | $25.00 |
Car repayments | $55.00 |
Total essential ongoing costs | $530.00 |
B. Calculate in weekly amounts any new costs incurred as a result of the client's entry into the programme.
New cost | Weekly amount |
None in this example | |
Total |
Step 2
Calculate the couple's combined net income prior to the client's entry into the programme.
Couple's income prior | Weekly net amount |
Jobseeker Support (at 1 April 2026) | $669.40 |
Family tax credit (at 1 April 2026) | $151.91 |
Accommodation Supplement (at 1 April 2026) | $171.50 |
Temporary Additional Support (at 1 April 2026) | $79.00 |
Total net income prior | $1,071.81 |
Step 3
Calculate the couple's net income now.
Couple's income now | Weekly net amount |
Jobseeker Support - sole parent rate (partner in the community) (at 1 April 2026) | $521.52 |
Family tax credit (at 1 April 2026) | $151.91 |
Accommodation Supplement, assess as sole parent (at 1 April 2026) | $197.40 |
Temporary Additional Support, assess as sole parent (at 1 April 2026) | $97.46 |
Total net income now | $968.29 |
Note the client's Jobseeker Support less an amount for their Personal Allowance is paid to the service provider towards the cost of their care.
Step 4
Calculate the difference between the couple's combined net income prior to the client's entry into the programme (Step 2) and their net income now (Step 3).
Couple's net income prior to client's entry into programme | $1,071.81 |
Couple's net income now | $968.29 |
Difference | $103.52 |
Step 5
Calculate the difference between the client's essential ongoing costs (Step 1A) and any assistance being received for those costs (Step 3).
Essential ongoing costs (Step 1A) | $530.00 |
Less assistance received for those costs (Step 3) | $294.86 |
Equals amount not being met | $235.14 |
Step 6
Calculate the rate of Community Costs to pay.
Compare the amount of costs not being met by any assistance received (Step 5) to the difference in income (Step 4) and pay the lesser of these.
Amount of costs not being met by assistance (Step 5) | $235.14 |
Difference in income (Step 4) | $103.52 |
In this example you can pay $103.52. The client and their partner are in the same financial position they were in prior to the client entering the programme.
Note if the client had incurred any new costs as a result of entering the programme (Step 1B) you would pay an additional amount to meet the new costs.
