Client with a partner in the community

If a client is in long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home and has a partner living in the community, the partner living in the community may get:

• New Zealand Superannuation paid at the single sharing accommodation rate or the single living alone rate
• Veterans Pension paid at the single sharing accommodation rate or the single living alone rate or
• Emergency Benefit paid at the Supported Living Payment single or sole parent rate (if they have a dependent child)

The benefit or pension type and rate the partner living in the community gets, is determined by the benefit or pension type they are getting when their partner enters long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home.

For New Zealand Superannuation it also depends on whether the partner living in the community is getting New Zealand Superannuation in their own right, or if they are getting a main benefit or ACC-Earnings Related Compensation.

For more information see:

• Summary rates of payment
• New Zealand Superannuation Grandparented non-qualified partner with a partner in long-term residential care
• New Zealand Superannuation Qualified client with a partner in long-term residential care
• Partner in community not receiving a benefit

If the client in long-term residential care is receiving Residential Care Subsidy, the partner living in the community qualifies for a Special Disability Allowance if they are receiving a New Zealand benefit or pension.

For more information see:

• Special Disability Allowance
• Residential Care Subsidy Special Needs Grant and Advance Payments [no link find out why]
• Core policy Relationship status for benefit
• Advance payment of benefit