Example - refugees, protected persons or residence applicants
A single client aged 25 years old getting Emergency Benefit living in Wellington (Area 2).
Weekly chargeable income | Weekly allowable costs | ||
Net rate of Emergency Benefit before any deductions (at 1 April 2026) | $372.55 | Weekly qualifying accommodation costs (Kāinga Ora rent $88.00) less $34.13 accommodation deduction as at 1 April 2026 | $53.87 |
Disability related costs for client | $65.00 | ||
Total chargeable income | $372.55 | Total allowable costs | $118.87 |
Step 1
Calculate the amount of disposable income.
Chargeable income | $372.55 |
Less Allowable costs | $118.87 |
Equals Disposable income | $253.68 |
Step 2
Calculate the deficiency or surplus.
Standard costs (70% of the net rate of unabated Emergency Benefit $372.55 x 70% at 1 April 2026) | $260.78 |
Less Disposable income (from step 1) | $253.68 |
Equals Deficiency | $7.10 |
A client does not qualify for Temporary Additional Support if:
- there is a surplus or
- the deficiency is less than $1.00
Step 3
Calculate the client's upper limit for certain refugees, protected persons or residence applicants for Temporary Additional Support then compare this amount to the deficiency.
Upper limit for certain refugees, protected persons or residence applicants - whichever is the greater of: Maximum rate of Accommodation Supplement payable for a single client for Area 2 ($105.00) or 30% of the net rate of unabated Emergency Benefit - $372.55 x 30% = $111.76 (at 1 April 2026) | $111.76 |
Deficiency (from step 2) | $7.10 |
Compare the 'upper limit for certain refugees, protected persons or residence applicants' to the deficiency. The rate of Temporary Additional Support is the lesser of the deficiency or the 'upper limit for certain refugees, protected persons or residence applicants' | $7.10 |
If the deficiency is less than the 'upper limit for certain refugees, protected persons or residence applicants', the rate of payment for Temporary Additional Support is the deficiency.
If the 'upper limit for certain refugees, protected persons or residence applicants' is less than the deficiency, the rate of payment for Temporary Additional Support is the 'upper limit for certain refugees, protected persons or residence applicants'.
Disability exception amount
Important note as these clients (or any family member) do not qualify for Disability Allowance, they do not qualify for the disability exception amount.
However, if they have a family member who is getting Disability Allowance, the client may qualify for the disability exception amount.
For more information see:
Legislation
- Prescribed amount of support: general weekly rate regulation 62 Social Security Regulations 2018
- Variation of upper limit for persons awaiting decision on refugee or protected person claims, refugees and protected persons, and certain applicants for residence class visas regulation 63 Social Security Regulations 2018
- Prescribed amount of support: exceptions regulation 66(1)(b) Social Security Regulations 2018
