Charging income - caring for New Zealand Superannuation or Veterans Pension partner

When a client is getting Emergency Benefit because they are caring for their New Zealand Superannuation or Veterans Pension partner on medical grounds, income is charged weekly as it is earned and at the following rates:

15 cents is taken from the benefit for each dollar of income that the client and their partner earn over $160.00 per week, but not more than $250.00 per week (as at 1 April 2021)
35 cents for every dollar of income that is more than $250.00 per week (as at 1 April 2021)

The income deduction is only applied to the Emergency Benefit client's rate of payment.

The partner's New Zealand Superannuation or Veterans Pension is not reduced by the couple's income.

Note income does not include the rate of New Zealand Superannuation or Veterans Pension paid to the partner.

Example 1

Couple (no children), one partner is getting New Zealand Superannuation, the other partner is providing full-time care for the first partner. The couple's income is $340.00 gross per week.

Income deduction 35 cents for every $1.00 earned over $250.00 per week

	$340.00 gross per week
Less	$250.00
	$90.00 x 35 cents =	$31.50 deduction

Income deduction 15 cents for every $1.00 earned over $160.00 per week but less than $250.00 per week

	$250.00 gross per week
Less	$160.00
	$90.00 x 15 cents =	$13.50 deduction
	Plus	$31.50 (deduction from above table)
	Total income deduction	$45.00
	client	partner
maximum benefit payable (as at 1 April 2026)	$360.72	N/A
less income deduction	$45.00	N/A
Benefit payable	$315.72	N/A

Example 2

Civil union couple with one child, one partner is getting New Zealand Superannuation, the other partner is providing full-time care for the first partner. The couple's income is $570.00 gross per week.