Young People and WINZ

If I'm under 18, what kind of help might I be able to get from Work & Income?

You need to be at least 18 to get most benefits from Work & Income. Before this age you are considered to be dependent on your parents. However, there are a few cases where you can get help younger....

Unemployment benefit

You usually need to be at least 18 to get the Unemployment benefit, however there is an exception to this rule if you:

• are 16 or 17; and
• are married or in a de facto relationship; and
• have 1 or more dependent children.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Because you need your parent’s permission to get married at 16, if you are in a de facto relationship (you have a partner who is also 16 or 17) you will need to prove to Work & Income that your parents are okay with this relationship. They will usually want to set up a meeting with your parents to do this, although a clear letter from them should be enough. 

Sickness benefit

You usually need to be 18 to get the Sickness benefit, but there are three exceptions that allow you to get Sickness benefit on grounds of hardship when you are 16 or 17. In all situations you need to be either:

• not in full-time employment, willing to work full-time, but unable to do so due to sickness, injury or disability; or
• in employment but losing earnings because you are unable to actually work or are working at a reduced level.

If you are in one of the situations above, you can then get Sickness benefit on grounds of hardship if you are:

• married and have 1 or more dependent children (see note above about de facto relationships / having a partner); or
• unmarried and more than 26 weeks pregnant; or
• unmarried and undergoing treatment in a rehabilitation programme recognised by Work & Income.

Invalid’s benefit

You only need to be 16 to get the Invalid’s benefit, not 18. You also need to be:

• totally blind; or
• unable to work 15 or more hours per week in open employment because of sickness, injury or disability;

and

• your sickness, injury or disability is likely to last for at least 2 years; or
• you are not expected to live for 2 years because your medical condition is terminal.

Independent Youth benefit (IYB)

To get the IYB you must be 16 or 17 years old and have no dependent children. You must also fit one of the basic situations below and the qualifications for either an unmarried person or a married person.

You must fit one of the basic situations below:

• you are unemployed, able and willing to undertake suitable employment, you comply with the work-test and are not a full-time student; or
• you are unemployed and enrolled in a full-time secondary course; or
• you are full-time in an employment-related training programme approved by Work & Income, or
• your ability to work is limited by sickness, illness or disability.

If you are unmarried, you must also be in the following situation:

• not living with your parents; and
• not being financially supported by your parents or anyone else; and

it is not reasonable to expect you to rely on your parents financially for one of the following reasons

• because there has been a breakdown in your relationship with your parents; or
• because your parents are absent and unable to support you financially; or
• for any other good and sufficient reason.

If you are married or in a de facto relationship (you have a partner), you just need to be 16 or 17, have no dependent children and fit one of the basic situations. You DO NOT need to have had a breakdown in your relationship with your parents or even be living away from your parents. But, if you are not legally married, then you will have to prove to Work & Income that your parents approve of the relationship.

Unsupported Child’s benefit

This benefit is paid in cases where your parents or caregivers are unable to look after you because there has been some kind of breakdown in your family. The benefit is not paid to you but to another person who is:

• 18 or older, and
• not your natural or adoptive or step-parent, and
• likely to be looking after you for at least a year.

You will usually be under 16 for this to be paid, but you could be 16 or 17 (if you are 16 or 17, you would usually first look at getting Independent Youth benefit).

Orphan’s benefit

This benefit is paid in cases where your natural or adoptive parents are dead or cannot be found or are seriously disabled so they cannot take care of you. The benefit is not paid to you but to another person who is:

• 18 or older, and
• not your natural or adoptive or step-parent, and
• likely to be looking after you for at least a year.

You will usually be under 16 for this to be paid, but you could be 16 or 17 (if you are 16 or 17, you would usually first look at getting Independent Youth benefit).

Emergency Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

You can get the EMA if:

• you are 16 or 17, and
• have a dependent child in your care, and
• it would be unreasonable for Work & Income to expect your parents to support you.

Reasons why it would be unreasonable for Work & Income to expect your parents to support you are because:

• there has been a breakdown in your relationship with your parents (you cannot be living at home); or
• your parents’ income is low enough that they are able to get some Family Support from Inland Revenue (they do not have to be getting this, just able to if they wanted).

Your partner is 18 or older

If your partner is 18 or older and receiving a benefit, and you are 16 or 17, then you could be included in his/her benefit if:

• you are legally married; or
• you have a dependent child.

If you are de facto (not legally married) and have no children, then you could be included in his/her benefit if:

• your parents give their consent for the relationship; or
• you can prove that there has been a breakdown in your relationship with your family.

Work & Income will probably want to have meeting with your parents or guardians to decide if you fit these criteria. If they approve your application then his benefit should be paid at the rate for a couple and you can be paid half of it each.

Will I be able to get extra help on top of a main benefit?

You may also qualify for:

• an Accommodation Supplement (to help with your rent or board);
• a Disability Allowance (for ongoing expenses directly related to a disability or medical condition);
• a Special Benefit (for those in hardship)
• Special Needs Grants (usually non-repayable grants, to cover a range of circumstances including an immediate and essential need for food, and urgent medical or dental treatment).
• Advances (getting some of your benefit early if you have an immediate need);
• Child Care or OSCAR Subsidy (if you have childcare costs);
• and other forms of supplementary assistance.

NOTE: This information is just a general guideline. Each of the benefits also has residency criteria etc. that you will need to meet.

If you think that you might be able to get one of these benefits it is a good idea to talk to a benefit advocacy service first – you should be able to get their contact details from your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

This page was compiled by Stacey Gasson

Stacey works at the Wellington People’s Centre in their Benefit Rights Service. She is a youth advocate and is currently producing a resource for community groups about benefit entitlements. Stacey is 28 years old and has been a member of the WPC for almost four years. The WPC is a membership-based organisation for people on benefits and low incomes. They provide a range of low-cost or free services for their members, including medical, dental, massage, counselling, acupuncture, social English classes, hairdressing and podiatry. The Benefit Rights Service is free to the public. If you are in Wellington, you can find WPC in Lukes Lane (off Manners Street), or they can be contacted on ph: (04)3858596, fax: (04) 3852520, email: wprc@actrix.gen.nz.