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Financial help for the person cared for
New Zealand Superannuation
This is for people who are 65 years or over and have lived in New Zealand for at least a total of 10 years since turning 20 (and five of those years since turning 50).
Talk to Work and Income for more information.
Invalid’s Benefit
This benefit is for people who have a permanent and severe sickness, injury or disability that stops them working or makes it difficult to work.
This means the sickness, injury or disability is expected to continue for at least two years. It can also mean the illness is terminal and the person is not expected to live more than two years. The person can’t work regularly for 15 hours or more a week. People who are totally blind can also receive this benefit.
The Invalid’s Benefit has an income test.
Talk to Work and Income for more information.
Sickness Benefit
The Sickness Benefit helps people who aren’t working at the moment, or are working fewer hours because they are sick, injured, disabled or pregnant.
A person may get this benefit if, because of their sickness, injury, disability or pregnancy, they:
- have had to reduce their hours
- have had to stop working
- are not working or are working part-time and find it hard to look for and do full-time work.