# Older Person Financial Support Map — Quick Reference

**Purpose:** A local navigation map to official financial-support information for older people and their whānau. Work and Income decides eligibility after assessing individual circumstances.

**Provenance:** Original library capture: June 2026; publication year: 2026. Substantive source review: 9 October 2026. This map is authored by the library, not issued by Work and Income. Rate examples below use the April 2026 rate schedule and current care guidance. Follow the linked sources for subsequent changes.

## Find the relevant support

| Situation                                          | Support and starting point                                                                                         | Current amount or assessment boundary                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| -------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Reaching retirement age                            | [NZ Super eligibility](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/seniors/superannuation/who-can-get-it.html)   | Age 65+, citizenship/visa and ordinary-residence criteria. Residence since 20 varies by birth date from 10–20 years, including five years since 50; overseas residence/pensions can require special assessment.                                                                                                     |
| Checking pension amounts                           | [April 2026 benefit rates](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/benefit-rates/benefit-rates-april-2026.html) | Fortnightly, after tax on an M code: single living alone $1,110.30; single sharing $1,024.90; qualifying couple $854.08 each. Other tax codes produce different amounts.                                                                                                                                            |
| Paying rent, board or home ownership costs         | [Accommodation Supplement](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/accommodation-supplement.html)  | Separate income, cash-asset and minimum housing-cost tests. Cash assets normally capped at $8,100 single/$16,200 couple or sole parent. Single-person weekly area maxima are $165/$105/$80/$70, not guaranteed payments. Excludes tenants of public housing provided by Kāinga Ora or approved community providers. |
| Ongoing disability-related expenses                | [Disability Allowance](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/disability-allowance.html)          | Up to $82.85 weekly, based on verified costs and income rules. Condition must be expected to last at least six months; health-practitioner confirmation and cost evidence are needed. Cannot be paid while receiving Residential Care Subsidy.                                                                      |
| Heating during winter                              | [Winter Energy Payment](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/winter-energy-payment.html)        | Automatic with qualifying pensions/benefits, subject to exclusions. Weekly: $20.46 single without dependent children; $31.82 couple/person with dependent children. Runs 1 May–1 October. The 2026 period has ended; a final part-payment may arrive in October. Residential Care Subsidy recipients are excluded.  |
| Permanent aged residential care                    | [Residential Care Subsidy](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/residential-care-subsidy.html)  | Requires assessed care need and financial assessment. Paid to the provider; the resident contributes assessed income. See the care pathway below.                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Keeping the home while paying for residential care | [Residential Care Loan](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/residential-care-loan.html)        | Interest-free during its agreed term, secured by a caveat over the home. Each application is considered individually. Repayment and late-interest rules apply.                                                                                                                                                      |

NZ Super can continue while working, although other income may change the tax code or reduce supplementary assistance. Do not treat the pension as proof of eligibility for Accommodation Supplement, Disability Allowance or care funding. See the [official seniors gateway](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/seniors/index.html) for other support and concessions.

## If you need help paying for aged residential care

1. Obtain a needs assessment. Call **Seniorline 0800 725 463** for your local assessor. The assessment considers the appropriate care service.
2. Request the Residential Care Subsidy application and financial means assessment. Care eligibility, contracted services, assets and income are assessed separately.
3. For a person aged 65+ who is single, or a couple both in care, the asset threshold is **$300,811**. Where one partner remains outside care, choose **$164,731 excluding the family home and car**, or **$300,811 including them**. Check how your home, trusts and gifts are assessed; there is no blanket 12-month home exemption in the linked guidance.
4. Passing the asset assessment does **not** establish entitlement to full funding. The income assessment determines your contribution. Most pension income goes towards care; current subsidy guidance lists a **$58.34 weekly personal allowance** and **$365.92 annual clothing allowance**. Premium room charges remain private costs.
5. If you retain the home and cannot meet care costs, ask about the loan. Current criteria include a home worth more than **$300,811**, other assets below **$15,000 single/$30,000 with a partner**, and adequate security. Approval is case by case.
6. The loan is paid to the care provider after documentation is complete. Application costs are additional. Processing may take **6–8 weeks** and you may need to pay full care costs while waiting. Discuss this with the provider.
7. Repay the loan on sale of the home or **within 12 months of death**, whichever happens first. Late repayment may attract **10% yearly interest calculated daily**. As the loan reduces net assets, subsidy eligibility can be reconsidered through another financial means assessment; transfer is not automatic.

**Care funding contact:** Work and Income Residential Subsidy Unit **0800 999 727**, or **msd_rcs@msd.govt.nz** for subsidy enquiries. For general seniors support call **0800 552 002**.

People aged 50–64 have different care eligibility rules; use the subsidy page or contact the team rather than applying the 65+ thresholds to every case. For support at home or respite, ask the needs assessor about the service appropriate to your situation.

## Other income support and applying

[Supported Living Payment](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/supported-living-payment.html) has a health/disability route and a separate full-time-carer route, with different age conditions. It is not a general payment for everyone over 65; use the official eligibility rules and ask Work and Income which payment applies.

For housing or disability assistance, establish contact promptly and provide the application and evidence required. The official pages explain when an application completed within **20 working days** can preserve entitlement from first contact. Keep receipts for ongoing disability expenses. Request an individual assessment rather than assuming a listed maximum is payable.

## Source and capture trail

The official pages were reviewed on 9 October 2026. The loan and NZ Super eligibility content was checked through the official indexed pages when direct retrieval timed out. Publisher update dates are distinct from this library review: NZ Super eligibility 22 July; loan 23 July; Accommodation Supplement 24 July; Disability Allowance 29 July; subsidy 4 August; Winter Energy Payment 18 September 2026. The rate schedule takes effect **1 April 2026**.

Related captures retained in this library:

- [NZ Superannuation](2026%20-%20Work%20and%20Income%20-%20Web%20Capture%20-%20NZ%20Superannuation.md)
- [Residential Care Subsidy](2026%20-%20Work%20and%20Income%20-%20Web%20Capture%20-%20Residential%20Care%20Subsidy.md)
- [Residential Care Loan](2026%20-%20Work%20and%20Income%20-%20Web%20Capture%20-%20Residential%20Care%20Loan.md)
- [Disability Allowance](2026%20-%20Work%20and%20Income%20-%20Web%20Capture%20-%20Disability%20Allowance.md)
- [Benefit rates from April 2026](2026%20-%20Work%20and%20Income%20-%20Web%20Capture%20-%20Benefit%20Rates%20April%202026.md)

These are preserved local briefs; the official links above are the authoritative source for current decisions.