# Work and Income - Web Capture - Supported Living Payment

**Document ID:** doc-0101
**Source organisation:** Work and Income
**Publication date:** Undated (living guidance)
**Original capture:** June 2026
**Publisher’s eligibility update:** 24 July 2026
**Publisher’s income rules update:** 25 June 2026
**Independently checked:** 8 October 2026

## Summary

Official Supported Living Payment guidance distinguishes disability and full-time carer eligibility, with different minimum ages and an income assessment. The payment itself has no cash asset test; supplementary assistance has separate rules.

## Key facts

- Health condition, injury or disability route: applicants must be at least 16 and permanently and severely restricted in work capacity, or totally blind.
- The work-capacity criteria cover a condition affecting work for more than two years or life expectancy under two years, and inability to regularly work 15+ hours weekly in open employment.
- Full-time carer route: care must be at home for someone other than the applicant’s partner who would otherwise need hospital or residential-level care.
- Carers must be 18+ without a dependent child, or 20+ with a dependent child.
- Payment depends on the applicant’s situation and their and their partner’s income; some income exclusions apply.
- For SLP alone, Work and Income says assets do not need to be declared. Other assistance can have separate asset rules.
- A totally blind recipient does not need to declare income from working under the SLP income rules.

## Next step

Identify the correct eligibility route and ask Work and Income about medical evidence, residence and income. New applicants can use MyMSD; existing benefit recipients can call 0800 559 009.

## Sources and scope

[Work and Income: Supported Living Payment](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/supported-living-payment.html) — accessed 8 October 2026.

[Work and Income: SLP income rules](https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/on-a-benefit/tell-us/income/need-to-declare/supported-living-payment.html) — accessed 8 October 2026.

[Work and Income policy: benefit payment rates are not subject to an asset test](https://map.workandincome.govt.nz/map/income-support/main-benefits/supported-living-payment/changes-and-reviews-supported-living-payment/paying-a-higher-rate-01.html) — accessed 8 October 2026.

Undated living guidance; original June 2026 capture was labelled 2026 without a demonstrated publication date. Eligibility page updated 24 July 2026 and income rules page updated 25 June 2026; both checked independently on 8 October 2026. SLP criteria, supplementary assistance and NZ Super eligibility must be assessed separately.

Original paraphrase of Work and Income guidance; follow official links for the full requirements.