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Assistance available from Work and Income

Assistance available from Work and Income falls into three key areas:

  • financial assistance
  • employment and training assistance
  • health and disability services.

The table below indicates some of the assistance that may be available to people in specific circumstances.

If the person is… They may be able to get…

Working and on a low to middle income, facing high costs or in financial hardship

Aged 65 years old or over

Caring for someone sick or infirm

A woman alone, 50 years old or over or whose partner has died

16 or 17 years old, unemployed and looking for work, still at school or training or can’t work because they’re sick, injured or disabled

Looking for full-time work

A trainee on an approved
work-related course

Not able to work because of illness,
injury, disability or pregnancy

Raising children alone

A refugee or someone who can’t get other types of financial assistance.
  • Emergency Benefit

Caring for someone else’s child

Living in a hospital or rest home
long-term

Caring for a disabled child
Where the person needs extra financial support with… They may be able to get…

Housing costs, for example:

  • rent, board or mortgage payments
  • overdue rent or power account
  • buying household appliances and furniture
  • urgent and essential house repairs

The cost of setting up a business, for example:

  • professional fees for business advice
  • purchase plant and equipment or initial
  • start up stock
  • buying materials required to produce
  • goods for the business

The costs of working, for example:

  • buying work clothes, safety boots and tools
  • paying for travel when they start working
  • necessary living costs until they get
  • their first pay
  • weather conditions affecting their seasonal work
  • childcare, after-school care or holiday care

Health costs, for example:

  • prescriptions and doctors’ visits
  • extra costs of having a disability
  • transport costs to doctor or hospital
  • ambulance fees
  • dentures, glasses or hearing aids

Study costs, for example:

  • course fees and costs such as stationery, text books and travel
  • living costs for children studying away from home

Family costs, for example:

  • childcare, after-school care or holiday care
  • school uniforms, books and exam fees
  • caring for a special needs or disabled child
  • car seats and safety helmets
  • costs of having a multiple birth

Funeral costs, for example:

  • funeral costs of a child, partner or parent
  • travel costs to attend the funeral of a family member

Emergency, essential or immediate needs, for example:

  • emergency dental and medical care
  • food and bedding
  • power reconnection fees
  • hire purchase and loan repayments
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