Unemployment Benefit
Unemployment Benefit is a weekly payment which helps people who are looking for work or training for work.
Who can get it
You may get the Unemployment Benefit if you are not in full-time work.
You must be:
- available for, and looking for full time work
- 18 years old or over (or 16-17 if you are married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship and have one or more children you support).
You must also (unless you are in hardship):
- be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years at any one time since becoming a New Zealand citizen or resident (unless you are a refugee).
You should also normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here.
You may still qualify if you are a full-time trainee on an approved work related course (usually less than 12 weeks) and looking for work.
This information is a guide only. Please contact us to talk about your individual circumstances.
How to apply
If you’re aged 16 to 64, you need to:
- complete an application form
- meet us to provide the necessary supporting documents.
If this isn’t you, contact us about applying.
How long do I have to complete my application?
You have 20 working days from when you first contacted us (submitting your online application form counts as contacting us). You'll need to provide us with any supporting documentation required for your application within this time. If you don't do this, you may have to reapply.
If you can't complete your application within 20 working days for any reason, please contact us.