Consyl Publishing & Publicity Ltd

Consyl Publishing & Publicity Ltd

Home > Our Publications > New Zealand Outlook > 2008 > May

Benefits and student allowances increase

BENEFITS and allowances in New Zealand increased last month.
This reflects the government's ongoing commitment to support vulnerable families and communities. Increases of 3.18 per cent in benefits and allowances equates to changes in the cost of living, as measured by the Consumers Price Index.
Examples of the changes include:

a sole parent will get an extra NZ$8.13 a week
a couple on Invalids Benefit will receive an extra NZ$11.82 a week
a sole parent on Invalids Benefit will now receive over NZ$300 a week, up from NZ$293
a grandparent caring for a 14 year old grandchild will benefit from a change from NZ$153.05 to NZ$157.92 a week.

This government has provided a package of support under Working for Families to ensure that work really pays. Further increases will offer even more support to working families.
A family earning less than NZ$1,540 a week before tax with three school age children can now receive up to NZ$210.60 per week to support their child care costs during term time.
Around 62,500 students will also receive increases to their allowances. An eligible student aged 18-24 living away from home will receive an extra NZ$250 a year. Students can now receive a full allowance if their parents' income is less than NZ$45,744, a total increase of NZ$5441 since last year. And the amount that can be earned before graduates have to start repaying their student loans has increased from NZ$17,784 to NZ$18,148.
These increases are in addition to those I have already announced to New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans Pension that will benefit nearly half a million older New Zealanders.
Our commitment to support New Zealanders is a sharp contrast to the policies of the National party which have been to slash benefits leaving superannuitants, students and families struggling to cope with rising costs.