Payment rates for Main Benefits
The standard weekly rates of main benefits are increased yearly on 1 April, to reflect change in the Consumers Price Index (CPI) over the previous year. The rates for main benefits current from 1 April 2008 are listed in table 2.1.
Please note that:
- the rates shown in table 2.1 are maximum rates unless stated otherwise (the amount a person actually receives will depend on their income from other sources)
- where a couple are married or living as married, each partner receives one-half of the main benefit payment (as noted earlier, numbers of main benefit recipients shown in this report include only one partner from each such couple).
Table 2.1 Weekly payment rates for main benefits (payable from 1 April 2008)
| Main benefit | Status1 | Weekly payment rate2,3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of children | |||
| None | 1 or more | ||
| Unemployment Benefit | Married, each | $153.46 | $153.46 |
| Single 25+ | $184.17 | ||
| Single 18-24 | $153.46 | ||
| Single 18-19 (Living at Home) | $122.77 | ||
| Sole parent | $263.78 | ||
| Independent Youth Benefit | $153.46 | ||
| Sickness Benefit4 | Married, each | $153.46 | $153.46 |
| Single 25+ | $184.17 | ||
| Single 18-24 | $153.46 | ||
| Single 18-19 (Living at Home) | $122.77 | ||
| Sole parent | $263.78 | ||
| Invalid's Benefit | Married, each | $191.83 | $191.83 |
| Single 18+ | $230.19 | ||
| Single 16-17 | $186.28 | ||
| Sole parent | $302.40 | ||
| Domestic Purposes Benefit | Sole Parent | $263.78 | |
| Women Alone | $191.83 | ||
| Domestic Purposes Benefit - Care of Sick or Infirm5 | Single 18+ | $230.19 | |
| Single 16-17 | $186.28 | ||
| Sole parent | $302.40 | ||
| Married, each | $191.83 | $191.83 | |
| Emergency Maintenance Allowance | Age 16-17 (Living at Home) | $122.77 | |
| Age 16-17 (Away from Home) | $263.78 | ||
| 18 or over | $263.78 | ||
| Widow's Benefit | $191.83 | $263.78 | |
Notes
- "Married" includes people who are married, living as married, or in a civil union.
- Rates shown are the net amount set by regulations, and apply from 1 April 2008. Tax at the "M" rate is calculated retrospectively and paid to Inland Revenue.
- Rates shown exclude Family Tax Credits. Benefit recipients with dependent children qualify for these tax credits, which are funded by Inland Revenue. See table 2.2 for rates of these tax credits. From 1 April 2005 the child component of main benefits (ie the additional payment for children) was removed from main benefits and included in Family Tax Credits (see table 2.2 for current rates of these tax credits). This change was part of the Working for Families package.
- From 1 April 2006, all clients receiving Sickness Benefits have been paid at the same rate, regardless of when benefits were granted. Prior to this date, there were some differences between rates for Sickness Benefits granted before 1 October 1998 and Sickness Benefits granted after that date.
- Only the caregiver receives payment.
