Community Law
Free Legal Help throughout New Zealand

There are several types of help available. You may be eligible for more than one type of help. In many cases, you don’t have to be on a benefit to get help. Here is a summary of what is available:

• Main benefits: A main benefit is designed to replace lost income. If you have lost a large part of your income because of the floods you may be eligible for a main benefit.
• Help with living expenses: Financial help may be available if you face extra financial pressure because of the floods. Help is available for people with food costs, accommodation costs (like rent or mortgage payments), bills (like power or water), or other costs. You don’t have to be on a benefit to get this help.
• Natural disaster payments: There is also special help aimed at flood and cyclone issues. Natural disaster payments usually have a maximum amount, and must be used for essential items (like accommodation, food, bedding, clothing, other urgent payments). There are three different funds:
  • Mayoral Relief payments
  • Civil Defence payments
  • Targeted Disability payments

A main benefit is designed to replace lost income. The most common reasons for losing your income because of the floods will be:

• You could no longer travel to your workplace due to floods or slips
• The job no longer exists
• You need to stay home to care for someone
• You were injured in the floods and can no longer work

You must meet the eligibility criteria. You can find out more about eligibility in “Dealing with Work and Income” in the Community Law Manual.

You can begin the application process by phoning Work and Income’s 0800 559 009 number and telling them that you need income support.

You can also apply online if you have a client number (if you don’t have a client number you can request one on the Work and Income website here).

To complete the application process, you’ll need a face-to-face appointment with a Work and Income case manager.

You should apply for a main benefit as soon as possible.  The date you apply for a benefit (sometimes called the ‘date of first contact’) is important as it might determine when your benefit starts. It’s a good idea to record this date as Work and Income might not.

You do not need to know what benefit you are applying for. Work and Income must help you apply for any assistance you are eligible for.

For more information about how to apply, see: “Dealing with Work and Income.”

Work and Income can also help if you are struggling financially or have unexpected bills. The floods and slips have meant lots of people have unexpected bills (for example, cleaning and storage bills) or are struggling financially.

Anyone can apply for help with living expenses, you don’t need to be on a benefit to apply. To find out more about eligibility, see: “Dealing with Work and Income.”

You can begin the application process by phoning Work and Income’s 0800 559 009 number and telling them that you need help with living expenses. If you are on a benefit, you may be able to apply online using MyMSD. If you aren’t on a benefit or unable to use MyMSD, you’ll need to call Work and Income.

To complete the application process, you’ll need a face-to-face appointment with a Work and Income case manager.

You should apply for help with living expenses as soon as possible. Your payments could be calculated from the day you started the application process.

You do not need to know what payment you are applying for. Work and Income must help you apply for any assistance you are eligible for.

You can find out more about how to apply on the Work and Income website here.

You might be eligible for relief from your local council’s Mayoral Relief Fund.  These funds are run by local councils and are meant to quickly help people recover from emergencies.

Each local council has its own rules for how relief will be given out. You can find the contact details for your local council online at: www.localcouncils.govt.nz. This means that the application process, criteria and due dates are different for each region.  It is important to check what kinds of relief your local council is offering, whether you are eligible and the conditions you must meet to get that relief.  In general:

• you will be more likely to get relief from your local Mayoral Relief Fund if you are a ratepayer or resident in the affected region
• priority will be given to households directly impacted by the floods for:
  • buying essentials for daily life, transport needs, and household contents
  • costs to rebuild or repair buildings damaged by the cyclone
  • other essential items not covered by insurance or other funds

The amount of relief is capped at between $1,000 – $2,500.

Work and Income offers Civil Defence Payments when there is an emergency event. The Civil Defence Payments are to help cover costs of food, bedding, clothing and accommodation.  The payment can also cover loss of income if you can’t work due to Cyclone Gabrielle (for example, if you can’t get to work, or if you need to care for a child while their school is closed).

When there is an emergency event, Work and Income will update their website with details of who is eligible and how you can apply. Civil Defence Payments are no longer available for people affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

There is dedicated funding set aside for disabled people affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Funding of up to $1,000 is available for disabled persons and their whānau.

You can only apply to the following organisations for this funding:

• Yes Disability Resource Centre:
  • Areas covered: Auckland
  • Phone Number: 09 414 5360
  • Email: admin@yesdisability.org.nz
• CCS Disability Action Bay of Plenty Incorporated:
  • Areas covered: Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Hawkes Bay, Waikato
  • Phone: 0800 227 2255 or 07 578 0063
  • Email: bop@ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz
  • Website: www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz
• Autism New Zealand:
  • Areas covered: Auckland
  • Phone: 09 846 0913
  • Email: auckland@autismnz.org.nz
• Carers NZ:
  • Areas covered: Auckland, Northland
  • Phone: 021 277 2401
  • Email: help@carers.net.nz
• Hōhepa Hawkes Bay:
  • Areas covered: Hawkes Bay
  • Phone Laura: 027 259 2385
  • Website: hohepahawkesbay.com
  • Or visit the Hōhepa Hawkes Bay Community Drop In Centre: 258 Gloucester Street, Taradale

These providers might be able to help you with funding for services, devices or equipment that you need.  Further information for this dedicated funding is available here.

You can’t use this funding for:

• services, devices, equipment or support already funded through other contracts,
• alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, or vaping products,
• purchasing a vehicle,
• food (this should be covered by the Food Secure Communities Programme and/or and Special Needs Grant),
• items already purchased,
• gambling purposes (such as Lotto products),
• purchasing cash assets (Cash Assets – WINZ), or
• ongoing costs, such as subscriptions.

People who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments can access this funding. The eligibility is based on the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD). For more information on the CRPD, see: “Disability Rights”.