Help in an emergency
Ngā āwhina ina pā he mate ohorere
Urgent and one-off assistance
Ngā āwhina inamata, ngā āwhina tukunga kotahi
These are one off payments for urgent or unexpected costs. If you want to know about ongoing help payments please go back to the previous screen.
We may be able to help you pay for these things:
Somewhere to live
If you need somewhere to stay now or you’re worried about having somewhere to live in the future, please talk with us so we can help you.
Accommodation costs
Rent and bond, power, gas, water and heating, Tenancy Tribunal fees.
Basic needs
Clothing, food, power, gas, water and heating.
Household
Food, power, gas, water and heating, furniture, whiteware, bedding, other appliances, repairs and maintenance.
For children
Clothing, school stationery, school uniforms, other school costs, home help – multiple births, carseats.
Funerals and tangi
Funeral costs, travel costs to go to a tangi or funeral.
Transport and travel
Travel costs to go to a tangi or funeral, car repairs for medical or work reasons, driver licences for medical or work reasons, health or medical travel, car seats.
Medical and dental
Medical costs, dental costs, glasses, car repairs for medical or work reasons, driver licences for medical or work reasons, health or medical travel, dentures and hearing aids, laser birthmark removal, wigs and hairpieces.
Work and training
Clothing, car repairs for medical or work reasons, driver licence for medical or work reasons, costs when starting work or training.
Steps to Freedom
Steps to Freedom (Prison Release), help while waiting for a benefit to be granted.
Call Work and Income
Ph 0800 559 009
Mon-Fri 7am - 6pm
Sat, 8am – 1pm
If calling from overseas,
call +64 9 913 0300
Deaf, hearing or speech impaired
If you're deaf, hearing-impaired or find it hard to communicate by phone, you can contact us on:
Deaf Link free-fax 0800 621 621
Text 029 286 7170
How to apply
Apply through MyMSD
If you have a MyMSD login and an active payment card you may be able to apply for some urgent needs by logging in and selecting one-off costs.
To apply for help with Food, Dental, School Uniform, and School Stationery.
Talk to us on the phone
You can apply for some urgent needs over the phone. Call us and we'll talk with you to understand your situation and how we can help.
For more information visit: Urgent costs