New Zealand - Apply for COVID-19 Income Relief Payment

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Procedure

Apply Online

1. If you lost your job (including self-employment) between 1 March to 30 October 2020 because of the effects COVID-19, you may be eligible to apply and receive COVID-19 Income Relief Payment. Here are the procedures on how you can apply for the financial aid. First, you need to complete an application form. There are 2 different application forms, the type of form you will need to fill up will depend on what payments you are already received or getting from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). Check out 'Documents to Use' section to determine which form you should use.
2. Online Forms:
   1. If you're a new or non-current client, you will need to complete this form - Apply: On a benefit. Please have your Inland Revenue number, proof of your bank account if you're a new or non-current client, and proof of your identity (eg passport, birth certificate) ready. If you have a partner, MSD will also need their Inland Revenue number and proof of their bank account and identity.
   2. If you or your partner are not getting one of the benefits or payments listed above, then you can apply using MyMSD.
3. In case don't have a MyMSD Account, here's how you can create one.
   1. To create an account you will need to enter your client number (this is a 9 digit number MSD issued you the first time you transact with them, eg: 000-000-000) and the email address or mobile phone number you registered with MSD.
      • In case you don't have a client number, or can't remember it, you can request one by completing an online form. MSD will email or text you within 1-2 working days. Request a client number.
      • In case that you have not registered email address or phone number with MSD, you can give them a call on 0800 559 009. Say "client number" when asked why you're calling. Then leave your contact phone number and email address where MSD can reach you.
   2. When you are ready to create your MyMSD account click this LINK.
   3. Click on 'Register for MyMSD'.
   4. Enter your client number and date of birth.
   5. Agree to the MyMSD terms of use and privacy policy and select 'Next'.
   6. Enter the 6 digit code sent to your mobile phone or email address, and select 'Next'.
   7. Create a 4 digit PIN.
4. Now that you have registered an account, log in to MyMSD.
5. Complete the online form.
6. Read and agree to the obligations stated on the form.
7. Upload your documents (see list below). MyMSD will let you know how you can do this and what types of documents you can upload.
8. Once you are done, submit your application.
9. MSD will review your application and if it is approved, they will give you a payment card (if you don’t already have one) and load the money onto it. They will reach out to you and discuss how they can get the card to you.

Apply By Phone

1. If you can't apply online, call MSD to apply over the phone (contact numbers available below).
2. MSD will let you know if they need more information from you, or if they need to speak with your partner. They will also notify you if you are eligible for any other support.
3. Once your application is approved, you can get up to 12 weeks of payments. You can use the money to pay for some of your living costs, giving you time to find other work. If you need more help after it stops, you can apply for a different payment.

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Required Documents

Proof of your IRD number
This can be either:

• a letter on Inland Revenue letterhead
• a pre-printed tax return form
• a printout from myIR.

Your proof must show:

• your full name
• your Inland Revenue tax number
• the Inland Revenue logo or letterhead.

Proof of your bank account
Provide proof of the bank account you want your payments to go into. This can be either a:

• bank statement
• deposit slip
• internet banking print-out
• blank cheque.

Your proof must show the:

• bank's logo
• full bank account number
• account name (plus other names if it's a joint account).

If you will be submitting an internet banking print-out, it must also show the web address. If your proof doesn't show this information, it will need to be stamped and initialled by the bank.

Proof of your identity:

• Here is a list of government issued IDs/Secondary IDs you may present when you apply - LINK

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of Social Development

General Enquiries
Phone: 0800 559 009
Calling from Australia: 1800 150 479
Monday to Friday - 7am and 6pm
Saturday - 8am and 1pm

MyMSD Helpline
Phone: 0800 559 009
Monday to Friday, between 8am and 5pm.
Say "online help" when you call.

Find a Service Centre
Other contact numbers

Eligibility

You may be eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Income Relief Payment if you:

• lost your last job or self-employment from 1 March 2020 to 30 October 2020 (inclusive) because of the impacts of COVID-19
• normally worked 15 hours or more a week (for 12 weeks or more) before you lost your work because of COVID-19
• were normally living in New Zealand when you lost your job.

You also need to be:

• a New Zealand citizen or a resident with a residence class visa
• normally living in New Zealand
• 18 years old or over, or a financially independent 16- or 17-year-old.

You are NOT' qualified to receive COVID-19 Income Relief Payment if you:

• get a redundancy payment of $30,000 or more, before tax
• get or used to get private income protection insurance payments for the job you lost
• are getting weekly earnings-related compensation from ACC or Veterans' Affairs
• continues to work - even if you've agreed to take unpaid leave or furlough.
• left your job for another reason (not COVID-19 related) - for example you:
  • resigned
  • retired
  • wound up a viable business, or
  • were dismissed (eg. for misconduct)

Additional requirements:

• If you are in a relationship: You and your partner can both get the Income Relief Payment if you both meet the criteria stated above. You will not qualify for the Income Relief Payment if you have a partner earning $2,000 or more in wages or salary each week, before tax.
• Already receiving a benefit or a COVID-19 payment: If you (or your partner) are already getting a main benefit, you can choose to switch to the Income Relief Payment from 8 June, as long as you are eligible. You can't get the Income Relief Payment and COVID-19 Wage Subsidy or Leave Support payments at the same time.
• You can still apply to receive the Income Relief Payment and still continue receiving your NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension if:
  • you meet the criteria stated above, and
  • you’re over 65, and
  • you don’t have a non-qualified partner included, and
  • you’re not a non-qualified partner.
• You may be able to switch to the Income Relief Payment instead of your NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension if:
  • you meet the criteria state above, and
  • you get Veteran’s Pension while under 65 years of age, or
  • you are a non-qualified partner included in your partner's Veteran's Pension, or
  • you are a non-qualified partner included in your partner's NZ Super.
• Receiving Paid Parental Leave: You can't apply for Income Relief Payment if you get Paid Parental Leave, even if you’ve lost your job. You can get it up until your Paid Parental Leave starts, or after it stops. If your partner gets Paid Parental Leave, you can still get the Income Relief Payment as long as you meet the criteria stated above.
• For Students: You may be able to get the Income Relief Payment if you meet the criteria stated above. You can get an Income Relief Payment and a Student Loan for living costs at the same. If you or your partner get Student Allowance, you may get the Income Relief Payment at the same time - but only at the part-time rate of $250 per week. However, if you lost a full-time job (30 hours or more a week), you (and your partner) may choose to switch to the Income Relief Payment instead of your Student Allowance.
• For self employed individuals: You may be able to get the Income Relief Payment if:
  • your business is no longer viable, with no upcoming work or income, because of COVID-19, and
  • you meet the criteria stated above.
• In case there is still a chance of your business continuing to operate you may be able to get support from Inland Revenue's Small Business Cashflow Loan and the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy. If you have received, or you’re waiting for approval for a loan from the Small Business Cashflow Loan, you are not eligible for the Income Relief Payment.

Note: A person's partner is someone they are legally married to, in a civil union or de facto relationship with. For the purpose of applying for income assistance, a person and their partner must be committed to each other and financially interdependent.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

In order to determine which form you should use please answer this question - Are you or your partner getting one of these payments? Or, you and your partner have already applied for one of these payments, but your application hasn't been approved yet.

• NZ Super (or if you're a non-qualified partner)
• Veteran's Pension (or if you're a non-qualified partner)
• Student Allowance or Student Loan Living Costs
• Jobseeker Support
• Sole Parent Support
• Supported Living Payment
• Emergency Benefit or Emergency Maintenance Allowance
• Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment
• Accommodation Supplement
• Disability Allowance
• Temporary Additional Support

If you are, you will need to apply using this online form - Apply: On a benefit

If you or your partner are not getting one of the benefits or payments listed above, then you can apply using MyMSD.

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

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Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

The Ministry of Social Development is the one in charge of processing applications for COVID-19 Income Relief Payment and other financial aid extended by the government to it's citizens and permanent residents.

The Income Relief Payment will stop after you've had received 12 weeks of payments, or if your situation changes and you no longer qualify for the financial aid.

The last day you can apply for the Income Relief Payment is 13 November, 2020.

You can only get the Income Relief Payment for 12 weeks. You'll get a letter 3 weeks before your Income Relief Payment ends to let you know when it's stopping. In case you need more financial help, you can apply for a different payment. You should do this 2-3 weeks before your Income Relief Payment ends, enough time for your application to be processed without any delay

Required Information

• Your Inland Revenue number
• Proof of your bank account if you're a new or non-current client
• Proof of your identity (eg passport, birth certificate) if you're a new or non-current client.
• If you have a partner, we'll also need their Inland Revenue number and proof of their bank account and identity.

Need for the Document

Please provide the need for the procedure. e.g. Birth Certificate - why do we need to have a birth certificate? 
 

Information which might help

• If you're eligible for the payment, you can get:
  • $490 per week if you were previously working 30 hours or more a week
  • $250 per week if you were previously working 15 hours to 29 hours a week.
• Student Allowance:
  • You may still get Student Allowance as well as the Income Relief Payment - but only at the part-time rate of $250 per week.
• You don't need to pay tax on this payment.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Ministry of Social Development

Others

More information which might help people.