The Accommodation Supplement is a weekly payment from Work and Income. It helps with rent, board or the cost of owning your home. You don't have to be on a benefit to get it. It isn't taxed.
Maximum rates by area
How much you can get depends on your household and where you live. These are the weekly maximums on Work and Income's rates list from 1 April 2026.
| Your situation | Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 3 | Area 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $165 | $105 | $80 | $70 |
| Couple, no children | $235 | $155 | $105 | $80 |
| Sole parent, 1 child | $235 | $155 | $105 | $80 |
| Sole parent, 2 or more children | $305 | $220 | $160 | $120 |
| Couple with children | $305 | $220 | $160 | $120 |
Which area are you in?
Work and Income has used the same four areas since 1 April 2018. They're based on Stats NZ area units, not suburbs or postcodes, so check your address with Work and Income if you're near a boundary.
- Area 1 covers most of Auckland, plus Queenstown, Wānaka, Arrowtown, Tauranga, Pukekohe and Waiuku.
- Area 2 covers Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, Kāpiti, Christchurch, Hamilton, Nelson, Napier, Hastings, New Plymouth, Whangārei, Blenheim, Taupō and a list of smaller towns.
- Area 3 covers Dunedin, Gisborne, Feilding, Greymouth, Hāwera, Hokitika, Huntly and other listed towns.
- Area 4 is everywhere else.
How it's worked out
Work and Income starts with your weekly housing cost and takes off an entry threshold. You get 70% of what's left, up to the maximum for your area. Payments are rounded up to the nearest dollar.
- Renters use their weekly rent.
- Boarders use 62% of their board, because board includes food.
- Homeowners use costs like mortgage repayments, council and water rates, house insurance, body corporate fees and essential repairs. Arrears don't count.
Rent you get from someone living with you comes off your costs first. So does 62% of any board you get. Flatmates can each apply for the share of rent they pay.
Example
This follows Work and Income's own worked example. Someone on Jobseeker Support at the couple rate pays $300 a week rent. The couple entry threshold is $158.
| Weekly rent | $300.00 |
| Less entry threshold | $158.00 |
| Equals | $142.00 |
| 70% of $142 | $99.40 |
| Rounded up | $100.00 |
They'd get $100 a week. That's under the Area 1 maximum of $235, so the cap doesn't bite.
Entry thresholds from 1 April 2026
Your threshold depends on your household and the benefit you get. If you're not on a benefit, you use the Jobseeker Support thresholds.
| Jobseeker Support or not on a benefit | Rent or board | Mortgage |
|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $93 | $112 |
| Couple, no children | $158 | $190 |
| Sole parent | $168 | $202 |
| Couple with children | $205 | $247 |
Thresholds are higher for some other payments. For example, a single person on NZ Super living alone has a threshold of $139 for rent or board and $167 for a mortgage. See NZ Super rates for the pension itself.
If you're working
There's no income test if you're on a main benefit. If you're not on a benefit, your income reduces the payment. Work and Income takes off 25 cents for every dollar of income over a set threshold. NZ Super and Veteran's Pension clients have their own income limit.
Who can get it
You may get the Accommodation Supplement if you:
- have housing costs above the entry threshold
- are 16 or older (16 and 17-year-olds must be financially independent)
- are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay
- don't rent a public housing property from Kāinga Ora or a community housing provider
Your cash assets also count. The limit is $8,100 for a single person and $16,200 for a couple or sole parent.
You can't get the Accommodation Supplement if you get a Student Allowance. Students on an allowance can get the Accommodation Benefit through StudyLink instead. See Student Allowance rates.
How to apply
- Not getting anything from Work and Income: apply online through MyMSD, or fill in an Extra Help application form.
- Already on a benefit: fill in an Accommodation Supplement application form.
- Student: apply through StudyLink.
You'll need proof of your housing costs, such as a tenancy agreement or mortgage statement. If it's your first time applying, you'll need to take ID to a service centre. Work and Income can pay from the date you first get in touch, as long as you finish your application within 20 working days.
Work and Income reviews your circumstances at least once every 52 weeks. If you don't return the review form by the due date, payments stop. Tell them when your rent or situation changes.
Families on low incomes may also qualify for Working for Families, which Inland Revenue pays separately.
Common questions
How much is the Accommodation Supplement?
Up to $305 a week for a family in Area 1. Most people get less, because it covers 70% of costs above the entry threshold, up to the area maximum.
Can I get the Accommodation Supplement if I work full time?
Yes, if your income and assets are low enough. Your income reduces the payment by 25 cents for every dollar over the threshold.
Is the Accommodation Supplement taxed?
No.
Can flatmates get the Accommodation Supplement?
Yes. Each flatmate can apply for the share of rent they pay. You don't need your name on the tenancy agreement to count as renting.
Can I get it if I live in a Kāinga Ora house?
Not if you're the tenant or the tenant's partner. If you pay board to someone living in public housing, you may be able to get it based on your board.
Sources: Work and Income, Accommodation Supplement, Benefit rates at 1 April 2026, Definitions of areas, Calculating rate: general formula, Manual calculation, Rent, Board, Home ownership, Income: non-beneficiaries, Beneficiaries and Qualifications. Checked October 2026.