Lost your job? Jobseeker Support explained

Work and Income (Ministry of Social Development)Verified 14 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

Jobseeker Support is a weekly payment from Work and Income. It helps people who are looking for work, or who cannot work for now because of a health condition. You usually need to be 18 or older and a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder. You must also have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years in a row since becoming a citizen or getting residence. You can apply online through MyMSD. While you receive the payment, you must meet obligations such as looking for work. You need to reapply every 26 weeks.

Key facts

Age: 18 or older. If you have dependent children, 20 or older.¹
Residence requirement: You must be a New Zealand citizen or hold a residence class visa. You must have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years in a row since becoming a citizen or getting your residence visa. You must also be ordinarily resident in New Zealand.¹
Maximum weekly rate (after tax, no children): Single, 25 or older: NZ$372.55. Single, 20–24: NZ$324.50. Single, 18–19, not living with parents: NZ$324.50. Single, 18–19, living with parents: NZ$276.46. Couple: NZ$316.97 each (NZ$633.94 total).¹
Maximum weekly rate (after tax, with children): Sole parent: NZ$521.52. Couple: NZ$334.70 each (NZ$669.40 total).¹
Income limits (before tax, per week, including your partner's income): Single, 25 or older: under NZ$693. Single, 20–24: under NZ$624. Couple with no children: under NZ$1,066. Couple with children: under NZ$1,117. Sole parent: under NZ$957.¹
Reapplying: Every 26 weeks (6 months).¹
Stand-down (waiting period): Usually 1 or 2 weeks after approval. It depends on your average weekly income over the past 26 or 52 weeks and how many children you have. For example, single with no children: average weekly income of NZ$0–NZ$1,620.67 means 1 week; NZ$1,620.68 or more means 2 weeks.²
If you resigned without a good reason or were dismissed for misconduct: You may have to wait up to 13 weeks before payments start (non-entitlement period).²
If you received redundancy compensation: The stand-down is 1 or 2 weeks, depending on how much redundancy compensation you received.²
Work obligations (full-time work obligations): You generally must look for work of at least 30 hours a week. If you can only work part-time because of your health, you must look for work of at least 15 hours a week.³
Not meeting obligations (traffic light system): If you do not meet an obligation without a good reason, you move to orange. If you do not contact Work and Income and fix it within 5 working days, you move to red, and your payment will be reduced or stopped.³
Redundancy compensation: You only get it if your employment agreement says so. If your agreement does not mention it, you do not get it.⁴

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

You are 18 or older. If you have dependent children, you are 20 or older.
You are unemployed and looking for full-time work; or you work part-time and want more work; or you need to work fewer hours or stop working for now because of a disability, injury or health condition.
Full-time students cannot get Jobseeker Support. Check StudyLink instead.
Your combined weekly income (you and your partner) must be under the official limit.
You must be a New Zealand citizen or hold a residence class visa, and have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years in a row since becoming a citizen or getting residence. You must also be ordinarily resident in New Zealand. People on temporary visas, such as work visas or student visas, do not meet this requirement.
From 2 November 2026, applicants aged 18 or 19 (and a small number aged 16 or 17) must also pass the Parental Assistance Test. See 'Changes' below.
To see if you might qualify, use the 'Check what you might get' tool on the Work and Income website, or call 0800 559 009.

How do I do it? Steps and process

If you are made redundant, check what you are owed
Your employer must follow a fair process and have a genuine reason for the redundancy. They must give you the notice period in your agreement (or pay you instead). Your final pay must include any unused annual leave. You only get redundancy compensation if your agreement says so. If you have questions about your redundancy, see our guide on employment problems and unpaid wages.
Apply online through MyMSD
Log in to MyMSD and fill in the Jobseeker Support application. If you cannot apply online, call 0800 559 009 to ask about other ways to apply, or go to a Work and Income service centre.
Complete the 'Next steps' in MyMSD
Follow the prompts to send proof documents and set up your Jobseeker profile. If a health condition, injury or disability affects your work, ask your doctor for a Work Capacity Medical Certificate.
Go to your appointment and work seminar
Attend your appointment at Work and Income. If you have full-time or part-time work obligations, you also need to attend a Kōrero Mahi work seminar.
Payments start after the stand-down
Most payments have a stand-down of 1 or 2 weeks. After payments start, you will not get money in the first week, because payments are made in arrears (for the week before). If you have an urgent cost during the stand-down, ask Work and Income if they can help.
Meet your obligations while you are paid
Actively look for work, accept suitable job offers, and attend job interviews and appointments you are given. Tell Work and Income straight away if your situation changes (for example, you find work, travel overseas or go into hospital). Some people have an Employment plan in MyMSD and must finish its tasks by the due dates.
Reapply every 26 weeks
If you still need support after 26 weeks (6 months), you must reapply. Also renew your medical certificate before it expires, or your payment may stop.

What documents do I need?

Proof documents asked for in the 'Next steps' in MyMSD after you apply (the list is different for each person, so follow the prompts)
Work Capacity Medical Certificate from your doctor, if a health condition, injury or disability affects your work
Your employment agreement and your resignation or redundancy notice, to check your notice period, redundancy compensation and final pay

What should I watch out for?

Jobseeker Support goes down as you and your partner earn more. If your income is too high, it drops to NZ$0. After 6 weeks in a row at NZ$0, it stops.
If you get Jobseeker Support, you automatically get the Winter Energy Payment. You will also get a Community Services Card (cheaper doctor visits and public transport).
If you have dependent children, you may also get a family tax credit. You can also ask about other help, such as the Accommodation Supplement and Temporary Additional Support.
Before or after a redundancy, you can use Work and Income's redundancy support. A staff member can help you find work or training, update your CV and set up interviews. Email RedeploymentSupport@msd.govt.nz. If you need money to look for work or start a new job (for example, clothes, transport, or living costs until your first pay), you can apply for a Transition to Work Grant.
The stand-down rules for redundancy compensation have changed in the past. If you received redundancy compensation, you can ask Work and Income to check that your stand-down was calculated correctly.
There is no new stand-down if you move from one benefit to another, or if you come back to a benefit within 26 weeks after it stopped because you found work.
If you cannot meet an obligation on time, contact Work and Income first and explain why. Do not wait until your payment is reduced.
This page is a plain-English summary of public information. It is not legal, immigration or financial advice. Work and Income decides whether you qualify.

What has changed recently?

2026-11-02
People aged 18 or 19 (and a small number aged 16 or 17) who apply for Jobseeker Support or a similar Emergency Benefit must pass the Parental Assistance Test, as well as meeting the usual conditions. They must show they cannot reasonably rely on their parents for support (for example, a parent is in hospital long-term or in prison, or the family has broken down), and/or their parents' combined income before tax is not more than NZ$67,225. People with dependent children or who receive the Foster Care Allowance do not need to take the test. People already receiving the payment will take the test when they reapply at 26 weeks; if they do not pass, the payment will stop. The law passed its third reading in Parliament on 25 August 2026. Coming soonSource: workandincome.govt.nz ↗

Common questions

What financial support can I get if I lose my job in New Zealand?

You may be able to get Jobseeker Support, a weekly payment from Work and Income for people looking for work. You usually need to be 18 or older, a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder, and have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years in a row since then. You may also apply for a Transition to Work Grant to help with costs of looking for work or starting a new job.

How much is Jobseeker Support per week after redundancy?

The maximum for a single person aged 25 or older with no children is NZ$372.55 a week after tax. Single people aged 20–24 get up to NZ$324.50, and a sole parent gets up to NZ$521.52. The amount goes down as you and your partner earn more. Redundancy compensation affects your stand-down of 1 or 2 weeks, not the weekly rate.

I got my residence visa (PR) less than 2 years ago. Can I get Jobseeker Support?

Usually no. You must have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years in a row since getting your residence visa. You must also be ordinarily resident in New Zealand. Work and Income decides whether you qualify, so ask them about your situation. You can call 0800 559 009.

Can I get an unemployment benefit if I am on a work visa and lose my job?

No. People on temporary visas, such as work visas or student visas, do not meet the residence requirement for Jobseeker Support. You must be a New Zealand citizen or hold a residence class visa, and have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years in a row since then.

How long after approval does the Jobseeker payment start?

Usually after a stand-down of 1 or 2 weeks. It depends on your average weekly income over the past 26 or 52 weeks and how many children you have. Payments are made in arrears, so you will not get money in the first week after payments start. If you resigned without a good reason or were dismissed for misconduct, you may wait up to 13 weeks.

What do I have to do while on Jobseeker Support? Can it be stopped if I miss an interview?

Yes, it can be reduced or stopped. You must look for work, accept suitable job offers, and attend interviews and appointments. If you miss an obligation without a good reason, you move to orange. If you do not contact Work and Income and fix it within 5 working days, you move to red and your payment is reduced or stopped.

My child is 18. Do their parents' earnings affect their Jobseeker Support application?

Yes, from 2 November 2026. Applicants aged 18 or 19 must pass the Parental Assistance Test. They must show they cannot reasonably rely on their parents for support, and/or that their parents' combined income before tax is not more than NZ$67,225. People with dependent children or who receive the Foster Care Allowance do not need to take the test.

Does my employer have to pay redundancy compensation?

Only if your employment agreement says so. If your agreement does not mention it, you do not get it. Your employer must still give you the notice period in your agreement, or pay you instead. Your final pay must include any unused annual leave.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

Jobseeker SupportWork and Income (MSD) · workandincome.govt.nz
Stand-down periodsWork and Income (MSD) · workandincome.govt.nz
Your obligations while getting Jobseeker SupportWork and Income (MSD) · workandincome.govt.nz
RedundancyEmployment New Zealand (MBIE) · employment.govt.nz
Redundancy supportWork and Income (MSD) · workandincome.govt.nz

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