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Social Security Act 2018

Consequential amendments

Schedule 5: Asset and income limits

You could also call this:

“Rules about how much money and stuff you can have and still get help from the government”

This schedule sets out asset and income limits for different types of people under the Social Security Act 2018. The asset limits range from $1,338.90 for a single person without children to $2,230.96 for a person in a relationship. For sole parents, the limits are between $1,758.04 and $1,888.47.

The income limits are listed as weekly amounts. They start at $611.56 for a single person aged 16 or 17 without children and go up to $1,020.90 for a person in a relationship. Sole parents have income limits between $852.89 and $898.56 per week. There’s also a special rule for community spouses or partners.

The schedule also includes separate income limits for disability allowances. These are higher than the regular income limits. For example, a single person without children can earn up to $823.31 per week, while a person in a relationship can earn up to $1,225.95 per week and still be eligible for a disability allowance.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6784890.

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5Asset and income limits Empowered by ss 67, 85, 91, 93, 452

Part 1Asset limits

The following table is small in size and has 3 columns. The columns have no headings.
1 For a single person without dependent children $1,338.90
2 For a person who is in a relationship with or without dependent children $2,230.96
3 For a sole parent with 1 dependent child $1,758.04
4 For any other sole parent $1,888.47
Notes
  • Schedule 5 Part 1 clause 1: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).
  • Schedule 5 Part 1 clause 2: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).
  • Schedule 5 Part 1 clause 3: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).
  • Schedule 5 Part 1 clause 4: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).

Part 2Income limits

The following table is small in size and has 3 columns. Columns 1 and 2 have no heading and column 3 is headed Per week.
Per week
5 For a single person aged 16 or 17 years without dependent children $611.56
6 For any other single person without dependent children $702.85
7 For a person who is in a relationship with or without dependent children $1,020.90
8 For a sole parent with 1 dependent child $852.89
9 For any other sole parent $898.56
9A For the purposes only of section 67(e), the income limit for a community spouse or partner (as defined in Schedule 2) is the income limit in item 5, 6, 8, or 9 that would apply to them if they were single (and their other circumstances were unchanged).
Notes
  • Schedule 5 Part 2 clause 5: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).
  • Schedule 5 Part 2 clause 6: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).
  • Schedule 5 Part 2 clause 7: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).
  • Schedule 5 Part 2 clause 8: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).
  • Schedule 5 Part 2 clause 9: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).
  • Schedule 5 Part 2 clause 9A: inserted, on , by section 10 of the Social Security (Accommodation Supplement) Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 65).

Part 3Disability allowance income limits

The following table is small in size and has 3 columns. Columns 1 and 2 have no heading and column 3 is headed Per week.
Per week
10 For a single person aged 16 or 17 years without dependent children $660.90
11 For any other single person without dependent children $823.31
12 For a person who is in a relationship with or without dependent children $1,225.95
13 For a sole parent with 1 dependent child $921.73
14 For any other sole parent $971.14
Notes
  • Schedule 5 Part 3 clause 10: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).
  • Schedule 5 Part 3 clause 11: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).
  • Schedule 5 Part 3 clause 12: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).
  • Schedule 5 Part 3 clause 13: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).
  • Schedule 5 Part 3 clause 14: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2024 (SL 2024/11).