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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 to get some benefits"

Illustration for Social Security Act 2018

The Social Security Act 2018 has rules about asset and income limits. You need to know these limits if you want to get some benefits. The limits are different for single people, people in relationships, and sole parents.

The asset limits are: $1,368.68 for a single person, $2,280.58 for a person in a relationship, $1,797.14 for a sole parent with one child, and $1,930.47 for any other sole parent. These limits are part of the Social Security Act 2018, which is empowered by sections 67, 85, 91, 93, and 452.

The income limits are different for each type of benefit. For example, a single person aged 16 or 17 without children can earn up to $625.16 per week, while a sole parent with one child can earn up to $871.86 per week. There are also special rules for people who get a disability allowance, which has its own income limits, and for community spouses or partners, whose income limit is defined in section 67(e) and Schedule 2.

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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 $1,368.68
2 For a person who is in a relationship with or without dependent children $2,280.58
3 For a sole parent with 1 dependent child $1,797.14
4 For any other sole parent $1,930.47
Notes
  • Schedule 5 Part 1 clause 1: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).
  • Schedule 5 Part 1 clause 2: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).
  • Schedule 5 Part 1 clause 3: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).
  • Schedule 5 Part 1 clause 4: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).

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 $625.16
6 For any other single person without dependent children $718.48
7 For a person who is in a relationship with or without dependent children $1,043.60
8 For a sole parent with 1 dependent child $871.86
9 For any other sole parent $918.54
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 2025 (SL 2025/9).
  • Schedule 5 Part 2 clause 6: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).
  • Schedule 5 Part 2 clause 7: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).
  • Schedule 5 Part 2 clause 8: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).
  • Schedule 5 Part 2 clause 9: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).
  • 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 $675.60
11 For any other single person without dependent children $843.78
12 For a person who is in a relationship with or without dependent children $1,256.07
13 For a sole parent with 1 dependent child $942.23
14 For any other sole parent $992.74
Notes
  • Schedule 5 Part 3 clause 10: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).
  • Schedule 5 Part 3 clause 11: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).
  • Schedule 5 Part 3 clause 12: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).
  • Schedule 5 Part 3 clause 13: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).
  • Schedule 5 Part 3 clause 14: amended, on , by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2025 (SL 2025/9).