Financial Support for Caregivers

Are you caring for someone else's child?

For most grandparents and whānau caregivers who take on the full-time care of children it involves significant financial challenges and readjustments to their lives.  With extra mouths to feed, there can also seem like endless extra costs and expenses for simple day-to-day clothing and bedding needs, paying for school and extra-curricular activities, doctors, dental and medical costs, counselling, therapy… and the list goes on.

If you are caring for someone else's child you may be able to get support through Work and Income New Zealand/Te Hiranga Tangata through the Orphan's Benefit or the Unsupported Child Benefit. 

Or you might be approved by Oranga Tamariki to receive the Foster Care Allowance.


Important Information:
 

• The Orphan's Benefit: (OB)

• The Unsupported Child Benefit (UCB)

• How much you can get

How to apply - Unsupported Child Benefit or the Orphan's Benefit

1. The application for the Unsupported Child Benefit or the Orphan's Benefit is on the same form.
2. Call or contact Work and Income and tell them you need to apply for this support.
3. There is an application form that must be completed.
4. You will also need to provide the following information to them to assess your eligibility for this support.

• a full birth certificate for the child
• a copy of the custody or guardianship agreement
• details about the child's income
• Family Group Conference Outcomes, Court Orders or Court Approved Plans
• names, addresses and phone numbers of the child's parents and their places of work.

If you don't have these documents or find it hard to get these, please call Work and Income on 0800 559 009. 
Call them to talk about your circumstances and they will explain how to apply, and what documents you'll need to provide.

To download the application form for the Unsupported Child or Orphan's Benefit click here.