From 1 July 2018, a Winter Energy Payment will be available to help with the cost of heating homes during the winter.

Important information

You don’t need to do anything to get this payment because if you qualify, it’ll be paid to you automatically.

Who can get it

You can get the Winter Energy Payment if you’re getting either:

New Zealand Superannuation

Veteran’s Pension

Jobseeker Support

Sole Parent Support

Supported Living Payment

Youth Payment

Young Parent Payment

Emergency Benefit.

Who can’t get it

You won’t get this payment if you’re getting Residential Care Subsidy or Residential Support Subsidy.

What you can get

You can get:

$20.45 a week if you’re single with no dependent children

$31.81 a week if you have a partner or dependent children.

This will be paid from 1 July to 30 September 2018. From 2019, it will be paid from 1 May to 1 October. You don’t have to pay it back.

If you leave New Zealand while this payment is being made (and you’re still getting your benefit or NZ Super payment) your Winter Energy Payment will continue for the first 4 weeks you’re out of the country, but will stop from the beginning of the 5th week.

If you’re back in New Zealand before the Winter Energy Payment ends (eg, 30 September 2018), you’ll need to contact the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) about restarting it.

Don’t want the payment

If you don’t want the Winter Energy Payment, you can choose not to get it. MSD will let you know how to do this closer to the time.