Special Benefit (legacy hardship payment)
Special Benefit
Paid by Ministry of Social Development — Work and Income · 🇳🇿 New Zealand
What this pays
The published value, how it is calculated, and whether it is cash or a credit ceiling.
Email and a six-digit code, then €50 a year. No password to forget.
Who qualifies
UnlockThe 3 published rules this programme tests you against — age, income, residency, household and the rest.
The steps, documents and official link are part of the paid plan. Checking how much you're owed stays free.
1 document you'll need
UnlockExactly what to gather before you start, so nothing sends you back to the beginning.
Where this comes from
Special Benefit was largely replaced by Temporary Additional Support; Work and Income assesses which ongoing extra help applies.
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/
Extracted from the official source, not yet re-read by a human.
Verified on 12 August 2026
Source: funder's homepage — the programme page was not found
Related reading: How to read a grant eligibility rule
Other income support in New Zealand
17 more programmes are on the paid plan, with the amount, the rules, the documents and the steps for each.
Similar programmes
Jobseeker Support (main unemployment benefit)
Ministry of Social Development — Work and Income
New Zealand Superannuation (universal state pension from age 65)
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Sole Parent Support
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Emergency Benefit
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Jobseeker Support Student Hardship (summer break support for students)
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Orphan's Benefit
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