Purpose, components, eligibility and level of payments available for New Zealanders by income source
| Income source | Payment purpose | Eligibility | Level of payment in 2009 ($NZ per week before tax) |
| Work income | |||
| Wages/Salary | Payment for employment. | Registered to pay income taxation. | Varies according to employment agreement. Median weekly wage and salary income was $760. |
| Withholding payment | Payment for atypical employment arrangements, that is, director fees, contractor payments, proceeds of sales. | Registered to pay income taxation. | Varies according to employment agreement. |
| Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) | |||
| ACC benefit | Payment for income lost due to incapacity due to injury. | Universal no-fault coverage of healthcare, compensation and rehabilitation costs regardless of injury setting. | Covers 80% of preinjury wages/salary to a weekly maximum of $1638. |
| Other (non-ACC) benefit | |||
| Income replacement benefits | Income support for those unemployed or ill. | If seeking employment or during a work absence due to illness and aged between 18 and 65 years. | Depends on circumstance, for example, $218 (single, no children) to $316 (single with children) + additional supplements. |
| Student allowance | Income support for those engaged in tertiary-level training. | Undertaking approved course over 1 year in length and aged between 18 and 65 years. | Depends on circumstance, for example, $210 (single, no children, not living with parent) to $316 (single with children). |
| Paid parental leave | Time-limited income support for primary carers. | Employed or self-employed (working on average >10 hours/week) primary carers of child under 6 years of age. | 100% of weekly wage up to $475. Time limited to 18 weeks. |
| Pension | |||
| Superannuation benefit (NZ Super) | Income support for retirement from workforce. | Universal payment for NZ residents/citizens ≥65 years of age. Able to receive NZ Super while still employed. | $274 (per person for couples) to $365 (single person living alone); set at 66% of national average wage. |
NZ, New Zealand.