NZ Best Start Payment: Start Date, Amount, and Eligibility
Explore Best Start Payment NZ details: Learn when it begins, payment amounts, and eligibility. Securing your finances is crucial when planning a family. Apply for Best Start Payment NZ to receive weekly support for living expenses. Find more details in this article – keep scrolling!
Best Start Payment NZ
The New Zealand Government supports families with child care expenses, providing payments for newborns until they turn 3. This financial aid is not income-dependent and is available to all citizens applying for the Best Start Payment. If a family is already receiving paid parental leave, they may not qualify for this benefit.
The fixed amount is granted at the end of parental leave, irrespective of household income. Families must apply for the benefit annually as it doesn’t renew automatically. The plan includes two payments: the Best Start Payment and the Best Start Tax Credit.
When does the best start payment start?
The Best Start program, introduced in 2018, aims to support parents and families involved in foster care. Children born before its launch date are not eligible for the allowance. Not every family in the country qualifies, as specific regulations govern the benefit. The program provides a 26-week parental leave with income support during the leave period.
After the conclusion of parental leave, the Best Start payment won’t automatically be issued to candidates. Typically, this benefit is directed towards working parents. If candidates already receive benefits from the Work and Employment department, like Sole Parent Support, there’s no need for a separate application; their accounts will automatically qualify for the allowance.
Best Start Payment NZ Amount
The Allowance consists of two types of payments, as mentioned earlier. The Best Payment is provided to working parents in the first year after birth, while the Best Tax Credit helps reduce tax returns and offers additional support for the next two years. Payments for the Best Start program are weekly, with an amount of $69 per week. Families receive a fixed annual amount of $712, and those with multiple births (twins or triplets) get an extra allowance per child.
In the second and third years, an income test and asset test are applied. Qualifying families will receive a $65 weekly benefit from the Best Payment Credit. As the program spans three years, the amount gradually decreases over time.
Best Start Payment Eligibility
To qualify for the benefit, families must meet specific eligibility criteria, outlined in this section:
- The candidate applying for the benefit should be the primary caregiver of the child.
- The child must be born after January 2018.
- Parents seeking the benefit should be permanent residents of the country, providing residential proof such as electricity, water, or fuel bills.
- Property owners must have paid proper taxes up to the previous year.
- Employed parents need proof of employment and must be registered with the Inland Revenue Department.
- Both mean test and income test are required for the 2nd and 3rd years, and families must qualify for both to receive the benefit.
- The tax credit amount decreases as the net income increases gradually.
- The family’s income should be below $79,000 to receive the full best payment per week, while those with an income between $79,000 and $96,000 are eligible for a partial benefit.
- Children in foster care centers are also eligible, with special criteria for those born overseas or families recently arrived in the country.
Candidates can register with Smart Start to receive the allowance, benefiting from the user-friendly technology it offers. The IRD number is automatically issued to babies based on their date of birth.