WINZ

That is good to know.

When I went in with my dentist quote she told me that we are entitled to $1600 a year (I think a year anyway) advance benefit payment (have to pay it back) and entiltled to $300 for the dentist that we don't have to pay back.

I find it really hard when going there as they always make me feel like I am in the wrong for needing their help. And I never get any smiles from them. Prob doesn't help that the only times that I have been able to get an appointment has been in the afternoons when DS should really be having a nap, so he is always really grizzly.

Good idea for a thread!!! I have had nothing to do with WINZ yet but doubt i will be able to go back to my full time job after maternity leave finishes so may have to investigate the DPB road. Actually, theres a question: Whats the first thing you do? Ring them and say hi, i'm a single unemployed parent, give me money to feed and clothe my offspring?

bowie, apply for the dpb now - they do an abated payment while you are on maternity leave which adds up to around an extra $70 a week!!!

if you dont want it in the future theres no harm in cancelling it

nope im 99% sure you can get the dpb while on maternity leave - how else are you supposed to support yourself when the 14 weeks maternity pay is up? i could be wrong though... if i am im screwed!!! hehe. worth a try anyway, the worst they can say is no :)

I could be wrong but I thought that to be eligble for the DPB your employment actually had to have ceased. I think that you can take 14 weeks paid parental leave and then hand in your notice and take the 2 week stand down period (which doesn't always apply, depending on your cicumstances) and go on the DPB. It is worth ringng WINZ and getting an appointment to go through it all though because a lot of the time it depends on your cicumstances and your case manager.

Bowie- i was in a simialr position to you , i was working full time , i took Just under a years maternity leave , for the first 3 months i got paid out maternity pay at the standard rate ( cant remember the exact amount but around about $350ish a week plus accom allowance ) , after the 3 months was up i went on the DPB untill i went back to work . Even if your on maternity leave and legally have a job , if your not receiving money then you cant be expected to livewithout any help therefore WINZ will pay you the DPB untill you decide when/if you want to return to work . Remember you have to keep options open , you may say now you want to return to work shortly after having bubs but then change your mind due to whatever reason when bubs is here . i had decided i would return to work within 3- 6 months of having bubs but this quickly changed when i had a colicy/ refluxy baby who didnt sleep at all and wouldnt let me out of her sight at all , there was no way i could have returned to work that early on .  Also once you are back at work you will be elligible for top ups though IRD ontop of your weekly wage and accomodation supplements .

Had to go to WINZ today to ask them for advance benefit payment to help me pay my bond. Thought they would only give me the $800 I was entitled to but they actually gave me the full amount, so yay. And the case manager also found out that I am entitled to $47 temp support. So great to get a good case manager for once.

Thanks Busymum

I have established that i am entitled to the DPB in between paid leave finishing and maternity leave finishing having said that the most unhelpful woman ever (NOT even a case manager, just the woman at the front counter!) told me i can't apply until the paid leave finishes....why can't i apply for it a few weeks in advance so there is no gap between payments?! Will go back another day and hope to strike a different woman.

I am also on the DPB, but I am looking for employment because I have tried to move out of where I am and I am getting flack for the rent increasing. Well duh I do live in Auckland.

Thats alright though I hate the DPB I love earning my own money and not be told how to spend it. I wouldn't survive living on my own on the DPB, I really don't know how people do it.

Edited by Natalie_G

I have a question?

Does anyone know what you need to provide to qualify for some food assistance. This week has been soooo stressful with bills and what not (3 all due this week, which isnt normal, just a one off) and I literally only had 40 dollars to spend on food for the whole week :( To make matters worse, my ex SO's (we are still living together for the sake of me being able to stay in this house as I literally have nowhere else to go) sister arrived today with no money and no food.... and she is staying for a week with no money. She told us she was bringing food and money and got here and had neither.....so we now have 3 people to feed on 40 dollars of food :(

So im wanting to go to WINZ and get a food card just for this week. Do you have to brink in bank statements and all that crap?

Edited by StephiG