WINZ

Steph I would say it depends upon the office.  I needed it a month or so before Christmas and all I needed to show them was a receipt from an ATM.  I think I was asked why I was in that situation but I just told them that my daughter had been in hospital so I had had extra costs.  They didn't ask me to verify that in any way - mind you that might have been because I was in tears on the phone to them!!

It sounds like it very much depends on where you are and the person you happen to get on the other end of the phone or in their office. 

After all i've heard about WINZ i was afraid of my first appointment today but must have struck gold, had a lovely woman who flicked through my forms, complimented my organisational skills because i had all the evidence they required, coo'd over the baby and had me in and out within 30min. AND she told me i'd qualify for DPB from the day he was born despite the fact i'm technically working (on PPL) until March 03, they will backdate me and deduct my PPL payments as income as to avoid the week stand-down.

Bloody relieved to have had a good experience!

That's not good Stephi. Do you know of a foodbank you could go to to see you through until you can get to WINZ?

Oh no, sorry to hear it's not worked out with WINZ, hopefully you can still get something.

And please don't be ashamed of going to a food bank if you need to. So many people have to resort to it these days; there's no shame in it.

Hope it starts looking up for you soon!

MissShell wrote: Oh no, sorry to hear it's not worked out with WINZ, hopefully you can still get something. And please don't be ashamed of going to a food bank if you need to. So many people have to resort to it these days; there's no shame in it. Hope it starts looking up for you soon!

The ex SIL managed to get some money today so we asked her to contribute some food so she did. Thank god for that lol. We get paid on monday so what we got should last us till then. A bit rude of her turning up with nothing and expecting to stay for such a long time without contributing I think. I dont usually care but she knew we were tight this week and she still thought she could come here and live off the little we had :(

Pretty sure you would not be eligible for the DPB if you have a partner, and I don't recommend lying to them about that...

You might be able to get something from IRD though, in terms of Working For Families payments.

WINZ also do an accommodation supplement thing, depending on your income. I'm not sure what the threshold is for that though.

don't think WINZ can help you with legal costs

you should be able to get legal aid to help thou Legal Aid

Yeah I have talked to them. I need to get a seperation agreement signed and I was told that the Waitakere law center would be able to do it but when I went there they told me that I have to get a proper lawyer to do it. There just happened to be a lawyer there who explained it to me, she seems really nice and said that they will only charge $150-200 but I still can't really spare that. Will have to be on a very strict budget for a few weeks before being able to pay it.

I have nothing but kind words for WINZ today, and thought I should post my compliments to them.

Popped in after my scan today to hand in my (month old) Medical Certificate and do a benefit transfer, and they gave me an appointment straight away! I was halfway through filling out my form when I was called from the reception area. (Although a friend was there waiting for an Emergency Appt and I know she'd been there for hours - don't think she was too pleased that I was there only a few minutes, eek.)

The case worker I got was wonderful, clicked all the new info in, and gave me loads of info about the DPB and what I'll be entitled to, as well as discussing what is happening in reguards to the birth certificate and the father, and even sorted out the relative forms I need to fill out so I could take them home with me and fill them out beforehand.

I love being treated like a human being.