Find out about getting NZ Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension when you’re single and live by yourself or when you’re single and share accommodation.
NZ Super and the Veteran’s Pension are paid at different rates depending on your relationship and living situation. There are 2 single rates:
The ‘single, living alone’ rate pays you more money than the ‘single, sharing accommodation’. Both single rates are more than the partner rates.
If you and your spouse or partner are living separately, you may be able to get the single rate.
If you’re living by yourself or it’s just you and a dependent child, you can get the ‘single, living alone’ rate.
Note: You can have visitors to stay for up to a total of 13 weeks in any 26-week (6-month) period and still get the ‘single, living alone’ rate.
If you live with someone who’s not your partner or dependent child, you’ll get the ‘single, sharing accommodation’ rate.
‘Sharing accommodation’ means you’re living with someone and they’re:
You might be able to get the single rate if your spouse or partner is in:
Contact Work and Income and they’ll check whether you should be on a different rate.
Your partner gets their NZ Super at the married, civil union or partner rate. If they’re eligible for the Residential Care Subsidy or a Residential Care Loan, most of their NZ Super goes towards the cost of their care — they’ll get a personal weekly allowance.
If your partner is in prison, their NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension stops. If they’re released on bail, their NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension can be started again. They need to contact Work and Income to tell them they’ve been released.
If your partner is transferred from prison to a psychiatric hospital, their NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension can be restarted and is paid at the normal rate for 13 weeks. In most cases their social worker will let Work and Income know.
If your partner is in the hospital for longer than 13 weeks, their payment is reduced to the weekly hospital rate.
Find out the amount of NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension you can get for your situation on Work and Income’s website.
NZ Super and the Veteran’s Pension are paid fortnightly on a Tuesday.
If you think you’re on the wrong rate or your situation has changed, let Work and Income know about it.
Check whether your payments can continue when you travel or move overseas.
If you need more help or have questions about the information or services on this page, contact the following agency.