Changes to benefit rates from 1 April 2025

Brian from Mount Roskill

Main benefits will increase by over 3 percent, instead of 1.66 percent, on 1 April with the Government’s decision to annually adjust benefit rates to increases in the average wage.
If you're paid weekly
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In the week of 31 March your payment will be at the old rate. This is because we pay you for the week that's just been.
In the week of 7 April you'll get part of your payment at the old rate, and part at the new.
In the week of 14 April your whole payment will be at the new, increased rate.
If you're paid fortnightly
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1 April is partway through your pay period, so on 8 April you'll get a partial increase.
You'll get the full increase on 19 April – this is paid early (instead of 22 April) due to Easter.
More people can get support
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Income and asset limits and cut-out points for some financial supports will also go up. This means more people could get things like:
Accommodation Supplement
Disability Allowance
Childcare Assistance
Community Services Card, and
help with urgent and unexpected costs.
About the increase
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The Annual General Adjustment happens every year on 1 April. On this day benefits and most other financial supports from us are adjusted to account for the cost of living (inflation). Some income thresholds are adjusted by the average wage growth.
The new rates are based on either the:
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Consumers Price Index (2.22% rise), or
net average wage (3.51% rise).
Main benefits are adjusted to the Consumers Price Index.
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For April 2025 NZ Super and Veteran's Pension rates receive an extra boost, making their total increase around 3 percent because of the relationship to the net average wage level.
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Impact on your other payments
When your main benefit increases, you may find this changes other payments you get from us, like Accommodation Supplement or Temporary Additional Support.
If you have housing contributions for emergency, transitional, or social housing, your contributions may change as well.
The total amount you get after the 1 April changes won't be less than what you're getting now.
Changes to other payments if your main benefit goes up
How to check your payments
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From Tuesday 1 April you can check your new payments by either:
logging in to MyMSD, or
calling our Service Express self-service line on 0800 33 30 30
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