How to Claim All NZ Kinship Care Payments Without Missing Any

If you are raising a relative's child in New Zealand and want to make sure you are claiming everything the child is entitled to, you need to look beyond the weekly Unsupported Child's Benefit. Most kinship caregivers receive UCB and stop there — missing the Extraordinary Care Fund and several other non-taxable payments that add up to thousands of dollars per year, while overlooking automatic allowances such as the Establishment Grant. This page maps every payment in one place and shows you the order to apply for them.

The Core Weekly Payment: UCB or Orphan's Benefit

Unsupported Child's Benefit (UCB) is a non-taxable weekly payment for the child when you are their primary caregiver and the parents cannot care for them due to family breakdown. If both parents have died, are untraceable, or are permanently incapacitated, the child may qualify for Orphan's Benefit instead — the rates are identical. Both are paid directly to you through Work and Income.

As of 1 April 2026, the weekly base rates are:

• Ages 0–4: $301.53
• Ages 5–9: $303.62
• Ages 10–13: $327.16
• Ages 14 and over: $350.58

These payments do not reduce your NZ Superannuation, wages, or any other personal income. They are not means-tested. They are for the child, paid to you as the caregiver.

Work and Income gives you 20 working days from first contact to complete Form M14 and provide requested supporting documents. Apply as soon as you become the child's main caregiver so the payment start date is not delayed. If you cannot finish within 20 working days, tell Work and Income; it can extend the period for good and sufficient reason. If no extension is granted, the application lapses and you need to reapply. Payments cannot be backdated.

The Payments Most Caregivers Miss

Once UCB or Orphan's Benefit is approved, several supplementary payments become available. Some are automatic; others require a separate application that nobody tells you about.

Automatic Payments (No Extra Application)

Clothing Allowance — a weekly addition paid automatically on top of the base UCB rate. It covers the child's ongoing clothing costs and appears in your regular payment.

Holiday Allowance — an annual lump sum paid before the Christmas/New Year school holiday period.

Birthday Allowance — an annual payment around the child's birthday.

Establishment Grant ($350) — a one-off payment for the initial costs of setting up for a child. If eligible, it is paid automatically when UCB or OB is granted; you do not apply separately.

These three arrive without you doing anything, as long as UCB or OB is active. But if you do not know they exist, you cannot check they are being paid correctly.

Payments That Require a Separate Application

School and Year Start-up Payment — an annual payment for school-related costs at the beginning of the year. Requires a separate application.

Extraordinary Care Fund (ECF) — up to $2,000 per child per year for therapy, counselling, sports fees, school camps, musical instruments, and specialist equipment. This is the single most valuable supplementary payment, and the one most caregivers never claim. ECF operates through a panel process with four annual rounds. Applications under $500 need one letter of support from a professional (teacher, doctor, social worker); applications of $500 or more need two letters from different professionals.

Child Disability Allowance — if the child has a serious medical condition or disability requiring constant care and attention for at least 12 months, this is a separate weekly payment on top of UCB.

Temporary Additional Support — a short-term payment for caregivers whose essential costs (rent, power, food) exceed their income. It is paid for up to 13 weeks; if you still need it, you must reapply and provide updated cost information.

The Order to Apply

Getting the order right matters. Here is the sequence that avoids missed deadlines and lost payments:

1. Contact Work and Income promptly, then gather documents — apply as soon as you become the child's main caregiver so the payment start date is not delayed. Gather the child's full birth certificate, your ID, parent details, evidence of family breakdown (Family Group Conference outcome, police report, social worker letter), and details of the child's income if relevant. A Justice of the Peace can certify required copies for free.

2. Use the 20-working-day window after first contact to complete the application — provide Form M14 and the requested documents within that time. If you cannot meet the deadline, tell Work and Income promptly and ask about an extension.

3. Submit Form M14 with complete evidence — the application for UCB or Orphan's Benefit. Approval typically takes 2–4 weeks after submission.

4. Check for the Establishment Grant after approval — if eligible, the $350 payment is made automatically; no separate application is needed.

5. Apply for ECF in the next available round — the four annual rounds have fixed deadlines. Gather your professional letters of support early so you are ready when the round opens.

6. Check your automatic payments are correct — confirm the Clothing Allowance, Holiday Allowance, and Birthday Allowance are appearing in your payment schedule.

7. Apply for Child Disability Allowance or Temporary Additional Support if applicable — these have their own criteria and applications separate from UCB.

The Unsupported Child's Benefit and Orphan's Benefit guide for NZ relative caregivers puts all of these payments, applications, and deadlines into a single printable system with worksheets for tracking every step.

Who This Is For

• Grandparents or relatives who have just taken in a child and want to make sure they do not miss any available payment
• Caregivers who are already receiving UCB but suspect there are supplementary payments they have not applied for
• Family members helping an older relative navigate the system — someone who can print the list and work through it together
• Whānau raising tamariki who want a complete picture before their first Work and Income appointment

Who This Is NOT For

• Caregivers under Oranga Tamariki with a formal foster care arrangement — the payment structure is different (Foster Care Allowance, not UCB)
• Anyone looking for legal advice on guardianship or custody orders — this covers financial payments only
• Parents receiving Sole Parent Support — UCB is for non-parent caregivers

The Reality of Missed Payments

The Ministry of Social Development does not have a single page that lists every payment a kinship caregiver can claim. The Establishment Grant is on one page, the ECF on another (with its own form, S54W), the Clothing Allowance is mentioned in the rates table but not on the UCB eligibility page, and Temporary Additional Support has its own application process entirely. GRG Trust NZ advocates report that the majority of caregivers they assist were not told about ECF or the Establishment Grant at their initial Work and Income appointment.

For a grandparent on NZ Superannuation raising a 10-year-old, the unclaimed extras can be substantial: up to $2,000 from ECF, plus the School Start-up Payment and the automatic allowances. The $350 Establishment Grant is paid automatically if eligible, so check that it appears after approval. These supports are non-taxable; other assistance has its own eligibility tests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a court order to claim these payments?

No. UCB and all its supplementary payments are available to caregivers without a Parenting Order or Guardianship Order. Work and Income requires proof of primary care and family breakdown, which can be established through professional documentation, a Family Group Conference, or supporting letters.

Will these payments reduce my NZ Superannuation or affect Working for Families?

UCB and OB do not reduce NZ Super and are not based on caregiver income. For the child receiving UCB or OB, Family Tax Credit and Minimum Family Tax Credit are unavailable; Best Start and In-Work Tax Credit may still be available if you meet their rules. Other assistance has its own eligibility tests.

Can I apply for ECF in the first year?

Yes. There is no waiting period for ECF after UCB is approved. You can apply in the next available annual round as soon as you have the professional letters of support.

What happens during a CYC review?

Confirming Your Circumstances reviews check details such as your living arrangements, the child's income, and care status. Respond to Work and Income's review notice and provide the requested information; payments can be suspended if you do not complete the review.

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