A top-up payment, not a loan
Temporary Additional Support, often shortened to TAS, is a weekly payment from Work and Income for people who cannot meet their essential living costs from their income and other help. You do not have to be on a benefit to apply, which makes it relevant for people who have just lost a job or who work reduced hours.
The payment is not taxed. The Work and Income page does not describe it as something you repay, but the rules for individual cases can differ, so ask when you apply instead of assuming.
Who qualifies
You need to be over 16, be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, normally live in New Zealand and plan to stay. You must also have essential costs that you have no other way of paying, and you cannot already be receiving a Special Benefit.
Work and Income looks at your income, your partner's income, your money and assets, whether other help is available, the kind of costs you have and what you are doing to reduce costs or raise income. This means two people with the same rent can receive different answers.
- Typical essential costs include rent or board, power, food, transport to work and medical bills.
- Proof of the costs is needed, such as a tenancy agreement or a recent invoice.
How long it lasts and how to apply
A grant is made for up to 13 weeks. If you still need help when it ends, you have to apply again, and the amount depends on your situation at that time. Plan for the end date from the first week, so a sudden stop does not push you towards a loan you cannot afford.
New clients can apply online through MyMSD or use the Extra Help application form with proof of costs. Existing clients use the Temporary Additional Support form. You can be granted help from the date you ask, and the process has a 20 working day window from first contact.
How TAS changes what lenders see
A lender assessing an application will count regular income, and a time-limited payment is weighed differently from a wage. If you tell a bank that TAS is part of your income, expect questions about what happens after 13 weeks.
That is a fair question to ask yourself too. Borrowing against a payment that may stop is the classic way short-term help turns into a long-term debt, so keep any repayment well below what you receive without the extra support.
Interest-free alternatives for one-off needs
If the problem is a single large cost, rather than weekly shortfalls, a zero-interest loan can be a better fit. Ngā Tāngata Microfinance offers the GetControl Interest Free Loan of up to $5,000, with no interest or fees, repaid over six months, one year or two years by deduction from wages or benefit.
Applicants usually need to be eligible for a Community Services Card, be a citizen or permanent resident, and work with a free financial mentor for at least three sessions. The loan is not available for vehicles or for bank debts, which the bank's hardship team should handle.
A worked comparison, illustrative only
Imagine a sole parent whose partner has left and whose rent now takes most of the weekly income. Option one is TAS to cover the shortfall for a limited time. Option two is a mentor-supported interest-free loan to clear an urgent appliance or a high-interest debt, while TAS keeps the weekly budget afloat.
Option three, a payday-style lender, adds costs while income stays low. The figures here are not real, but the order of thinking is: ask for non-repayable help first, then zero-interest credit, and only then commercial credit after reading the full price.
Scams and where to get free advice
Anyone who offers to help you apply for TAS for a fee is not needed: applying is free through Work and Income. Be equally careful with messages claiming that a loan is pre-approved or that a payment must be made to unlock funds.
MoneyTalks, a service of FinCap, gives free help on 0800 345 123, text 4029 or online chat. It can connect you with one of the budgeting services across the country, and it publishes guidance on what to know before taking out a loan.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be on a benefit to get Temporary Additional Support?
No. Work and Income says you do not have to receive a benefit, but you must be able to show essential costs you cannot cover. Your income, your partner's income, assets and the help available elsewhere are all considered when they decide.
How long is Temporary Additional Support paid for?
A decision covers up to 13 weeks. If you still cannot meet your essential costs after that, you need to apply again and Work and Income will reassess your situation. The weekly amount can also change from one grant to the next.
Can I take out a loan while receiving it?
Nothing prevents you applying, but lenders weigh a time-limited payment carefully. Zero-interest community loans have their own rules, such as Community Services Card eligibility and mentoring. Check the lender's criteria directly and avoid repayments you could not meet without the extra support.
Where can I get help with the application?
Call Work and Income on 0800 559 009 if you cannot apply online or complete the form. First-time applicants may need to bring original government-issued ID to a service centre. A MoneyTalks mentor can also help you gather proof of costs.
Useful organisations and links
- Work and Income – Temporary Additional SupportOfficial page on who can get TAS, how long it is paid and how to apply.
- Ngā Tāngata Microfinance – need helpNon-profit offering the GetControl Interest Free Loan of up to $5,000 with mentoring.
- MoneyTalks (FinCap)Free helpline, text and chat service connecting people with financial mentors.
Links to third-party organisations with no commercial tie to this site. Always check the conditions with them directly.