Paying for heating

Apply for help with the costs of heating your home, or check advice for keeping those expenses down.

What you can get help with

  • Paying your heating bills.
  • Buying a heater or firewood.
  • Installing insulation.

Support if you’re on a low income

If you cannot afford firewood or a heater, you can apply for help to pay for them. Here are 5 options to consider.

Advance Payment of Benefit

If you’re already on a benefit or get NZ Super or a Veteran’s Pension, tell Work and Income you’d like to apply for an Advance Payment of Benefit. You have to pay this back and the maximum you get is $300.

Advance Payment of Benefit — Work and Income

Recoverable Assistance Payment

If you are not getting a benefit, tell Work and Income you’d like to apply for a Recoverable Assistance Payment. You have to pay this back and the maximum you can ask for is $200.

Recoverable Assistance Payment — Work and Income

Home insulation grant

If you’re a tenant, your landlord may be able to apply for an insulation grant. You must have a Community Services Card.

If you own your own home, you may be able to add the cost of insulation to your mortgage.

Paying for home insulation

Winter Energy Payment

The Winter Energy Payment is an extra payment to help with the cost of heating your home over the winter months.

Winter Energy Payment — Work and Income

This payment is for people who get a main benefit, NZ Super, and Veteran’s Pension.

You do not need to apply for the Winter Energy Payment — if you’re eligible, you will receive this automatically.

Disability Allowance

If you have extra power, gas or heating costs because you’re disabled or have a health condition, you may be able to get the Disability Allowance to help.

Power, gas and heating if you have a disability — Work and Income

If you cannot get government help

65 years or older

Your SuperGold Card offers discounts that may help with:

  • buying firewood
  • insulating your home
  • getting a heat pump
  • other heating options.

Search for discounts and offers — SuperGold

Age Concern also has advice about keeping your home warm and dry.

Healthy home — Age Concern New Zealand

Help for renters

Tips and advice for everyone

Who to contact for more help

If you need more help or have questions about the information or services on this page, contact the following agency.

Utility links and page information

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