The Working for Families package developed by the Labour Government is designed to take some financial stress off working families with children under the age of 18 by giving them a weekly or fortnightly amount deposited deirectly into a bank account.

The scheme has been through a couple of changes this year with the amounts going up and the name changing from Family Assistance to Family tax credit. There are a few types of tax credits that a family can receive.

Family tax credit

This provides ongoing financial support for families. How much you get depends on how much you earn, the number of children you have, their ages, and any shared care arrangements.

To calculate your Working for Families Tax Credits for this year (1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010) click here

To calculate your Working for Families Tax Credits for last year (1st April 2008 to 31st March 2009) click here

To download Family Tax Credit information click here

To register for your Working for Families Tax Credits click here

To view a tax credits table of entitlement click here

In-work tax credit

In-work tax credit pays up to $60 a week for families with three children, and up to an extra $15 a week for each other child. To get in-work tax credit couples must normally work 30 hours a week between them, and sole parents must normally work 20 hours a week. This tax credit is for people who work a minimum hours of work a week and can be received in addition to the Family tax credit.
You can also get in-work tax credit if you’re self-employed, but it’s not available to families receiving an income-tested benefit or student allowance.

Minimum family tax credit

If your family’s income is $22,645 or less before tax, you may be able to get a family tax credit. This payment tops up your family’s income to at least $355 a week after tax (rates at 1 April 2008). To get this payment, at least one parent must be working for salary or wages. Two-parent families need to work at least 30 hours a week between them, and sole parents need to work at least 20 hours a week.

Parental tax credit

This payment helps with the costs of a new baby for the first eight weeks after your baby is born. You could get up to $1,200 (in total) depending on your family income. How much you get also depends on the type of income your family received in the first eight weeks after your child was born.
You cannot receive the Parental tax credit if you are receiving Paid Parental Leave and you must choose which payment you want to receive.

Help with Childcare costs

The childcare subsidy helps with childcare costs for children 4 years and under.

The OSCAR (Out of School Care and Recreation) subsidy covers children aged 5 to 13 years. It can help for up to 20 hours of after school care and up to 50 hours during school holidays.
To calculate your entitlement to help with childcare costs click here
To view a childcare supplement entitlement table click here

The Accommodation Supplement

This payment comes from Work and Income and can help with the costs of your rent, board, mortgage and other essential housing costs. To qualify, your income has to be below a certain amount,
depending on where you live.
How much you get depends on a range of things, such as your income, assets and housing costs.
You may not qualify for the Accommodation Supplement if your mortgage is with Housing Corporation or you rent from Housing New Zealand.
To calculate your entitlement to help with accomodation costs click here
To view an accomodation supplement entitlement table click here

Contacts:
Accommodation & childcare 0800 774 004
Monday to Friday 7 am – 8 pm, Saturday 8 am –1pm

Working for Families Tax Credits 0800 227 773
Monday to Friday 8 am – 8 pm, Saturday 9 am –1pm