If you’re getting NZ Superannuation or the Veteran’s Pension, you must let Work and Income know of changes to personal information such as your address, your relationship status or your living arrangements.
Tell Work and Income about your changes
Work and Income need to know about any changes to your personal details, living situation or your partner’s details. For a full list of what you need to report, see Work and Income’s website.
Find out when you need to talk to Work and Income in the following situations.
Overseas pensions
If you or your partner get a pension from overseas, you must let Work and Income know — it could affect how much NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension you’re paid.
If your partner is getting NZ Super or the Veteran’s Pension, you must notify Work and Income if they die. If payments continue, you may have to pay Work and Income back. You can fill out an online form or call Work and Income.
If your partner is included in your NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension
If you chose to include your partner in your NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension as a ‘non-qualified partner’ your payments are income tested. You must let Work and Income know if there are any changes in your income or finances — for example, you or your partner starts or stops a job, or opens a business.
If your relationship status changes, for example your relationship ends — you need to let Work and Income know. This may affect the amount of NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension you receive.
Your NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension is not based on your income or assets. You can continue working after your Super or Pension starts.
You need to make sure you’re using the right tax codes. You need to recheck your tax code whenever you have a change to your income, such as:
starting Super or Veteran’s Pension
stopping or starting work
reducing work hours or income.
Being on the wrong tax code can mean too much tax is taken out during the year or you could have a bill at the end of the tax year.
Use Inland Revenue’s tax code tool to check which tax code to use. Your tax code can be different for each income you receive. For example, your work tax code could be M and your NZ Super tax code could be SH.
If you’re away from NZ for 26 weeks or less you’ll still receive your NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension. However any extra payments you get may stop while you’re away.
If you’re away for more than 26 weeks you can sometimes get all or part of your pension. You need to contact Work and Income at least 6 weeks before you leave New Zealand.
You need to check the guidelines for individual benefits or allowances, such as the Accommodation Supplement, Disability Allowance or Temporary Additional Support to see what you need to do.
