accommodation supplement
accommodation supplement can help with the cost of a young person's housing
who can get it
Taiohi can get accommodation Supplement if they:
- have accommodation costs
- are over 16
- are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here
- are not paying rent for a public (social) housing property. Public housing properties are provided by:
- Kāinga Ora (used to be Housing New Zealand), and
- approved community housing providers.
It also depends on:
- how much they earn, and
- any money or assets they have.
how much they can get
How much a young person can get will depend on:
- their income
- their assets
- their accommodation costs
- their family circumstances
- the board or rent payments they receive
- where they live.
Call YSSU to find out how much the young person may be able to get.
how we assess board or rent payments taiohi get
Since 2 March 2026, we include all board payments when we calculate housing subsidies, like Accommodation Supplement.
This means, if young people get board or rent payments from others living with them, their Accommodation Supplement or other housing subsidies may change.
what you need to do
Step one – determine if the young person is paying rent or board.
The young person is considered to be renting when the amount they pay is for your accommodation only and doesn’t include other costs such as food or electricity.
The young person is not considered a boarder if they have flatmates where they are all sharing costs such as accommodation and food.
The young person is considered to be boarding when the amount they pay includes accommodation, food and utility costs when:
- they're not listed on the tenancy agreement, and
- the accommodation cost can't be separately identified as part of the amount they pay.
This includes people living in a boarding house (with food provided) or social housing property and they are not the head tenant.
Note: young people who own homes may be able to get Accommodation Supplement too.
Home ownership costs covered by Accommodation Supplement | map
Step two – support the young person to fill in the Accommodation Supplement form or boarders declaration form
If the young person does not currently receive an Accommodation Supplement, please support the young person to fill the Accommodation Supplement form and Change of Address form.
If the young person currently receives an Accommodation Supplement, they will need to complete a Change of Address form so this can be reviewed.
If the young person has a person paying board or rent to them, please support the young person with completing a Boarders declaration form.
Accommodation Supplement Application form | Youth Service Editable Forms
Board and rent information form | Youth Service Editable Forms
Change of address / Accommodation costs form (not editable) | Work and Income
Step three – submit the ART task
Task category: Reviews
Task type: Accommodation Assistance - Change of Address/Accommodation Costs
Next steps
YSSU will contact you or push the task back to you if they need more information.
YSSU will send you a notification via ART to let you know the outcome of the application.