When, if ever, was the last time that Temporary Additional Support payment rates were reviewed in relation to housing costs?

Answer

Temporary Additional Support (TAS) is calculated using a formula that uses net main benefit or the rate of New Zealand Superannuation (NZS)/Veterans Pension (VP) to calculate a client’s entitlement. These rates are used to calculate: - Chargeable income (which includes net benefit or NZS/VP rates) - Standard costs (as a percentage of net benefit or NZS/VP rates) and, - The upper limit / maximum rate (which are both a percentage of net benefit or NZS/VP rates). As main benefits and NZS/VP are adjusted by CPI on 1 April each year through the Annual General Adjustment there are flow-ons to the TAS formula. The upper limit, specifically, is adjusted in line with CPI through its calculation. Since the introduction of TAS in 2006 housing costs have not been reviewed. However, the CPI (all groups) index includes housing costs. The housing and household utilities sub-group of the CPI includes the costs of rental housing and home ownership. The formula assessment for TAS does also reflect wider changes that have occurred to housing subsidies over this period. This includes the increases to maximum weekly rates of the Accommodation Supplement in 2018 and from March 2026 changes to way that housing contributions from boarders are assessed.