Retirement Life
9 September 2026
What entitlements are you missing out on?
There are more than 40 different entitlements New Zealand retirees can be eligible for - yet most Kiwis aren’t making the most of it, according to a new guide recently released by MoneyHub.
The consumer finance website says most New Zealanders claim only a fraction of what they could, as the information on these entitlements, payments, subsidies and discounts are scattered across multiple organisations, including Work and Income, Health New Zealand, local councils, NZTA and dozens of company policies. And none of it arrives automatically – even NZ Superannuation, which needs to be applied for.
MoneyHub’s new guide Over-65 Entitlements - The Definitive List for New Zealanders brings together available entitlements in one place and explains where to find them
Not every retiree will qualify for every entitlement. Some are income or asset-tested, while others depend on a person’s needs, circumstances or even where they live.
MoneyHub founder Christopher Walsh says some of the most valuable entitlements are the least claimed.
“The Community Services Card is the single most under-claimed card in New Zealand, and many retirees living mainly on NZ Super qualify without realising it,” he says.
“The Disability Allowance can cover GP visits, prescriptions, extra heating and a monitored medical alarm, yet it remains one of the least claimed payments on the list. And because the rates rebate must be reapplied for every rating year, only a fraction of eligible households ever see it.”
Got a healthy bank balance? Make sure you’re not missing out too
Walsh says wealthier retirees are missing out too – as at least 15 items on its list are not means tested.
“There’s a persistent assumption that if you’ve saved well, none of this is for you. It’s wrong,” he says.
“At least 15 items on the list apply regardless of wealth - free prescriptions, funded vaccinations and screening, SuperGold travel and discounts, the Winter Energy Payment and NZ Super itself. The myth that ACC stops at 65 also needs to go - if you’re injured at any age, including in a fall at home, ACC can fund treatment, transport and help at home while you recover.”
How much could you get per fortnight?
“There’s a persistent assumption that if you’ve saved well, none of this is for you. It’s wrong [...] At least 15 items on the list apply regardless of wealth..."
—Christopher Walsh (MoneyHub Founder)
Ask and you shall receive
Walsh has another important piece of advice too. It’s always worth asking if you might get a discount.
“The discount you don’t ask for is always 0%, so make ‘is there a SuperGold or senior rate?’ an automatic question whenever you arrange to pay for something. And if Work and Income declines an application, ask for a Review of Decision - it’s free, you can’t be penalised for using it, and decisions get overturned regularly, especially with strong medical evidence.”
Readers can work through the guide to find out what they are eligible for, with Walsh suggesting starting with Work and Income’s free eligibility checker, then using the guide to catch everything the checker doesn’t cover.
And for those currently struggling with cash flow, the Lifetime Income Calculator may be a useful tool. It illustrates how Lifetime Retirement Income and Lifetime Home can help create a fortnightly payment that tops up NZ Super.
| Commonly missed entitlement | Why it goes unclaimed |
| Living Alone rate of NZ Super | Singles living alone are entitled to a meaningfully higher rate, but Work and Income must be told when a living situation changes - including after a bereavement. |
| Community Services Card | Many retirees living mainly on NZ Super qualify without realising - it takes minutes to apply and unlocks other subsidies throughout the system. |
| Disability Allowance | Covers the ongoing costs of a health condition - GP visits, prescriptions, extra heating, special foods, even a monitored medical alarm - yet is one of the least claimed payments of all. |
| Rates rebate | Must be reapplied for every rating year, so only a fraction of eligible households claim it. Retirement village residents have also qualified since a 2018 law change - and many don’t know. |
| High Use Health Card | Not income tested - it suits people who visit the GP 12 or more times a year for an ongoing condition but miss out on the Community Services Card. |
| $1,000 dental grant | Up to $1,000 a year, non-repayable, for immediate and essential dental treatment such as fillings and extractions - widely unknown. |
| ACC - at any age | A persistent myth says ACC stops at 65. It does not - injuries at any age, including a fall at home, can qualify for funded treatment and support. |
A selection of seven from the full list of 40+. Source: MoneyHub, Over-65 Entitlements - The Definitive List for New Zealanders
The advice here is general and does not constitute specific advice to any person.
Written by:
Sonia Speedy
Sonia Speedy has been a journalist for over 20 years, working in newspapers, magazines and radio. She also runs an online platform for parents at familytimes.co.nz. She lives on the Kāpiti Coast with her young family and loves writing stories that help make people's lives easier.
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