The Government has announced it will provide an interim payment to displaced homeowners when their temporary accommodation payments run out.
It will be available from September 4 and will be made weekly.
Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni said the interim payment will be set at 100% of the average rent declared by Accommodation Supplement recipients in the recipients' region.
The Government said the payment is targeted to people who are not being otherwise supported to pay for temporary private rental accommodation.
"We recognise the need to provide certainty to residents who are unable to return to their homes. This payment will help bridge the gap until repairs are undertaken or a decision is made on the future of their property."
Sepuloni said that after visiting areas impacted by this year's extreme weather events and speaking to those impacted it was clear "they need and deserve certainty so that they can plan, recover, and get back to a sense of normality".
"The Government has prioritised setting up this payment now, as payments from insurers for temporary accommodation start to run out and the future for some people's homes remain uncertain.
"If a longer-term solution is needed there is work underway on what that might look like. In the meantime, the interim payment will give displaced homeowners the certainty and confidence they need to plan ahead," Sepuloni said.
Eligible displaced homeowners can receive a lump-sum payment covering them from as early as June 1 this year to ensure that there is not a gap in support.
Payments aren't taxable and won't affect Working for Families and most other social assistance entitlements.
Sepuloni said the interim payment is called the North Island Weather Events – Temporary Accommodation Assistance (NIWE TAA). The Ministry of Social Development can be contacted from August 21 to book an appointment, she said.
Who is eligible
============
Those who are displaced from their home which has received a red or yellow placard and they continue to face costs associated with their damaged home such as mortgage, rates and insurance.
Those who have a tenancy agreement from before July 19
Those who have earlier been receiving a temporary accommodation payment for their insurer but are no longer getting it
Those who aren't currently in Temporary Accommodation Service accommodation but are registered
Those who aren't receiving another Government payment for their temporary accommodation costs in the same property, such as the Accommodation Supplement or the Student Allowance Accommodation Benefit
What isn't covered
===============
Costs of commercial accommodation such as motels and hotels
Homeowners who are currently receiving payment for temporary support from their insurer. If a homeowner received an upfront lump sum from their insurer for temporary accommodation costs, they’re not eligible for NIWE TAA until their cover runs out
Homeowners who are receiving the Accommodation Supplement or the Student Allowance Accommodation Benefit
The Government said Auckland is AS Area One, Hawke's Bay is two, Gisborne is three and rural areas are four.
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Poll: Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?
Just a bit of a fun poll to get you thinking.
If you had to live out your Christmas days, would you prefer it was a summer Christmas or a winter Christmas?
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63.3% Summer
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35.4% Winter
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
New Year, New Questions You Won’t Solve!
I get smaller every time I take a bath.
What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
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Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
What it feels like speaking with a MAGA American:
Me: “Your total is $44.19. Cash or card?”
The customer hands me a credit card but the chip inside it has been hole-punched out.
Me: “Uh, I don’t think this will work.”
Customer: “Why not? It hasn’t expired and I have money in my account.”
Me: “Sir… the chip is gone.”
Customer: “I didn’t want the chip.”
Me: “The card won’t work without it.”
Customer: “It just means I can’t enter my PIN, but you can still swipe it.”
Me: “I don’t think it will work, sir.”
Customer: “Just swipe it.”
I swipe it to prove a point.
Me: “It’s not working, sir.”
Customer: “Then you’re doing it wrong. Swipe it again!”
I do so again with the same result.
Customer: “Maybe you should swipe it so that the magnetic strip isn’t the thing being swiped?”
Me: *Swiping it as suggested.* “Sure, why not? About as much chance of it going through without the magnetic strip as there is without the chip – oh look, it didn’t work.”
Customer: “Your machine must be broken!”
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