Unemployment benefit calculator · New Zealand 2026

Unemployment benefit in New Zealand 2026: how much, and for how long

Unemployment benefit replaces part of your pay when you lose your job, if you were insured long enough. The calculator above estimates the amount and how long it is paid, from your salary and age, with the 2026 rules.

The rules in brief

• Jobseeker Support: There is no unemployment insurance. Work and Income pays Jobseeker Support, a flat weekly benefit of $426.12 before tax for a single person aged 25 or over from 1 April 2026 ($606.69 for a sole parent), reduced by your and your partner’s other income and subject to work obligations.

Single person aged 35 without children; 9.8 years of service.

Frequently asked questions

How much unemployment benefit do I get on NZ$6,500 gross a month?
Jobseeker Support of NZ$426 a week before tax (single, 25 or over), paid as long as you qualify and reapplied for every 52 weeks; it is reduced by your partner’s income and starts after a stand-down of up to 2 weeks. Shown here for 26 weeks.: NZ$11,079 in total, if you are single and aged 35.

Are these amounts exact?
They are estimates under the 2026 rules. The public employment service decides the actual amount.

Rules and official sources: see “Rules applied (2026)” in the calculator. Last checked: October 2026. Estimates for information, not financial advice.