NZ Super Rate Change After a Partner's Death: The Living Alone Rate

When your partner dies, your New Zealand Superannuation does not simply continue at the same level. If you were both receiving NZ Super, the payments you received as a couple were at the "Married/Civil Union/De Facto" rate — and that rate stops applying when one partner dies. You must notify Work and Income, and your payments will be reassessed. The rate you will move to depends on your living situation. If you remain in the family home alone, you qualify for the Single Living Alone rate.

This transition does not happen automatically. Missing it can create an overpayment debt you will be required to repay.

What is the NZ Super Living Alone rate?

New Zealand Superannuation has several rates depending on household composition. As of 2026, the Single Living Alone rate is approximately $1,110.30 per fortnight (after tax at the M rate). This is higher than the Single Sharing rate (paid if you live with others) and reflects the higher fixed costs of running a household on a single income.

Verify the current fortnightly rate directly with Work and Income (workandincome.govt.nz) or by calling 0800 552 002, as rates are adjusted periodically.

The 28-day window after your partner's death

Work and Income may continue paying your partner's NZ Super for up to 28 days after the date of death, but only if you formally request this continuation. It is not automatic. This extension exists to give the surviving spouse time to stabilize their finances before the payment stops.

Beyond 28 days, any superannuation paid in the deceased's name is considered a Crown debt and will be recovered from the estate. This means acting quickly is critical — notify Work and Income as soon as is practical, explain you would like the 28-day continuation if eligible, and arrange for any overpayments to be repaid from estate funds before they are distributed.

How to notify Work and Income

Work and Income must be notified of the death to:

• Stop the deceased's payments
• Reassess your own payments to the correct individual rate
• Initiate any bereavement support you may be entitled to

You can notify Work and Income by:

• Calling 0800 552 002 (free, Monday to Friday)
• Visiting your local Work and Income service centre in person
• Using myMSD online if you have an account

You will need the deceased's name, date of birth, and IRD number, along with the date of death. Bring the death certificate when visiting in person.

Also use the myTrove notification service (mytrove.govt.nz) to simultaneously notify Inland Revenue (IRD) and the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). myTrove does not notify Work and Income directly for superannuation purposes — that notification must be made separately.

What your new NZ Super payment will be

After Work and Income processes the reassessment, you will receive the Single Living Alone rate if:

• You live alone in your home
• The property is used mainly as your place of residence
• You do not share your home with another adult as a partner or in a de facto relationship

If you move in with family members after your partner's death, you may be reassessed to the Single Sharing rate, which is lower. Work and Income will ask about your living arrangements.

Your new payment will also reflect any applicable tax rate changes now that your household income has changed. Check with IRD or a tax adviser about updating your tax code if needed.

Council rates rebate for surviving spouses

If you own your home and your income drops significantly after your partner's death, you may qualify for a rates rebate from your local council. This is a partial reduction on your annual property rates bill.

For the 2025–26 rating year, the maximum rebate is $830. The rebate is available to homeowners whose income falls below certain thresholds. SuperGold card holders (those receiving NZ Super) can typically qualify if their income is under approximately $46,400 annually, with the rebate amount calculated based on your income and your rates bill.

To apply:

• Contact your local territorial authority (city or district council)
• Applications are typically open from 1 July to 30 June each year
• You will need to declare your income for the previous 12 months
• SuperGold card holders are eligible for a higher income threshold than the general population

The application is straightforward — a short form with income declaration — and most councils process it within a few weeks. Do not skip this. On a fixed NZ Super income, $830 is a meaningful amount, and many surviving spouses are unaware the rebate exists.

Veterans and their surviving spouses

If your partner was receiving a Veteran's Pension from Veterans' Affairs rather than standard NZ Super, the notification process is different. Contact Veterans' Affairs (veteransaffairs.mil.nz) directly. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans may also be eligible for a Surviving Spouse Pension of approximately $216.02 per week — this is separate from NZ Super and must be applied for within six months of the death to receive backdated payments.

Other financial transitions to address

The NZ Super transition is urgent, but it sits alongside other time-sensitive tasks:

• Bank accounts: Joint accounts remain accessible to the surviving holder, but sole accounts in the deceased's name will be frozen pending estate administration.
• KiwiSaver: If the deceased had a KiwiSaver balance, it must be claimed through the provider. Balances under $40,000 can be released with a statutory declaration; larger balances require High Court probate.
• Life insurance: Notify insurers immediately. Many policies have time limits on claiming death benefits.

If you are navigating all of these at once, the New Zealand Survivor Benefits Navigator provides a coordinated checklist covering every agency notification, benefit transition, and property step — so nothing falls through the gaps during one of the most difficult periods of your life.

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