Every person that qualifies for New Zealand Superannuationwill experience the difficulty of having a non qualifying spouse. If the superannuitant has enough income from whatever source to support his spouse then there is not a problem but most superannuitants are not in this position and require some assistance.
Legislative provisions exist to enable a superannuitant whose spouse is not eligible for New Zealand superannuation but is financially dependant on the superannuitant , to receive an enhanced rate of New Zealand Superannuation. This doesn’t mean that the superannuitant gets more money but does mean that the couple will get more than half the married rate that the superannuitant would be entitled to but not the full married rate which would be applicable if both qualified by age.
In such situations the spouse who qualifies for New Zealand has the choice of receiving either
The level of the non-qualified rate recognises the expectation that the majority of people will continue in employment until they qualify for New Zealand Superannuation. For this reason the level of assistance provided for a non qualifying spouse is similar to the income support available to a person is unemployed .
This concept totally ignores that the employment philosophy today is not to employ the elderly and also is in our opinion falsely based because it takes no real account of a spouse who may have never worked apart from the younger years.
Originally , the rate of new zealand superannuation paid in cases where a non-qualified spouse was included was the same as the married rate.
In 1991 the rate payable to new applications, for New Zealand Superannuation that included a non-qualified spouse was amended. The new rate reflected the married rate in respect of the qualified spouse , and the single adult rate of Unemployment benefit in respect of the non-qualified person.. Half of this combined rate is paid to each spouse.
From April 1st 2000 the maximum rate of New Zealand Superannuation payable to a married couple where a non-qualified spouse is included is $330.84 a week after tax which compares with the married rate of $347 per week . Please not that the rate will change due to change in CPI and this is given in a separate item in the 2001 additions.
Any other income the couple receives over $4160 gross per annum changes the rate of New Zealand Superannuation payable. For each dollar of income over this limit , 70 cents is deducted from the non-qualified spouse rate ,
This special rate of new zealand superannuation provides for the situation where a couple does not have sufficient income to support an unqualified spouse. It is an extension of the provisions of New Zealand Superannuation to ensure that the couple is able to adequately support them selves.
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