Struggle

likely to occur. Providers need evidence that you’re not able to make ends meet. That generally means the process involves completing a budget sheet and working with the KiwiSaver member to get a sense of where their incomes and outgoings are at. If you're going into arrears every week and going backwards and you don't have any savings left, at the highest level you could qualify.”

People would also need to show they had explored other options.

He said KiwiSaver could not be used to clear debt in its entirety because there was usually a chance that people could get back on track eventually.

They would often be granted the equivalent of 13 weeks of living expenses. But he said it was common for people to apply again at the end of that period.