Financial help

There are options available to contribute to some of the costs, financial loss or damage caused by a crime. 

Help with an immediate or essential cost

Work and Income may be able to help. Support may depend on your income, assets and the type of cost.

Go to financial help from Work and Income

If you are experiencing family violence

Family Services Directory can help with money issues, housing, safety planning, legal protection and other urgent needs. Work and Income may also provide financial or housing support.

Go to financial help due to family violence

If you have experienced sexual abuse or assault

ACC may fund counselling and other support through its Sensitive Claims Service. You do not need to have reported to Police.

Go to financial help due to sexual violence

If a judge orders the offender to pay reparation

You may be able to get money paid to you for harm, loss or damage caused by the offending.

Go to reparation from the offender

If the offender or prisoner has been awarded compensation

You may be able to receive some of that compensation through the Victims’ Special Claims Tribunal. 

Go to compensation through a tribunal

Work and Income may be able to help if you need money for immediate or essential costs. Support from Work and Income can depend on your income, assets, and the type of help you need. 

Special Needs Grant

You may be able to get a Special Needs Grant if:

• the cost is immediate, essential or an emergency
• you have no other way to pay
• you meet the relevant eligibility rules. 

For more information about the Special Needs Grant, visit the Work and Income website below.

Special Needs Grant | Work and Income(external link)

If you are experiencing family violence including financial control or economic abuse, you are not alone and support is available.

Specialist family violence services can help with things like safety planning, money issues, finding housing, addressing debt, legal protection and urgent practical needs.  

Find a family violence support service near you | Family Services Directory(external link)

Family violence

Work and Income may also help if you are living in, or leaving, a violent relationship. 
This may include help with:

• benefit payments
• accommodation costs
• special needs grants
• other financial assistance
• housing options
• referrals to other support. 

Read more about what support is available through Work and Income on the page below.

information about violent relationships | Work and Income(external link)

If you have experienced sexual abuse or assault, ACC may be able to help through its Sensitive Claims Service. This can include funded counselling and other support. ACC may also be able to help with some practical costs linked to the assault, such as replacing damaged clothing. You do not need to have reported to police to get support through ACC. 

Read more about support if you’ve experienced sexual abuse or assault through the Sensitive Claims Service.

Sensitive Claims Service | ACC(external link)

A judge may order an offender to pay you reparation. Reparation is money paid for harm, loss or damage caused by the offending. 
 
Reparation can cover:

• property that was lost or damaged
• emotional harm
• some costs or financial losses caused by physical or emotional harm
• some costs or financial losses caused by property loss or damage.

The judge decides whether or not the offender has to pay for reparations. The amount may depend on the loss or costs, and the offender’s ability to pay.  

If reparation is ordered by the Judge, you'll be sent a Reparation Notice that tells you how much the offender has been ordered to pay.  

The court collects the money from the offender and pays it into your bank account. 

You will need to provide your bank account details to the Ministry of Justice:

• Email: fines.enquiry@justice.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 909 909

You can also nominate someone else to receive the payments for you. In some cases, your insurance company may be able to pay you directly and claim some or all of the reparation from the offender.

Collecting reparation is a priority for the court. If the offender does not pay, the court can take enforcement action. Enforcement action can include:

• taking money from their wages or benefit
• taking their property and selling it
• suspending their driver licence arresting them.

Receiving reparation | New Zealand Ministry of Justice(external link)

Some tribunals can make decisions about money and compensation for the victim as a result of a crime. The tribunal that may be relevant depends on what happened and the type of claim. 
 
For example, the Victims’ Special Claims Tribunal deals with claims by victims when an offender or prisoner has been awarded compensation. 

Read more about tribunals:

Victims' Special Claims Tribunal | New Zealand Ministry of Justice(external link)

Tribunals