Autumn’s here!It’s definitely AUTUMN with snow on the mountain tops, grey rainy days and/or brilliant sun!The evenings get dark sooner. It’s crispy outside and you need to bundle up to keep warm!Start each day with – a hot breakfast, a warming soup for lunch, a hearty meal for dinner and connect with friends and family.Are you wanting to make connections? This one-stop-shop website Next Steps has a wealth of local knowledge related to the Waimakariri and the Hurunui.https://www.nextsteps.org.nz/Are you on the correct power/electricity plan? https://www.powerswitch.org.nz/In 2025, the Winter Energy Payment in New Zealand, a payment to help with heating costs, will be paid automatically to eligible recipients from May 1 to October 1, with rates of $20.46 per week for single people and $31.82 for couples or those with dependent children.Here's a more detailed breakdown:Who is eligible?

• You must be receiving a main benefit, pension, or Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.
• Specifically, this includes Jobseeker Support Student Hardship, Sole Parent Support, Supported Living Payment, Youth Payment, Young Parent Payment, and Emergency Benefit.

How it works:

• The payment is paid automatically, so you don't need to apply.
• It's paid weekly/fortnightly, on the same day that you receive your benefit or pension.
• The payment is tax-free and doesn't affect any other benefits or entitlements.

Payment Dates and Amounts:

• Start Date: May 1, 2025
• End Date: October 1, 2025
• Single people with no dependent children: $20.46 per week
• Couples, and people with dependent children: $31.82 per week

Important Notes:

• The payment may be stopped if you travel overseas for more than a month, or if you don't inform Work and Income of any changes in your circumstances.
• If you don't want the Winter Energy Payment, you can choose not to receive it.

A mindful suggestion – you could always redirect this payment to a worthy cause e.g. The Salvation Army Foodbank, or similar. It would be gratefully received.

• For more information, you can visit the Work and Income website.

In case you've missed it, 1st April saw an increase in benefits and pensions as well as changes in income and asset cut out points - find out more. Minimum wages for adults and training have also increased - find out more.Our ABC:Advocacy, Budgeting, Credit checks, Debts, E-banking, Financial mentoring, Good choices, Hardship applications, Insolvency, Journey (at your pace), KiwiSaver, Listening, Mortgage, No Asset Procedures, Options, Power providers, Queries, Rates, Savings, Transactions, Unsecured loans, Volatility, Work & Income, Xcellent options,You come first,Zero-based budgeting.If you would like more information or wish to engage with a Financial Mentor, please contact us to talk about your situation.Phone 03 315 3505 or email: servicemanager@bsnc.org.nzWe’re on Facebook and www.bsnc.org.nzOur office is in the War Memorial Hall, 1 Albert Street, Rangiora.