What is the Best Start payment?

Best Start is a weekly payment to help with the costs of a young child. For babies born before 1 April 2026 the first year is paid to all families and later years are income tested. For babies born on or after 1 April 2026 the payment is income tested from the first year, reducing as family income rises above the threshold.

How much is Best Start?

There is a maximum weekly rate set by the government. In years two and three it reduces above an income threshold at an abatement rate. The amounts change over time, so this calculator takes them as inputs.

Families with a young child generally qualify, with the first year often universal and later years income tested. Check the current rules and your eligibility with Inland Revenue.

Best Start Payment Calculator

This calculator estimates the Best Start payment New Zealand families can expect for a young child, and shows how family income affects the amount in the years when it is income tested. Best Start helps with the cost of raising a baby, and how it is paid depends on when your child was born: for babies born before 1 April 2026, the first year is usually paid at the full rate regardless of income, with income testing in years two and three, while babies born on or after 1 April 2026 are income tested from year one. You select whether your baby was born before or after that date and which child year applies, then enter the maximum weekly rate, your family income, the abatement threshold and the abatement rate, figures the government sets and reviews over time. The calculator returns your estimated weekly payment, the equivalent annual amount, and how much the payment has been reduced by the income test if your income sits above the threshold. Use it to see what Best Start adds to your budget at your income level, and how extra income moves the payment down. Because the rate, threshold and abatement rate change over time, keep your inputs current and confirm eligibility with Inland Revenue. This is an estimate only, not financial advice.

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Baby born

Child year

Maximum weekly rate

Family income

Abatement threshold

Abatement rate

estimated Best Start payment per week

Per year$0

Reduced by income test$0

The maximum rate, the income threshold and the abatement rate are set by the government and change over time, so enter the current figures and confirm eligibility with Inland Revenue. Year 1 is usually paid regardless of income. Estimate only, not financial advice.

How it works

For a baby born before 1 April 2026, Best Start is paid at the full weekly rate in the first year regardless of income, and is income tested in years two and three. For a baby born on or after 1 April 2026 the payment is income tested from the first year. When income testing applies, the payment reduces by the abatement rate on each dollar of family income over the threshold. The calculator works out the reduction and the remaining payment, and converts the weekly figure to an annual amount, so you can see what to expect at your income level.

Worked example

At a $77.71 weekly maximum (about $4,041 a year) in year two, a family earning $80,000 with a $79,000 threshold and a 21% abatement is $1,000 over, reducing the annual payment by $210, leaving about $3,831, or roughly $74 a week.

Related calculators

Working for Families Calculator: family tax credits.
Parental Leave Calculator: paid parental leave.
Cost of a Baby Calculator: first-year costs.
Minimum Family Tax Credit Calculator: minimum family income.

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Reviewed and maintained. Last reviewed 2026-07-02 and checked on a twice-monthly cycle against IRD, RBNZ and Stats NZ. How we keep data current.