Parents to support 18–19-year-olds on benefits as welfare tightens amid rising unemployment

From November 2026, parents earning over $65,000 must support their 18 to 19-year-old children on Jobseeker benefits under a new parental assistance test. The government is also tightening Jobseeker eligibility more broadly. Stats NZ figures show unemployment rose to 5.6 percent in the June 2026 quarter — a near 11-year high — with 171,000 people unemployed.