During an overnight hospital stay you or your family member may be entitled to a gift basket or voucher.

First Wellbeing Check

Eligibility

A gift basket or voucher may be provided to a Member, their Partner, or their Dependent Children under the age of 19. Eligibility is determined by a Regional Representative, Station Representative, Membership Coordinator, or Office Manager in cases of hardship, misfortune, illness, or times of need or comfort. This also applies where the individual has had an overnight hospital stay of at least 24 hours.

Amount

This Benefit is limited to a maximum of $150 for adults and $100 for children under the age of 19 years. This Benefit cannot be paid in cash.

Claiming

Station Reps or Members are required to make contact with the office to confirm eligibility before proceeding.

Second Wellbeing Check

Eligibility

When ill or injured you, your partner and Dependent Children under the age of 19 years may receive a phone call or home visit from a Welfare Representative offering you a give basket or voucher.  If you have not heard from a representative, please feel free to contact the office directly 0800 653 473.

A Gift Basket or Voucher is available to a Member, Member’s Partner, and their Dependent Children under the age of 19 years, who due to sickness or accident, has been discharged from hospital after a stay of at least 24 hours or is at home recovering for a period of at least 7 days.

Recovering at home does not include self-isolating due to COVID or a Flu like illness.

Continuity

This benefit is available for a maximum of 4 fortnightly visits (In some circumstances, extra support may be authorised by the office).

Vouchers to be offered

• Woolworths
• Pak n Save
• New World
• Fuel vouchers from BP or Z

Vouchers to be offered to children

• The Warehouse
• Farmers

Vouchers and Gift Baskets cannot be substituted for cash.

No Alcohol is to be purchased.

Members cannot provide their own vouchers or gift basket the request must come via the office or a Welfare Representative.

Amount

This Benefit is limited to a maximum of $150 for adults and $100 for children under the age of 19 years. This Benefit cannot be paid in cash.

Claiming

Station Reps or Members are required to make contact with the office to confirm eligibility before proceeding.

When you and your immediate family require mobility assistance, you can claim up to $500 per annum.

Eligibility

This benefit is payable to a Member, Member’s Partner, and their Dependent Children under the age of 19 years. To provide financial assistance toward the cost of approved mobility aids after a medical event, that have not been claimed for previously. This benefit is intended to support access to essential mobility equipment necessary to assist with daily functioning and independence.

Note this does not cover the installation (or part of) towards ramps.

Amount

$500 per year per membership.

Claiming

All claims must be submitted on a BA1 form with itemised receipts attached. Each receipt must clearly identify the individual who underwent the procedure or received the service. Claims are to be forwarded to the office for approval.

Your family can claim up to $500 per year on Ambulance Transport.

Eligibility

This benefit is available to a Member, Member’s Partner, or their Dependent Children under the age of 19 years, who is required to pay for the cost of emergency ambulance transportation including air transport within New Zealand.

Amount

The benefit is limited to a maximum accumulated value of $500 per Member’s family per year. The year commences from the date of the first claim.

Claiming

All claims must be submitted on a BA1 form with itemised receipts attached. Each receipt must clearly identify the individual who underwent the procedure or received the service. Claims are to be forwarded to the office for approval.

Your family can claim up to $200 per year on Hospital Parking.

Eligibility

This benefit is available to a Member, Member’s Partner, and their Dependent Children under the age of 19 years, for parking costs while visiting partners or dependent children in hospital.

Amount

$250 per year per membership.

Claiming

All claims must be submitted on a BA1 form with itemised receipts attached. Each receipt must clearly identify the individual who underwent the procedure or received the service. Claims are to be forwarded to the office for approval.

If you need to travel over 100km (round trip) for medical appointments, you may claim up to 50¢ per kilometre up to $600 per annum, per membership.

Eligibility

This benefit may be claimed to assist with travelling costs when the Member, Member’s Partner and their Dependent Children under the age of 19 years are required to travel over a 100km round trip to attend an out of town medical appointment. Appointments must accompany a referral from a GP/Specialist.

Amount

$.50 Cents per Kilometre for 100 Km round trip or more – $600 per year per membership.

Claiming

All claims must be submitted on a BA1 claim form with itemised receipts attached. Each receipt must clearly identify the individual who underwent the procedure or received the service. Claims are to be forwarded to the office for approval.

During financial hardship a discretionary loan may be granted.

Eligibility

A loan may be approved to any financial Member that finds themselves in financial difficulty. Their Regional Board Member must approve the application. A Member can only have one loan at any one time.

Amount

Under the Welfare Society’s Rules 4 (a) and 4 (b)(i), a discretionary grant or loan is limited to a maximum of $750 per loan.

Claiming

All claims must be submitted on a BA1 form. Claims are to be forwarded  to the office for approval.

Loan Repayment

The Office Manager will liaise with the applicant to establish agreed repayment terms.

Additional Provisions

The Board reserves the discretion to convert a loan into a grant. In certain cases, a grant may be approved at the outset.

Your children can apply for our annual regional scholarship to help with educational costs.

Eligibility

This benefit will be available for Members children aged 5 to 18 years.

The purpose of the benefit is to assist with educational expenses. This may include school stationery, uniforms, education-related fees, sports fees, and art-related costs.

Applicants must be aged 5-18 years at time of application.

Only one application, per eligible child will be accepted.

The successful recipient is expected to use the money for education purposes.

Scholarships will be paid in a lump sum.

Funds are provided in good faith. NZFFWS does not require receipts or proof of expenditure for how the funds are used.

Continuity

• Applicants to be aged 5-18 years at time of application.
• Only one application, per child that meets the criteria will be accepted.
• The successful recipient will be expected to use the money for education purposes. Education purposes may include stationery, uniform or fees.
• The recipients will be given the money in good faith. NZFFWS will not require receipts as to what the recipient has used the money for.

Amount

$500 per age group per region – Total of $2000 per region.

Age groups are:

• 5 to 8 years of age
• 9 to 12 years of age
• 13 to 16 years of age
• 17 to 18 years of age

The amount will be paid to the recipient/s in a lump sum.

Claiming

Scholarships open 1 October and close 1 December – Applications submitted outside this period will not be accepted.

A Scholarship application form must be completed for each eligible child and forwarded to the office along with their work.

Requirements

• Ages 5 to 8 Provide artwork illustrating what they would like to be when they leave school.
• Ages 9-12 Complete a 200-word essay on who or what inspires them and what they wish to do when they leave school.
• Ages 13-16 Complete a 400-word essay on who or what inspires them and what they wish to do when they leave school.
• Ages 17-18 Complete a 1000-word essay on who or what inspires them and what they wish to do when they leave school.

Applications open annually on 1 October (and close at 5pm on 1 December). Read more here.

Members can enjoy various discounts across a wide range of retailers.

Eligibility

This benefit is available to all financial Members. Access is through the Welfare Society App.

Continuity

There is no limit as to how many times Members can access the supplier on the App.

Amount

The Welfare Society doesn’t incur any costs from suppliers.

Claiming

To use any of the discounts, you must have the NZFFWS App on a supported device. Each supplier will have instructions on how to access their offer.

Interpretation

All discounts have been negotiated to provide benefits to our members.

For more information, click here.

Your family can claim assistance with the costs of adopting New Zealand children up to $600 per year.

Eligibility

This benefit is available to assist a Member with the legal costs involved in the adoption of New Zealand Children.

Claiming

Members are required to complete a BA1 form with supporting legal receipts and forward to the office for approval.

Your family can claim $120 on the birth of your child.

Eligibility

This benefit payable on the birth of a child/children.

Amount

$120 per Child.

Claiming

Members are required to complete a BA1 form with supporting documentations such as a birth certificate, newspaper birth notice or a copy of the child’s details page from their Plunket book and forward to the office for approval.

To assist with the purchase of first ever Corrective Lenses or contact lenses.

Eligibility

This benefit is payable to assist in the purchase of FIRST EVER corrective lenses or contact lenses and the associated eye exam, for a Member, Member’s Partner, and their Dependent Children under the age of 19 years.

First ever refers to the individuals first pair of correctives or contact lenses, NOT the first time applying for assistance through the NZ Firefighters Welfare Society.

Amount

This benefit is for a maximum of $250.00 per claim this may include the cost of the eye examination. The total amount that can be claimed in any one year by any family is limited to $500.

Claiming

All claims must be submitted on a BA1 form with itemised receipts attached. Each receipt must clearly identify the individual who underwent the procedure or received the service. Claims are to be forwarded to the office for approval.

Your family can claim up to ​$700 per year for Counselling.

Eligibility

This benefit is available to assist Members, Members Partner’s and their Dependent Children under the age of 19 years, that require counselling.

Definition of a Counsellor for NZ firefighters Welfare Purposes is: A Trained listener who will help you, understand your thoughts and feelings, cope with problems or stress, make decisions, improve mental and emotional wellbeing.

Diagnostic services are not eligible for reimbursement under this benefit.

Fire and Emergency provide options for wellbeing support; you can seek assistance through their portal.

You can also access support through Vitae – please mention you are a Fire and Emergency member or Partner of.

Amount

$700 per year per membership.

Claiming

All claims must be submitted on a BA1 claim form with itemised receipts attached. Each receipt must clearly identify the individual who underwent the procedure or received the service. Claims are to be forwarded to the office for approval.

Emergency funds available after a disaster, at the Board’s discretion.

Eligibility

This fund is implemented at the Boards discretion following a disaster. This benefit is available to Members who have experienced a significant disaster.

Claiming

Applications must be submitted using a BA1 form.

The completed form should be forwarded to the Office, along with any notes from discussions held with other agencies.

A contribution during a time of loss to support your family. The funeral benefit is not payable once the beneficiary reaches the age of 65 and their dependent children reach the age of 19.

Eligibility

This benefit is payable in the event of the death of a Member or Partner (Under the age of 65 years) and their Dependent children under the age of 19 years. Payment will be made to the nominated beneficiary.

There is provision for an early draw on this benefit. Upon satisfactory evidence of a terminal condition and in agreement with the Board, 50% of the funeral assistance may be paid to their nominated beneficiary.

In the event of the passing of an unborn child, with sufficient proof, consideration may be given to meet part of the service, burial or cremation costs. Support provided will not exceed $ 500 per event.

If the member or members partner has passed and not nominated a beneficiary OR there is a dispute/confusion of the payee, the benefit will be paid to the estate.

Claiming

A BA1 form must be completed with confirmation of Death. In this instance only, a BA1 form can be completed on behalf of the member by a Board Member, Station Rep, Membership Coordinator or Office Manager.

Your family can claim up to $900 for their first ever hearing aid.

Eligibility

This benefit is available for the purchase or hireage of FIRST EVER hearing aids, for Members, Members Partners and their Dependent Children under the age of 19 years.

First ever refers to the individuals first set of hearing aids, NOT the first time applying for assistance through the NZ Firefighters Welfare Society.

Amount

$900 per claim per year per membership.

Claiming

All claims must be submitted on a BA1 form with itemised receipts attached. Each receipt must clearly identify the individual who underwent the procedure or received the service. Claims are to be forwarded to the office for approval.

When claiming for first ever hiring costs, costs must be accumulated to the value of $900 (or less) before submitting the claim. Claims for month-by-month hireage will not be accepted.

Note this benefit does not cover repair costs or battery costs.

When a member of your immediate family is incapacitated, you may claim up to $400 for domestic help around the house.

Eligibility

This benefit is available to assist Members, Member’s Partner’s and their Dependent Children under the age of 19 years, requiring domestic home help after a recent medical procedure or event. Home help does not include spring cleaning or garden maintenance.

Amount

$400 per year per membership.

Claiming

All claims must be submitted on a BA1 form with itemised receipts attached. Each receipt must clearly identify the individual who underwent the procedure or received the service. Claims are to be forwarded to the office for approval.

Your family may claim up to $200 for mole map checks.

Eligibility

This benefit is available to Members, Members Partners and their dependent children to the age of 19 years,  to assist with the costs of a mole mapping procedure. The procedure must be carried out by a recognised Skin or Mole Clinic.

Amount

The total amount that can be claimed in any one year by the member is limited to $200.

Claiming

All claims are made using the BA1 claim form with itemised receipts attached. Each receipt must clearly identify the individual who underwent the procedure or received the service. Claims are to be forwarded to the office for approval.

Your family may claim up to $200 for vaccinations.

Eligibility

This benefit is available to Members, Members Partner’s and their Dependent Children to the age of 19 years. This benefit is to assist with vaccinations costs. Vaccinations must be given by a recognised or qualified healthcare provider.

Amount

The benefit is for a maximum of $200 per family per year.

Claiming

All claims are made using the BA1 claim form with itemised receipts attached. Each receipt must clearly identify the individual who underwent the procedure or received the service. Claims are to be forwarded to the office for approval.