If you are caring for one or more dependent children on your own you may be entitled to the Domestic Purposes Benefit (DPB) - Sole Parent.
The DPB is a weekly payment which helps sole parents with one or more dependent children under the age of 18. Note that the DPB will be paid to only one of the parents - if you have shared care, this is whoever has the child for at least 60% of the time.
Applications for the DPB must be made to Work and Income and must include:
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personal ID and proof of age
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the children's birth certificates
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bank account records.
Note that Work and Income may require an applicant for the DPB to name the other parent of a child, because that other parent has an obligation to contribute to the cost of supporting the child (this is called paying child support).
