ChatGPT · No location
I have a long-term health condition that limits my ability to work. I rely on income support and need regular medical appointments. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How would parties change income support and work obligations for people who cannot work because of illness?
For the 2026 New Zealand general election, one of the biggest differences between the parties is how they approach people whose health conditions prevent them from working.
The central divide is between parties proposing to increase income security and reduce welfare obligations, and parties favouring stricter eligibility assessments, reassessments or stronger employment-focused requirements.
I've looked particularly at policies affecting disabled people and people with long-term illnesses, rather than general unemployment policies.
The election is on 7 November 2026, so these are the parties' latest published positions as of 1 November 2026.
1. Comparison of the main parties
The following compares announced policies, not promises that have already become law.
Green Party
Green Party
The Greens propose substantial changes to income support for people with disabilities and long-term health conditions.
Their policies include:
- Increasing main benefit rates to levels they consider sufficient for a liveable income.
- Providing accessible and timely income support for disability-related living and medical expenses.
- Removing the effect of a partner's income on benefit eligibility (individualising benefits).
- Abolishing benefit sanctions introduced by the current government.
- Establishing a legal right to a guaranteed minimum income.
- Extending ACC coverage to income support and treatment for injuries, illnesses and disabilities regardless of their origin.
- Removing AI from welfare decisions, including decisions to suspend or cancel payments and impose sanctions.
What this could mean for you: Less financial pressure from benefit obligations, greater protection against sanctions and more recognition of the additional costs associated with ongoing illness.
Sources: Party policies, simplified: Disability fundingElection 2026: Political Parties Policy AnalysisElection 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis
Te Pāti Māori
Te Pāti Māori
Te Pāti Māori proposes extensive welfare reform.
Its announced policies include:
- Doubling baseline benefit levels, aiming for the upper range of Welfare Expert Advisory Group recommendations.
- Removing financial penalties and benefit sanctions.
- Removing work-test obligations.
- Making benefit entitlements individual rather than dependent on relationship status.
- Increasing income thresholds before benefits are reduced when someone earns money.
- Cancelling income-support-related debt owed to the Crown.
- Making grants and additional assistance non-repayable.
- Improving access to disability services, health services and mental health support.
What this could mean for you: A substantially different welfare system, with higher baseline income, fewer employment obligations and less risk of financial penalties.
Importantly, removing work-test obligations is particularly relevant to people whose medical conditions make employment unrealistic.
Source: Election 2026: Political Parties Policy AnalysisParty policies, simplified: Disability funding
Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
Labour has announced several disability-related commitments, although its proposed welfare changes are less extensive than those of the Greens and Te Pāti Māori.
Its policies include:
- Ending annual benefit reviews for people with permanent and verifiable disabilities.
- Repealing the Disability Support Services Act and replacing it with rights-based legislation developed alongside disabled people.
- Supporting disabled people and carers to access appropriate assistance.
- Restoring pay equity legislation for care and support workers.
Labour has also announced healthcare changes:
- Three free GP visits per year through a proposed Medicard.
- Removing the $5 prescription charge for eligible prescriptions, from July 2027.
What this could mean for you: If you have a permanent, medically verified condition, ending annual benefit reviews could reduce the administrative burden and uncertainty associated with maintaining your support.
The GP and prescription policies could also help with the cost of regular medical care.
However, Labour has not announced a comprehensive replacement of the existing benefit system or a general removal of work obligations.
Sources: Election 2026: Political Parties Policy AnalysisHow do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?Labour's 2026 Election Policies
National Party
New Zealand National Party
National has not announced a specific new disability income-support package for this election.
Its welfare policies focus more on employment participation and reducing long-term benefit dependence.
Announced policies include:
- Random drug testing for Jobseeker Support recipients.
- More intensive employment-focused support for 30,000 work-ready jobseekers who have been receiving Jobseeker Support for more than a year.
- Reducing Jobseeker payments for people who have received the benefit for two of the previous three years, from April 2028.
- Increasing the non-entitlement period for repeated voluntary unemployment from 13 to 26 weeks.
There is an important distinction here: the policies target Jobseeker recipients, particularly those considered work-ready. They should not automatically be interpreted as applying to everyone receiving the Supported Living Payment.
What this could mean for you: National has not announced a new general protection or increase specifically for people permanently unable to work. It is important to establish how its proposed Jobseeker measures would treat people with medical exemptions.
Source: Election 2026: Political Parties Policy AnalysisParty policies, simplified: Disability funding
ACT Party
ACT New Zealand
ACT has proposed significant changes to medical assessments for health and disability benefits.
Its policies include:
- Requiring independent medical certification against specified criteria for health and disability benefits.
- Having assessments conducted by doctors approved by the Ministry of Social Development, rather than relying on a person's own GP or specialist.
- Gradually reassessing existing benefit recipients.
- Beginning reassessments with people whose conditions are mental-health-related.
ACT says its approach would distinguish between people genuinely unable to work and those who could work with appropriate support.
It intends to reduce disability-related spending by $653 million between 2028 and 2031.
What this could mean for you: You could face additional medical assessments, even if you already receive long-term income support.
The proposed independent assessment process could change how your eligibility is determined. It would be particularly important to understand how complex, fluctuating or permanent conditions would be assessed.
Source: Party policies, simplified: Disability fundingElection 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis
New Zealand First
New Zealand First
NZ First has not published a substantial disability-specific income-support reform package for this election.
Its published welfare-related positions include:
- A proposed 10-year welfare stand-down for visa holders.
- An emphasis on economic independence and employment opportunities.
- No clearly specified new income-support or work-obligation framework for people permanently unable to work.
What this could mean for you: There is currently insufficient detail to establish whether NZ First would change your existing benefit entitlement, medical exemption arrangements or work obligations.
Source: Party policies, simplified: Disability fundingHow do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?
The Opportunities Party (TOP)
The Opportunities Party (TOP)
TOP has proposed a different approach to income support through its Citizen's Income policy.
Its proposal includes:
- Paying almost all adults up to $370 per week.
- Replacing most existing benefits, including Jobseeker Support and the Supported Living Payment.
- Providing additional disability-related support.
- Introducing a specific disability allowance, alongside needs-based top-ups.
- Maintaining separate funding for disability-related services such as transport and assistive technology.
The Spinoff reports that the proposed disability allowance is projected to provide approximately $6,000 annually.
What this could mean for you: Rather than relying on the existing benefit structure, you could receive a universal basic payment with additional disability-related support.
However, it is important to investigate the proposed top-ups and whether they would adequately replace your current entitlement. The $370 is not necessarily your total future income.
Sources: How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis
2. Side-by-side comparison
This is a simplified comparison of the announced policies most relevant to someone unable to work because of illness.
| Party | Income support | Work obligations and assessments |
|---|---|---|
| Greens | Increase benefits; disability-related cost support | Abolish sanctions |
| Te Pāti Māori | Double baseline benefits | Remove work tests and sanctions |
| Labour | End annual reviews for permanent, verifiable disabilities | No general removal of work tests announced |
| National | No specific disability benefit increase announced | Employment-focused Jobseeker measures |
| ACT | No major benefit increase announced | Independent medical certification and reassessment |
| NZ First | No specific disability income reform announced | No detailed disability-specific position |
| TOP | Up to $370 weekly Citizen's Income plus disability support | Replace existing benefit structure |
Sources: Party policies, simplified: Disability fundingElection 2026: Political Parties Policy AnalysisElection 2026: Political Parties Policy AnalysisHow do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?
3. Three issues I would pay particular attention to
Given that you rely on income support and need regular medical appointments, I would look beyond general promises about helping disabled people.
There are three particularly important policy questions.
- Will you have to keep proving that you cannot work?
This is a significant difference between Labour and ACT.
- Labour proposes ending annual reviews for people with permanent and verifiable disabilities.
- ACT proposes independent medical certification and reassessment of existing recipients.
- The Greens and Te Pāti Māori propose broader changes to welfare obligations and sanctions.
- Will your income be sufficient to cover living and medical costs?
Look at whether parties propose:
- Higher baseline benefit payments.
- Additional disability allowances.
- Help with prescriptions and GP appointments.
- Assistance with transport to medical appointments.
- Less dependence on a partner's income when calculating entitlements.
- What happens if your medical condition fluctuates?
This is especially important for people with chronic illnesses.
Someone might be capable of doing a small amount of work occasionally but still be medically incapable of maintaining regular employment.
You should look for policies that distinguish between:
- Being able to do occasional tasks.
- Being able to work limited hours.
- Being capable of maintaining sustainable employment.
- Being medically unable to work at all.
These are not the same thing.
4. An important distinction in the existing system
New Zealand has different benefit arrangements, and your current benefit type matters.
For example:
- Supported Living Payment: Generally intended for people who have a significant health condition, injury or disability that severely restricts their ability to work on a long-term basis.
- Jobseeker Support with a medical deferral or exemption: For people whose health condition temporarily limits their ability to work or meet normal work obligations.
Some disabled people remain on Jobseeker Support with medical exemptions because they cannot access Supported Living Payment. This is an important issue when considering proposed Jobseeker sanctions and reassessments. Party policies, simplified: Disability funding
5. Where to investigate the policies further
These independent election resources provide useful additional detail:
- CCS Disability Action – Election 2026 policy analysis. Particularly useful because it examines welfare, disability, employment and healthcare.
- The D*List – Party policies, simplified: Disability funding. Useful for comparing the parties' specific responses about disability funding and welfare.
- The Spinoff – Disability policies in the 2026 election. Covers broader disability rights and funding policies.
6. One question that would help narrow this down
There is an important distinction between someone who is permanently unable to work and someone whose illness makes employment unpredictable or possible only occasionally.
Which of these best describes your current situation?
With that information, I can give you a much more targeted comparison of how each party's proposals could affect your income security, medical reviews and ability to retain support without being pressured into work your health does not allow.
ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.
Captured 2 November 2026 · shown as ChatGPT gave it, not a verified account