WINZ dental grant: up to $1,000 a year, and how to get it
Who qualifies, the income limits, the form your dentist fills in, and what $1,000 buys at Auckland prices.
Updated 10 October 2026
Work and Income pays up to $1,000 in any 52-week period towards immediate and essential dental treatment, such as fillings and extractions, and you do not have to pay it back. You do not need to be on a benefit, but your income and cash assets are tested. Your dentist fills in a form with the treatment and cost, you apply through MyMSD or on 0800 559 009, and the money goes onto a Payment Card.
Rules read from Work and Income’s dental treatment page (updated 16 July 2026) on 29 October 2026. Auckland Dentists is an information site, not a dental practice, and is not connected with Work and Income. Last updated 29 October 2026.
How much does WINZ pay for dental treatment?
Up to $1,000 in total in any 52 weeks, as a grant that is not repaid. You can apply more than once in that period, so a filling in March and an extraction in August can both be paid until the $1,000 is used. If a job costs more, Work and Income may cover part of the extra, but that part may have to be paid back.
Who qualifies for a WINZ dental grant?
You must be 16 or over, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who normally lives here, and have an immediate and essential need for treatment. You do not have to be on a benefit. Work and Income tests your income and your partner’s before tax, and your cash assets, against the limits below.
| Test | Limit (Work and Income, updated 16 July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Weekly income before tax | From $879.17 (single, aged 16–17) up to $1,467.61 (couple), depending on your household |
| Cash assets, single | Under $1,411.22 |
| Cash assets, couple or sole parent | Under $2,351.46 |
| Age and residency | 16 or over; NZ citizen or permanent resident, living in NZ |
The limit for your household type is on the Work and Income page. Cash assets means money in the bank and similar, not your house or car.
What does the grant cover, and what does it not?
| Treatment | Covered? |
|---|---|
| Fillings | Yes, when immediate and essential |
| Extractions | Yes, when immediate and essential |
| Scale and polish | Only when needed for a gum infection |
| Check-ups and routine cleans | No |
| Cosmetic work (whitening, veneers) | No |
How do I apply for a WINZ dental grant?
Get the dentist’s form first, then apply. The dentist completes the Dental Treatment information form with the treatment and its cost, and you upload it in MyMSD under “One-off cost”, or ring 0800 559 009. Only dentists registered as Work and Income suppliers can be paid, so ask when you book.
- Book a dentist who is a registered Work and Income supplier. Ask when you book: Work and Income can only pay registered suppliers.
- At the appointment, the dentist examines you and fills in the Dental Treatment information form: the treatment you need, what it costs and their details.
- Apply in MyMSD under "One-off cost" and upload the form, or ring 0800 559 009, or take the form to a service centre.
- Work and Income checks your income, your cash assets and whether the treatment is immediate and essential.
- If approved, the money goes onto a Payment Card. Use it with the dentist within 7 working days, or ring before it runs out if the appointment is later.
Phone lines: 0800 559 009 for ages 18–64 (Mon–Fri 7am–6pm, Sat 8am–1pm), 0800 552 002 for over 65s, StudyLink 0800 88 99 00 for students, text 029 286 7170 for deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired callers.
What does $1,000 buy at an Auckland dentist?
At Auckland median fees, $1,000 covers an emergency visit, an x-ray, one simple extraction and one two-surface filling, with a little to spare. It does not cover a root canal and crown on the same tooth, which together run well past $2,000. Here is the worked example, using the NZDA 2025 fee survey.
| Treatment | Auckland median |
|---|---|
| Consultation for a specific problem | $80 |
| Single x-ray (periapical or bitewing) | $30 |
| Extraction, simple | $300 |
| Composite filling, 2 surfaces | $340 |
| Total | $750 of the $1,000 limit |
| For comparison: root canal, 1 canal, plus a ceramic crown | $2,800 |
Auckland medians from the NZDA 2025 Fees and Dental Workforce Survey, fee tables (all respondents), read 10 October 2026. Your dentist’s fees may be higher or lower. More on filling costs, extraction costs and root canal costs in Auckland.
What if WINZ says no, or I need help sooner?
With a Community Services Card and a toothache, Health NZ’s relief-of-pain clinic costs $40 for a consultation, x-ray and simple extraction, booked on (09) 630 9809. Damage from an accident may be covered by ACC instead, and anyone under 18 gets basic dental care free.
- The $40 Greenlane hospital dental clinic: who qualifies and how to book
- Every free and subsidised option in Auckland, including ACC and AUT
- Dental emergency in Auckland: what to do tonight
Common questions
How much does WINZ pay for teeth?
Up to $1,000 in any 52-week period for immediate and essential dental treatment, and you do not pay it back. You can apply more than once in the 52 weeks until you reach $1,000. If the treatment costs more, Work and Income may help with part of the rest, but that part may have to be repaid.
How do I get a WINZ dental grant?
See a dentist who is a registered Work and Income supplier and ask them to fill in the Dental Treatment information form. Then apply through MyMSD under "One-off cost", by phone on 0800 559 009, or at a service centre. If approved, the money is loaded onto a Payment Card that must be used within 7 working days.
Do I have to be on a benefit to get a WINZ dental grant?
No. You do not have to be on a benefit. Work and Income looks at your income and your partner's, and your cash assets. In the limits Work and Income published (updated 17 July 2026), weekly income before tax must be under amounts ranging from $879.17 for a single 16 or 17 year old to $1,467.61 for a couple, and cash assets under $1,411.22 single or $2,351.46 for a couple or sole parent.
What dental treatment does WINZ cover?
Immediate and essential treatment, such as fillings and extractions to deal with pain or infection. Routine care such as check-ups and cleans is not covered, except a scale and polish your dentist says you need because of a gum infection. Cosmetic work is not covered.
Do I need a quote from the dentist before applying?
Yes, in effect. Work and Income needs the Dental Treatment information form, which the dentist or health agency fills in with the treatment you need and its cost. That is the quote. Most people get it at an examination, so expect to pay for that first visit yourself unless it is part of the treatment on the form.
Can I get the grant if I am over 65 or a student?
Yes, the same rules apply, through a different line. People over 65 ring 0800 552 002 and students ring StudyLink on 0800 88 99 00. People aged 16 to 19 with a Youth Service provider go through Youth Services.
What if I need help today and cannot wait for WINZ?
If you are 18 or over with a Community Services Card and have a toothache, Health New Zealand's relief-of-pain clinic at Greenlane and Māngere East costs $40 for a consultation, x-ray and simple extraction. Ring (09) 630 9809 from 8:30am on a weekday. Swelling of the face or jaw needs a dentist, doctor or emergency department straight away.
Need a dentist who takes Work and Income? Tell us what you need and we will point you in the right direction.