Ngongotaha mum Erin Vause knows from experience that raising children isn't cheap.
But the mother-of-two knows how to boost her income with a bit of government support.
The Working for Families tax credits give her family extra income, which covers the essentials, and she wants other families to check that they are getting what they should.
"We get $200 a week in tax credits and it's a big help," she said.
"We'd struggle without it, it's still a struggle but it covers our groceries and petrol for the week."
A Growing Up in New Zealand study revealed this week that about 36 per cent of first-time mothers and 13 per cent of mothers who already had older children, were not aware of the tax credits.
Ms Vause only knew she qualified when she met her partner, Campbell Pope, and moved off the domestic purposes benefit. At the same time, she was a single mum to daughter Cadence, now 5. They now also have a son, Theo, 21 months.
"We were referred to the tax credits after going off the benefit," Ms Vause said.
"I knew other people on them so I had an idea of what we were entitled to.
"I would say other parents should ring the Inland Revenue as they were really helpful telling us what we should get.
"After Theo was born we also got an extra $150 a week for eight weeks. We stocked up on nappies and bought the things we hadn't got but that we realised we needed. I had cleared out after having Cadence because I hadn't planned on having a second.
"That extra money was a great help."
The Growing Up in New Zealand study involved 6822 families that had babies in Auckland and Waikato in the past two years.
It gave contrasting figures to a Ministry of Social Development claim that 95 per cent to 97 per cent of all eligible families received the tax credits.
To check if you are entitled and how much visit www.ird.govt.nz or call 0800 227-773.
The Inland Revenue also provides a service for the owners of unclaimed money that has been left untouched for six or more years in companies, such as financial institutions and insurance companies.
Visit http://www.ird.govt.nz/unclaimed-money/ to see if your name is on the list and how to claim back the money.
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Who can get tax credits
Family tax credit: Paid to families with dependent children 18 or younger.
In-work tax credit: Couples must work at least 30 hours a week between them, and single parents must work at least 20 hours a week.
Minimum family tax credit: Paid to ensure that the annual income (after tax) of a family with dependent children 18 or younger does not fall below $21,216.
Parental tax credit: Paid to families with a newborn baby for the first 56 days (eight weeks) after the baby is born. You can't get this payment if you are on paid parental leave or receiving an income-tested benefit.
Other tax credits:
Independent Earners Tax Credit: If you have an annual income between $24,000 and $48,000 for the tax year (usually April 1 to March 31) then you will be entitled to the IETC for every month that you have this income. Other restrictions apply, such as not receiving working family tax credits, or other income-tested benefits.
EXAMPLES
Richard and his wife Susan work full-time and have a total annual family income of $58,000 before tax. They have two primary-school-aged children. They would be entitled to get a family tax credit of $63 and an in-work tax credit of $60 a week.
Melinda is a single mother. She works part-time for 20 hours a week and has a total annual family income of $20,000, which is under $21,216 after tax. Melinda would be entitled to get a family tax credit of $88, an in-work tax credit of $60, and a minimum family tax credit of $55, totalling $203 a week. She is also pregnant with her second child and may also be entitled to get a parental tax credit once her baby is born.
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