Annual volunteer reimbursement
Please note: The deadline to opt-in for this year's reimbursement was 31 October. The online form is now closed.
If you recieved the reimbursement last year, or you've already opted-in this year, there's nothing more you need to do.
If you're opted-in, later this week (week beginning 4 December) we'll email you to let you know what you can expect these reimbursements in your account from 13 December.
We know that when you volunteer with Fire and Emergency, you’re giving more than just your time – there are real costs involved.
There's the petrol going to and from the station for training, call-outs, and community events, making phone calls or using broadband to help with running the brigade, meals, printing forms and other consumables / overheads.
We would like to reimburse you for some of those costs with an annual reimbursement paid each December.
Already opted-in?
If you received the reimbursement last year, or if you've already opted-in, there's nothing you need to do.
We will assess your eligibility each year and, if you're eligible, you will receive the reimbursement - we'll email you to let you know the amount. Even if you didn't meet the eligibility criteria last year.
Read more about the eligibility criteria and this year's amounts below.
Need to apply?
The deadline to opt-in for this year's reimbursement was 31 October.
Bank accounts
The reimbursement will made to the bank account you provide us – our system only records one bank account against your identity. This bank account will be used for all payments we make to you while you volunteer with us.
We must pay the reimbursement to a personal bank account – we cannot pay the money to a brigade or charity.
Want to opt-out?
The reimbursement is $380 per volunteer. This is an increase on last year's amount to account for increases to the cost of living.
The pro-rated reimbursement is calculated as follows:
|
Actively volunteering for |
Amount |
% |
|
6 months or more (full reimbursement) |
$380 |
100% |
|
5 months or more, but less than 6 months |
$304 |
80% |
|
4 months or more, but less than 5 months |
$228 |
60% |
|
3 months or more, but less than 4 months |
$152 |
40% |
|
2 months or more, but less than 3 months |
$76 |
20% |
|
1 month or more, but less than 2 months |
$38 |
10% |
It’s a calculated estimate of the average costs you may have had volunteering with us over the year, so you don’t have to provide us with receipts to receive it.
It includes things like mileage for travel to and from the brigade and community events, home broadband, meals and home consumables / overheads.
Our advice from PricewaterhouseCoopers is that the reimbursement is tax exempt, but if you think this reimbursement may affect you in other ways, please consult your own tax expert.
You are eligible for the full annual reimbursement amount if:
- you are a Fire and Emergency volunteer on 1 December of the current year
- you started as a new volunteer, (the date when you received your volunteer ID number), on or before 31 May of the reimbursement year,
- and you have been an active volunteer for six months or more in the reimbursement year (1 December of the previous year and 30 November of the current year).
If you are not eligible for the full reimbursement, you may be eligible for a pro-rated amount.
You are eligible for a pro-rated annual reimbursement amount, if:
- you are a Fire and Emergency volunteer on 1 December of the current year, and have either:
-
started as a new volunteer (the time when you receive your volunteer ID number) between 1 June and 31 October and been actively volunteering for one month or more over that period.
-
been on leave for more than six months but have returned to active volunteering for one month or more in the reimbursement year.
-
You won’t be eligible if you:
- are solely an honorary or life honorary member of a brigade
- have been actively volunteering (as recorded in the payroll system) for less than one month in the reimbursement year (1 December of the previous year and 30 November of the current year)
- have received a payment directly for attending regular station training or meetings according to conditions of your engagement letter
- left Fire and Emergency as a volunteer before 1 December of that year.
Eligibility and leave
- If you’ve been on leave from operational duties but are still contributing to the ongoing function of your brigade (e.g. you are on parental leave, or ACC and still attending training sessions or helping the brigade in other ways), then you should still be eligible for the reimbursement. Skills maintenance is not a requirement.
Fire and Emergency employees who also volunteer with us
- Volunteers who are also employees of Fire and Emergency are eligible for the reimbursement. You have the same costs as other volunteers supporting your brigade.
For questions about the annual volunteer reimbursement please email: vollydatasupport@fireandemergency.nz
Or you can download the Annual volunteer reimbursement application one-pager information sheet. [PDF, 184 KB]
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