Early access to KiwiSaver

If you’re buying your first home, moving overseas, have a serious illness, life-shortening congenital condition or significant financial hardship you may also be able to get some or all of your savings early.

For information about early withdrawals, see

Getting my KiwiSaver savings early(external link) — Inland Revenue

In March 2021, the KiwiSaver Act was amended to allow a person who has a life-shortening congenital condition to withdraw their savings early in order to spend a reasonable portion of their adult life in retirement. Applicants who are able to show a medical certificate and other sufficient medical evidence for a set list of conditions are able to automatically withdraw their KiwiSaver balance.

The conditions are:

1. Down syndrome (Down’s syndrome)
2. Cerebral palsy
3. Huntington’s disease (Huntington’s chorea)
4. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

A person who has a congenital condition that is not on this list is still able to apply for a withdrawal if they are able to provide medical evidence that they have a congenital condition that shortens their life below the age of 65.