Ministry of Social Development Regional Commissioner Katie Brosnahan says the agency is an essential service and is doing everything it can to help communities in Manawatū.
"Our focus is on ensuring the following essential services continue:
delivery of benefit payments, subsidies, financial support and emergency housing, deployment of workers into essential services and ensuring essential service providers continue to operate."
Brosnahan says all other non-essential services have been stopped during the Level 4 Covid-19 lockdown.
"While our offices are closed, we have staff working every day to help people during this time of uncertainty – including many who are working from home.
"Throughout our communities, we are seeing a growing number of whānau needing assistance and we are working hard to provide people with all available help as quickly as possible.
"We are working hard to get payments made as quickly as possible during this time of unprecedented demand."
As part of Covid-19 assistance, Brosnahan said all main benefits rose $25 a week on April 1.
This was in addition to a 3.09 per cent annual increase.
Winter Energy Payments will also double for those receiving a benefit or superannuation.
"We are continuing to work with our community partners to provide emergency accommodation for those that need it and to reach out to some of our most vulnerable residents and check in with them to make sure they're okay.