Social Security Act 1964

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Reprint
as at 5 January 2010

Social Security Act 1964

Public Act1964 No 136
Date of assent4 December 1964
  • Pursuant to section 2(3)(b) and (d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106), every reference in this Act to the Commission should be read as a reference to the Director-General, and every reference to in its discretion should be read as a reference to in the Director-General's discretion.

  • Pursuant to section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149), references in this Act to guaranteed retirement income, national superannuation, guaranteed retirement income earner, or national superannuitant were substituted, respectively, for references to New Zealand superannuation or to a New Zealand superannuitant. Section 2(2) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 77) previously provided that every reference to guaranteed retirement income or guaranteed retirement income earner shall be read, respectively, as references to national superannuation or national superannuitant.


Note

Changes authorised by section 17C of the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989 have been made in this eprint.

A general outline of these changes is set out in the notes at the end of this eprint, together with other explanatory material about this eprint.

This Act is administered in the Department of Social Welfare


Contents

Title

2 Administration [Repealed]

Administration

4  [Repealed]

6  [Repealed]

7  [Repealed]

8  [Repealed]

9  [Repealed]

Appeal Authority

National superannuation

20  [Repealed]

Widows' benefits

22  [Repealed]

23  [Repealed]

25  [Repealed]

26  [Repealed]

Domestic purposes benefits

Contribution towards cost of domestic purposes benefits for solo parents

27I Interpretation [Repealed]

27W Costs [Repealed]

27ZD Transaction fee [Repealed]

Orphans' benefits

Family benefits

32 Family benefits [Repealed]

Child disability allowance

Invalids' benefits

Work capacity assessment

51 Reassessment [Repealed]

Appeals

Sickness benefits

Unemployment benefits

Young job seekers' allowances

Young job seeker's allowances

Training benefits

Further conditions of benefits

Emergency benefits

Epidemics

Accommodation supplement

61FB Rate of rebate [Repealed]

Temporary additional support

Childcare assistance

Alteration of rates of benefits

Miscellaneous provisions as to monetary benefits

65  [Repealed]

67  [Repealed]

69B  [Repealed]

69E Interpretation [Repealed]

Overseas pensions

85  [Repealed]

Unemployment benefit

Work test

Job seeker agreements

Deferral of work-test obligations

Job seeker development activities

Sanctions regime

General provisions

124A  [Repealed]

130  [Repealed]

131E Notices [Repealed]

134  [Repealed]

Needs assessment

Liability to pay

Means assessment

Miscellaneous

Schedule 1

[Repealed]

Schedule 2

[Repealed]

Schedule 21

[Repealed]

Schedule 24

[Repealed]


An Act to consolidate and amend the Social Security Act 1938 and its amendments

BE IT ENACTED by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1 Short Title and commencement
  • (1) This Act may be cited as the Social Security Act 1964.

    (2) This Act shall come into force on the 1st day of April 1965.

1A Purpose
  • The purpose of this Act is—

    • (a) to enable the provision of financial and other support as appropriate—

      • (i) to help people to support themselves and their dependants while not in paid employment; and

      • (ii) to help people to find or retain paid employment; and

      • (iii) to help people for whom work may not currently be appropriate because of sickness, injury, disability, or caring responsibilities, to support themselves and their dependants:

    • (b) to enable in certain circumstances the provision of financial support to people to help alleviate hardship:

    • (c) to ensure that the financial support referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) is provided to people taking into account—

      • (i) that where appropriate they should use the resources available to them before seeking financial support under this Act; and

      • (ii) any financial support that they are eligible for or already receive, otherwise than under this Act, from publicly funded sources:

    • (d) to impose administrative and, where appropriate, work-related requirements on people seeking or receiving financial support under this Act.

    Section 1A: inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 23 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

1B Principles
  • Every person exercising or performing a function, duty or power under this Act must have regard to the following general principles:

    • (a) work in paid employment offers the best opportunity for people to achieve social and economic well-being:

    • (b) the priority for people of working age should be to find and retain work:

    • (c) people for whom work may not currently be an appropriate outcome should be assisted to plan for work in the future and develop employment-focused skills:

    • (d) people for whom work is not appropriate should be supported in accordance with this Act.

    Section 1B: inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 23 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

Part 1
Monetary benefits

2 Administration
  • [Repealed]

    Section 2 was substituted, as from 1 April 1972, by section 15(1) Department of Social Welfare Act 1971 (1971 No 60).

    Section 2 was amended, as from 21 November 1984, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act 1984 (1984 No 8) by inserting the words and Part 1A of this Act.

    Section 2 was amended, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(3)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting Director-General of Social Welfare for Social Security Commission.

    Section 2 was substituted, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149).

    Section 2 was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Section 2 was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

3 Interpretation
  • (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    activity in the community means an activity associated with a community project under the supervision of a sponsor who is contracted by the chief executive to provide the activity

    activity in the community: this definition was inserted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Appeal Authority or Authority means the Social Security Appeal Authority established under section 12A of this Act; and includes any Special Social Security Appeal Authority established under section 12D of this Act

    Appeal Authority: this definition was inserted by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Applicant, in relation to any benefit, means a person by whom or on whose behalf an application is made for the benefit; and, where the context so requires, includes a beneficiary

    application means an application for a benefit

    Assessable income

    [Repealed]

    Assessable income: this definition was inserted by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78) and repealed by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1991 (1991 No 124).

    Average wage means, at any time, the before tax average ordinary time weekly wage (all sectors, male and female combined) as specified in—

    • (a) The latest Quarterly Employment Survey published by Statistics New Zealand; or

    • (b) If the survey referred to in paragraph (a) of this definition ceases to be published, a survey certified by the Government Statistician as an equivalent survey to the survey referred to in that paragraph:

    Average wage: this definition was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Beneficiary means a person who has been granted a benefit; and includes a person in respect of whom a benefit or part of a benefit has been granted

    Beneficiary: proviso repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Benefit

    • (a) Means a monetary benefit payable under this Part or Part 2; and

    • (aa) [Repealed]

    Benefit: this definition was amended, as from 14 November 1973, by inserting ; and includes an additional amount payable under section 61A of this Act.

    Benefit: this definition was substituted, as from 25 July 1990, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act No 2 1990 (1990 No 74).

    Benefit: paragraph (a) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 13(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting or Part 2 for of this Act.

    Benefit: paragraph (aa) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Benefit: paragraph (aa) was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 13(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(i) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting and New Zealand superannuation payable under the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(i) was substituted, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18).

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(i) of this definition was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(ia) was inserted, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149).

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(ia) was repealed, as from 15 April 2005, by section 3(1) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(ii) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting and a living alone payment payable under the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(ii) was substituted, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18).

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(ii) of this definition was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(iii) was substituted, as from 1 July 1993, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57)

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(iv) was substituted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 11(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(iva) was inserted, as from 4 October 2004, by section 11(2) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51).

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(v) was substituted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23).

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(v) was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Benefit: a new paragraph (b)(v) was inserted, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(1) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22). See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(va) was inserted, as from 26 October 1992, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1992. See regulation 2 Social Security Amendment Act Commencement Order 1992 (SR 1992/295).

    Benefit: paragraph (b)(va) to (viii) were repealed, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(1) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22). See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

    Capacity for work means, in relation to any person, the person's capacity to engage in employment, as determined having regard to any sickness, injury, or disability the person may have

    Capacity for work: this definition was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Ceased, in relation to a person's employment, means—

    • (a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this definition, the date on which the person's employment terminates; or

    • (b) If in relation to the termination of employment the person receives—

      • (i) Any payment in lieu of notice terminating the employment of the person; or

      • (ii) Any holiday pay; or

      • (iii) Any payment in lieu of accumulated leave; or

      • (iv) Any payment contingent on the completion of a fixed-term engagement; or

      • (v) Any retirement payment (as defined in section 80B(3) of this Act),—

    a date which is the number of days (excluding Saturdays and Sundays) after the date on which the person's employment terminated which is equal to the nearest whole number produced by dividing the aggregate amount of any such payments by the amount of the person's normal daily wage or salary before termination of his or her employment

    Ceased: this definition was inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1)

    Ceased: this definition was substituted, as from 30 November 1992, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1992 (1992 No 99)

    Ceased: this definition was amended, as from 1 January 1994, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 14) by substituting engagement; or for engagement,—, and by inserting paragraph (b)(v).

    Chief executive means, subject to any enactment, the chief executive of the department that is, with the authority of the Prime Minister, for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act

    Chief executive: this definition was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Chief executive: this definition was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Child means a single person under the age of 18 years, other than a person who is—

    • (a) Aged 16 years or 17 years; and

    • (b) Financially independent:

    Child: this definition was substituted, as from 1 October 1982, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    Child: this definition was substituted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Child: this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting a single for an unmarried.

    Commission

    [Repealed]

    Commission: this definition was repealed, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Commonwealth country means a country that is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations; and includes every territory for whose international relations the Government of any such country is responsible

    Community task force project

    [Repealed]

    Community task force project: this definition was inserted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78)).

    Community task force project: this definition was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(5) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Community wage

    [Repealed]

    Community wage: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Community wage: this definition was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 13(9) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Community wage earner

    [Repealed]

    Community wage earner: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Community wage earner: this definition was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 13(9) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Contract of insurance includes a contract or an arrangement that, in the opinion of the chief executive, is similar to or analogous with a contract of insurance

    Contract of insurance: this definition was inserted by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Contract of insurance: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting chief executive for Director-General.

    date of first contact, in relation to a person's application for a benefit, means the date on which the department first received from the person (or some other person acting on the person's behalf) the oral or written request for financial assistance that led to the making of the application

    Debt insurance payment, in relation to a person, means a payment made, or the value of any credit provided, on the occurrence of a contingency—

    • (a) Under a contract of insurance or by reason of the person's membership of any society, organisation, or body whether corporate or unincorporate; and

    • (b) To the person or to some other person on behalf of or for the benefit of the person; and

    • (c) For the sole purpose of, and used for, repaying or paying any amounts on account of any existing debt of the person:

    Debt insurance payment: this definition was inserted by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    dentist means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Dental Council established by section 114(2) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of dentistry

    dentist: this definition was inserted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Department means the department that is, with the authority of the Prime Minister, for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act

    Department: this definition was substituted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 34(1) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Department: this definition was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Dependent child, in relation to any person, means a child—

    • (a) Whose care is primarily the responsibility of that person; and

    • (b) Who is being maintained as a member of that person's family; and

    • (c) Who is financially dependent on that person; and

    but, for the purposes of Schedule 3, Schedules 6, 8, and 9, Schedule 16, and Schedules 17 and 18, does not include a child in respect of whom an orphan's benefit or an unsupported child's benefit is being paid

    Dependent child: this definition was substituted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Dependent child: this definition was amended, as from 1 February 1999, by section 58(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting Schedule 3, Schedules 6, 8, and 9, Schedule 16, and Schedules 17 and 18 for Schedules 3, 6, 8, 9, and 16 to 18 to this Act. See section 78 of that Act as to the various application dates of this amendment. It is suggested that the word the, where it appears immediately before the substituted words, should also be omitted.

    Director-General

    [Repealed]

    Director-General: this definition was inserted, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(1)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Director-General: this definition was substituted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 34(1) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Director-General: this definition was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    disability services has the same meaning as disability support services in section 6(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000

    disability services: this definition was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    disability services: this definition was substituted, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).

    district health board means a district health board established by or under section 19 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000

    district health board: this definition was inserted, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).

    Document means a document in any form; and includes—

    • (a) Any writing on any material:

    • (b) Any information recorded or stored by means of any tape-recorder, computer, or other device; and any material subsequently derived from information so recorded or stored:

    • (c) Any label, marking, or other writing that identifies or describes any thing of which it forms part, or to which it is attached by any means:

    • (d) Any book, map, plan, graph, or drawing:

    • (e) Any photograph, film, negative, tape, or other device in which one or more visual images are embodied so as to be capable (with or without the aid of some other equipment) of being reproduced:

    Document: this definition was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    domestic epidemic management notice means a notice under section 8(1) of the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006 stating that the application of this Act is modified in order to deal with the practical effects of the outbreak of the disease referred to in the notice

    domestic epidemic management notice: this definition was inserted, as from 19 December 2006, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 90).

    Employment means paid employment

    Employment: this definition was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    employment required to satisfy the work test means employment of a kind described in section 102(4)

    Employment required to satisfy the work test: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 2(1) Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Employment required to satisfy the work test: this definition was substituted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Existing debt, in relation to a person, means a debt or liability of the person in existence on the date on which a contingency occurs that gives rise to a right or eligibility of the person to receive a payment under a contract of insurance or by reason of the person's membership of any society, organisation, or body whether corporate or unincorporate whether or not the debt or liability is due for payment on that date; but does not include a liability in connection with the future supply of goods or services or transport or accommodation to the person or a member of his or her family

    Existing debt: this definition was inserted by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Family maintenance allowance

    [Repealed]

    Family maintenance allowance: this definition was repealed, as from 20 October 1972, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Financially independent, in relation to a person, means—

    • (a) In full employment; or

    • (c) In receipt of payments under a Government-assisted scheme which the chief executive considers analogous to a benefit; or

    • (d) In receipt of a benefit under this Act:

    Financially independent: this definition was inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Financially independent: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting chief executive for Director-General.

    Financially independent: the reference to the Student Allowance Regulations 1998 was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, for a reference to the Student Allowances Regulations 1991, pursuant to regulation 49 Student Allowance Regulations 1998.

    Financially independent: paragraph (d) of this definition was amended, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(1) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22) by omitting this Part of. See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

    Friendly society means any friendly society or branch thereof registered under the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Act 1982

    Friendly Society: this definition was amended by substituting the reference to the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Act 1982 (1982 No 118) for a reference to the repealed Friendly Societies Act 1909.

    Full employment or full-time employment, in relation to any person, means—

    • (a) Employment under a contract of service or apprenticeship which requires the person to work, whether on time or piece rates, no less than an average of 30 hours each week; or

    • (b) Self-employment of the person in any business, profession, trade, manufacture, or undertaking carried on for pecuniary profit for no less than an average of 30 hours each week; or

    • (c) Employment of the person for any number of hours which is regarded as full-time employment for the purposes of any award, agreement, or contract relating to that employment:

    Full employment: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1986, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39).

    Full employment: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(6) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting Full employment or full-time employment: for Full employment.

    Full-time student means a person enrolled in a full-time course within the meaning of the Student Allowances Regulations 1998, and includes a person who, during an academic year that has just ended or is about to end, was so enrolled and who intends to so enrol in the next academic year

    Full-time student: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    The reference to the Student Allowances Regulations 1998 replaced, as from 1 October 1998, an earlier reference to the Student Allowances Regulations 1991.

    funder has the same meaning as in section 20 of the Health and Disability Services Act 1993

    funder: this definition was inserted, after the definition of Friendly society, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81).

    Government occupational pension

    • (a) Means a benefit, pension, or periodical allowance paid by or on behalf of the Government of any country to a person by reason of—

      • (i) A period of employment, direct or indirect, by that Government of that person or that person's deceased spouse or partner or that person's deceased parent; or

      • (ii) A period of service to that Government (including, without limitation, service in the armed forces, service in the police, and service as a judicial officer or other person acting judicially) by that person or that person's deceased spouse or partner or that person's deceased parent; but

    • (b) Does not include any part of that benefit, pension, or periodical allowance that is paid by the Government of that country by reason of anything other than that period of employment or service; and

    • (c) Does not include any part of that benefit, pension, or periodical allowance to which the Government of that country contributes by reason of anything other than that period of employment or service; and

    • (d) does not include a benefit, pension, or periodical allowance of the kind set out in paragraph (a) if the person would have been entitled to receive a similar benefit, pension, or periodical allowance paid by, or on behalf of, the Government of that country under a scheme or other arrangement in respect of persons who were not employees or in the service of that Government.

    Government occupational pension: this definition was inserted, as from 2 October 1996, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 6) 1996 (1996 No 157).

    Government occupational pension: paragraph (a)(i) and (ii) of this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Government occupational pension: paragraph (c) of this definition was amended, as from 24 April 2002, by section 10 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions—Overseas Pensions) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 8) by adding the word ; and.

    Government occupational pension: paragraph (d) of this definition was inserted, as from 24 April 2002, by section 10 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions—Overseas Pensions) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 8).

    Guaranteed retirement income

    [Repealed]

    Guaranteed retirement income: this definition was inserted by section 14(3) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26) and repealed, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149). The words guaranteed retirement income were substituted for national superannuation, as from 1 April 1992, pursuant to section 2(1) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 77).

    Health or disability insurance payment, in relation to a person, means a payment made, or the value of any credit or service provided, on the occurrence of a contingency—

    • (a) Under a contract of insurance, or by reason of the person's membership of any society, organisation, or body whether corporate or unincorporate, that provides for the payment or reimbursement of the costs of health or disability care for the person or a member of his or her family; and

    • (b) To the person or to some other person on behalf of or for the benefit of the person or a member of his or her family—

    and used for paying or reimbursing those costs

    Health or disability insurance payment: this definition was inserted by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    hospital means a hospital care institution as defined in section 58(4) of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001

    hospital: this definition was inserted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Income, in relation to any person,—

    • (a) Means any money received or the value in money's worth of any interest acquired, before income tax, by the person which is not capital (except as hereinafter set out); and

    • (b) Includes, whether capital or not and as calculated before the deduction (where applicable) of income tax, any periodical payments made, and the value of any credits or services provided periodically, from any source for income-related purposes and used by the person for income-related purposes; and

    • (c) Except where section 71A(2) applies, includes, whether capital or not and as calculated before the deduction (where applicable) of income tax,—

      • (i) Any periodical income-related insurance payments; and

      • (ii) Any lump sum income-related insurance payment to the extent of the income lost by the person as a result of, and within a period of 10 weeks from, the occurrence of the contingency in respect of which the payment was made; and

      • (iii) Any payment referred to in subparagraph (i) or subparagraph (ii) which the person would have been entitled to receive under an accident insurance contract within the meaning of section 13 of the Accident Insurance Act 1998 but for the existence of a risk sharing agreement referred to in section 185 of that Act (as it read immediately before its repeal by section 7 of the Accident Insurance Amendment Act 2000); and

    • (d) Includes—

      • (i) Any payment relating to a situation involving a seasonal layoff:

      • (ii) Any payment contingent on the completion of either a fixed-term engagement or an engagement to complete work specified in a contract:

      • (iii) Any payment in lieu of notice terminating employment:

      • (iv) Any payment (including holiday pay) which, if it had not been made in relation to termination of employment, would, in the opinion of the chief executive, have been paid so as to constitute monetary remuneration of the employee:

      • (v) Any payment in relation to termination of employment made by a company pursuant to its articles of association or constitution to any of its directors; and

    • (e) Includes, as calculated before the deduction (where applicable) of income tax, the value of any goods, services, transport, or accommodation supplied on a regular basis to the person by any other person; but—

    • (f) Does not include—

      • (ii) Any pension or allowance under the War Pensions Act 1954 received by any person by reason of his or her own disablement:

      • (iii) Any pension received under Part 2 or Part 4 or Part 5 of the War Pensions Act 1954 by the surviving spouse or partner of a deceased member of the New Zealand or any other Commonwealth forces or of the Emergency Reserve Corps or of the New Zealand mercantile marine in respect of the death of that member:

      • (iv) Any pension or other periodical allowance or any part thereof received by any person from the Government of any Commonwealth country (other than New Zealand) which the chief executive determines is analogous to a pension or allowance specified in subparagraph (ii) or subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph:

      • (iva) The value of any assistance of a kind approved by the chief executive provided to a person with a sickness, injury, or disability to obtain or remain in employment:

      • (v) Any money received by way of funeral benefit from any friendly society:

      • (va) A participation allowance:

      • (vi) Any money paid in respect of any military decoration and received by the recipient of such decoration:

      • (vii) Any money received by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue by way of child support which is not required to be paid to the person under the Child Support Act 1991:

      • (viii) Any money received by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue by way of child support which is paid to the person under section 142 of the Child Support Act 1991:

      • (x) Any amount of output tax charged in respect of a supply of goods and services made by that person:

      • (xi) Any amount of goods and services tax payable by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue to that person:

      • (xii) Any debt insurance payment or any health or disability insurance payment.

      • (xiv) Any lump sum payment received by the person—

        • (A) under a contract of insurance on the life of the person's deceased spouse or partner; or

        • (B) Where the person is a dependent child, under a contract of insurance on the life of his or her deceased parent or step-parent; or

        • (C) Under any superannuation scheme, not being a payment which the chief executive considers, having regard to the matters specified in subsection (4), is for an income-related purpose; or

      • (xv) Any part of a lump sum income-related insurance payment received on the occurrence of a contingency by an applicant for a benefit that has been used or committed by the applicant—

        • (A) To repay or pay any amounts on account of existing debt of the applicant; or

        • (B) To pay any essential costs arising as a consequence of the applicant's health or disability (being costs arising from the contingency in respect of which the payment was made) to the extent that assistance towards those costs is not available under this Act or any other Act:

      • (xvii) any specified item or amount of income, or income from a specified source, that is declared not to be income for the purposes of this Act by regulations made under section 132.

      • (xviii) any tax credit or amount received under subparts MA to MF and MZ of the Income Tax Act 2007 or subpart KD of the Income Tax Act 2004 or subpart KD of the Income Tax Act 1994 or under Part 11A of the Income Tax Act 1976

    Income-related insurance payment, in relation to a person, means a payment, or the value of any credit or service, that, in the opinion of the chief executive, having regard to the matters specified in subsection (4) of this section, is—

    • (a) Made or provided on the occurrence of a contingency under a contract of insurance or by reason of the person's membership of any society, organisation, or body whether corporate or unincorporate; and

    • (b) Made or provided to the person or to some other person on behalf of or for the benefit of the person or a member of his or her family; and

    • (c) Made or provided or used for an income-related purpose:

    Income-related insurance payment: inserted by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Income-related insurance payment: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting chief executive for Director-General.

    Income-related purpose, in relation to any person, means the purpose of—

    • (a) Replacing lost or diminished income; or

    • (b) Maintaining the person or a member of his or her family; or

    • (c) Purchasing goods or services for the person or a member of his or her family, being goods or services of a kind that are commonly paid for from income; or

    • (d) Enabling the person to make payments that he or she is liable to make and that are commonly made from income:

    Income-related purpose: this definition was inserted by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Income tax means income tax under the Income Tax Act 2007

    Income Test 1 means that the applicable rate of benefit shall be reduced—

    • (a) By 30 cents for every $1 of the total income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse or partner which is more than $80 a week but not more than $180 a week; and

    • (b) By 70 cents for every $1 of that income which is more than $180 a week:

    Income Test 1, Income Test 2, Income Test 3, Income Test 4 and Income Test 5: these definitions were inserted, as from 1 July 1996, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Income Test 1: paragraph (a) of this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Income Test 2 means that the applicable rate of benefit shall be reduced—

    • (a) By 15 cents for every $1 of the total income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse or partner which is more than $80 a week but not more than $180 a week; and

    • (b) By 35 cents for every $1 of that income which is more than $180 a week:

    Income Test 1, Income Test 2, Income Test 3, Income Test 4 and Income Test 5: these definitions were inserted, as from 1 July 1996, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Income Test 2: paragraph (a) of this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Income Test 3 means that the applicable rate of benefit shall be reduced by 70 cents for every $1 of the total income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse or partner which is more than $80 a week

    Income Test 1, Income Test 2, Income Test 3, Income Test 4 and Income Test 5: these definitions were inserted, as from 1 July 1996, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Income Test 3: this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Income Test 4 means that the applicable rate of benefit shall be reduced by 35 cents for every $1 of the total income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse or partner which is more than $80 a week

    Income Test 1, Income Test 2, Income Test 3, Income Test 4 and Income Test 5: these definitions were inserted, as from 1 July 1996, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Income Test 4: this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Income Test 5 means that the applicable rate of benefit shall be reduced by 70 cents for every $1 of the total income of the beneficiary which is more than $80 a week

    Income Test 1, Income Test 2, Income Test 3, Income Test 4 and Income Test 5: these definitions were inserted, as from 1 July 1996, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Income-tested benefit means any of the following benefits

    • (a) an unemployment benefit:

    • (aa) a sickness benefit:

    • (b) A domestic purposes benefit:

    • (c) An emergency benefit:

    • (d) An independent youth benefit:

    • (e) An invalid's benefit:

    • (g) An orphan's benefit:

    • (h) [Repealed]

    • (i) An unsupported child's benefit:

    • (j) A widow's benefit:

    Income-tested benefit: this definition was inserted, as from 1 July 1999, by section 415(1) Accident Insurance Act 1998 (1998 No 114).

    Income-tested benefit: paragraph (a) of this definition was substituted, and paragraph (aa) was inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 13(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Income-tested benefit: paragraph (f) of this definition was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting the words or at the rate in clause 2 of Schedule 1 of the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Income-tested benefit: paragraph (f) of this definition was substituted, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18).

    Income-tested benefit: paragraph (f) of this definition was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Income-tested benefit: paragraph (h) was repealed, as from 15 April 2005, by section 3(2) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Job seeker contract

    [Repealed]

    Job seeker contract: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Job seeker contract: this definition was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 13(9) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Living with a parent, in relation to a person,—

    • (a) Means living in the same home as a parent of the person; but

    • (b) Does not include a situation in which a person lives in the same home as a parent of the person where—

      • (i) The parent is financially dependent on the person; or

      • (ii) The person, at his or her own expense, provides accommodation for the parent in the home; or

      • (iii) The person provides a substantial degree of care to the parent; or

      • (iv) The home is a hostel, boardinghouse, or similar lodging, and the person and the parent pay for accommodation in it:

    Living with a parent: this definition was inserted, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    married rate, in relation to New Zealand superannuation, means the aggregate rate payable to a couple who are married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship, both of whom are entitled to receive New Zealand superannuation

    Married rate: this definition was inserted, as from 9 February 1977, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    married rate: this definition was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Married rate: this definition was substituted, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    medical practitioner means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of medicine

    Medical practitioner: this definition was amended by substituting the reference to the Medical Practitioners Act 1968 (1968 No 46) for a reference to the repealed Medical Practitioners Act 1950. That reference was in turn substituted, as from 1 July 1996, by a reference to the Medical Practitioners Act 1995.

    medical practitioner: this definition was substituted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    midwife means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Midwifery Council established by section 114(3) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of midwifery

    midwife: this definition was inserted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Minister, in relation to any provisions of this Act, means, subject to any enactment, the Minister who is, with the authority of the Prime Minister, for the time being responsible for the administration of those provisions

    Minister: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    National superannuation

    [Repealed]

    Net average wage

    [Repealed]

    Net average wage: this definition was inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Net average wage: this definition was repealed, as from 1 April 1997, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    New Zealand superannuation means New Zealand superannuation payable under the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001

    New Zealand superannuation: this definition was inserted, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149).

    New Zealand superannuation: this definition was substituted, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84).

    New Zealand superannuation: this definition was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Non-entitlement period, in relation to a person, means a period when the person is not entitled to a benefit because he or she—

    • (a) Became voluntarily unemployed; or

    • (b) Lost his or her employment, or position on a scheme, through misconduct; or

    • (c) [Repealed]

    • (d) Failed to comply with the work test:

    nurse means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of nursing whose scope of practice permits the performance of general nursing functions

    nurse: this definition was inserted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    occupational therapist means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Occupational Therapy Board continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of occupational therapy

    occupational therapist: this definition was inserted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Open employment means employment other than sheltered employment

    Open employment: this definition was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Ordinarily resident, in relation to any person, does not include being unlawfully resident in New Zealand

    Ordinarily resident: this definition was inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Organised activity

    [Repealed]

    Organised activity: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 2(1) Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Organised activity: this definition was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 13(9) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    overseas epidemic management notice means a notice under section 61CE

    overseas epidemic management notice: this definition was inserted, as from 19 December 2006, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 90).

    Overseas pension

    • (a) Means a benefit, pension, or periodical allowance of a kind described in section 70(1) of this Act; but

    • (b) Does not include a benefit, pension, or periodical allowance of a kind referred to in the proviso to section 70(1) of this Act; and

    • (c) Does not include a Government occupational pension:

    Overseas pension and Overseas pensioner: these definitions were inserted, as from 2 October 1996, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 6) 1996 (1996 No 157).

    Overseas pensioner means a person to whom an overseas pension has been granted

    Overseas pension and Overseas pensioner: these definitions were inserted, as from 2 October 1996, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 6) 1996 (1996 No 157).

    Parent, for the purposes of the definition of the term living with a parent, means a parent, or a guardian, or a person acting as a parent

    Parent: this definition was inserted, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Participation allowance means a participation allowance under regulations made under section 132F

    Participation allowance: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Part-time work means work that averages not less than 15 hours a week when calculated over a period of the preceding 3 months—

    • (a) Under a contract of service, whether on time or piece rates; or

    • (b) As a self-employed person in any business, profession, trade, manufacture, or undertaking:

    Part-time work: this definition was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 2(5) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Part-time work: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(8) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by omitting , in relation to a widow's or a domestic purposes beneficiary,.

    part-time work-tested beneficiary means a person—

    • (a) who is a work-tested spouse or partner; and

    • (b) whose youngest dependent child is aged 6 years or older, but under 18 years

    partner, in the phrase spouse or partner and in related contexts, means a civil union partner or de facto partner

    partner: this definition was inserted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    partner: this definition was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by adding or de facto partner.

    Pay day means the day or date from time to time fixed by the chief executive as the date on which an instalment of a benefit falls due for payment

    Pay day: this definition was inserted, as from 9 February 1977, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Pay day: the words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Pay day: this definition was substituted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 37(1) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Pay day: this definition was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the words or date.

    Pay day: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting chief executive for Director-General.

    Pay period

    [Repealed]

    Pay period the words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Pay period: this definition was repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 37(1)(b) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Periodical means regular or intermittent

    Periodical: this definition was inserted by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    personal development and employment plan has the meaning specified in section 60O.

    personal development and employment plan: this definition was inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 4(3) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    physiotherapist means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Physiotherapy Board continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of physiotherapy

    physiotherapist: this definition was inserted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Principal caregiver, in relation to a dependent child, means the person who, in the opinion of the chief executive, has the primary responsibility for the day to day care of the child, other than on a temporary basis, but does not include—

    • (a) Any body of persons (whether incorporated or unincorporated); or

    Principal caregiver: this definition was inserted, as from 25 July 1990, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74).

    Principal caregiver: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting chief executive for Director-General.

    Principal caregiver: paragraph (b)(ii) of this definition was repealed, as from 1 October 2004, by section 59(1) Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 (2001 No 93). See section 11 of that Act for transitional provisions.

    psychologist means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Psychologists Board continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of psychology.

    Psychologist: this definition was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    psychologist: this definition was substituted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Purchaser

    [Repealed]

    Purchaser: this definition was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 2(5) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Purchaser: this definition was repealed, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81).

    Redundancy payment

    [Repealed]

    Redundancy payment: this definition was inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Redundancy payment: this definition was repealed, as from 30 November 1992, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1992 (1992 No 99).

    Regular, in relation to work, does not include—

    • (a) Casual employment; or

    • (b) Employment on call if there are no specified hours for such employment in the person's employment contract:

    Regular: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Resident, in relation to any person, does not include being unlawfully resident in New Zealand

    Resident: this definition was inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    residential care disability services

    [Repealed]

    residential care disability services: this definition was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    residential care disability services: this definition was substituted, as from 1 October 2002 by section 58(1) Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 (2001 No 93). See section 11 of that Act for transitional provisions.

    residential care disability services: this definition was repealed, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Residential care services means disability services supplied to a person with a disability in a residential disability care institution or rest home within the meaning of section 58(4) of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001; and includes—

    • (a) Supervision and support services; and

    • (b) Hotel-type services (including the provision of sleeping facilities, meals, laundry, cleaning services and supplies, household furniture and furnishings, lighting, heating, hot water, and other household utilities); and

    • (c) Services that support daily living (including financial management and gardening); and

    • (d) Personal care services (including toileting, bathing, hair washing, teeth cleaning, nail care, feeding, and mobility); and

    • (e) Services within that home intended to provide satisfying activity to the person (including the provision of educational, social, recreational, and other activities); and

    • (f) Clinical support services, including personal health services (within the meaning of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000), consultations with a medical practitioner, pharmaceuticals, incontinence aids, and other treatment costs:

    Residential care services: this definition was inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 2(4) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Residential care services: paragraph (f) of this definition was amended, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91) by substituting personal health services (within the meaning of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000) for health services (within the meaning of the Health and Disability Services Act 1993).

    Residential care services: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 2002 by section 58(1) Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 (2001 No 93) by substituting a residential disability care institution or rest home within the meaning of section 58(4) of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 for an appropriately licensed or registered home. See section 11 of that Act for transitional provisions.

    rest home means a rest home as defined in section 58(4) of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001.

    rest home: this definition was inserted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Salary or wages includes commission, and any other remuneration from employment

    Salary or wages: this definition was inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Sheltered employment includes employment in a sheltered workshop within the meaning of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act 1960

    Sheltered employment: this definition was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Sickness includes pregnancy after the 26th week

    Sickness: this definition was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    single means not married or in a civil union or a de facto relationship

    single: this definition was inserted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    single: this definition was substituted, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Social security income tax

    [Repealed]

    Social security income tax: this definition was repealed, as from 1 April 1969, by section 3(2) Land and Income Tax Amendment Act (No 3) 1968 (1968 No 49).

    sole parent means a person who is the principal caregiver in respect of a dependent child and who—

    • (a) is—

      • (i) married or in a civil union, but living apart from his or her spouse or partner; or

      • (ii) not married or in a civil union; and

    • (b) is not in a de facto relationship

    sole parent: this definition was inserted, as from 25 July 1990, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74).

    sole parent: this definition was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    sole parent: paragraph (b) of this definition was substituted, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Spouse means the husband or wife of an applicant or beneficiary, as the context may require

    Spouse: this definition was inserted, as from 11 October 1978, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Strike has the same meaning as in section 81 of the Employment Relations Act 2000

    Strike: this definition was inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Strike: a reference to section 61 of the Employment Contracts Act 1991 was substituted, as from 15 May 1991, for a reference to section 231 of the Labour Relations Act 1987 pursuant to section 174 Employment Contracts Act 1991 (1991 No 22).

    Strike: this definition was substituted, as from 2 October 2000, by section 240 Employment Relations Act 2000 (2000 No 24).

    Student allowance means an allowance established by regulations made under section 303 of the Education Act 1989

    Student allowance: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    suitable employment, in relation to a person, means employment that the chief executive is satisfied is suitable for the person to undertake for a number of hours a week that is at least the employment required to satisfy the work test for that person (or, as the case may be, the person's obligations under section 60GAB)

    Temporary employment means full employment for a period of less than 26 weeks

    Temporary employment: this definition was inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Temporary employment: this definition was amended, as from 9 December 1994, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1994 (1994 No 142) by substituting 26 for 13.

    Transitional retirement benefit

    [Repealed]

    Transitional retirement benefit: this definition was inserted, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149).

    Transitional retirement benefit: this definition was repealed, as from 15 April 2005, by section 3(3) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Union has the same meaning as in section 5 of the Employment Relations Act 2000

    Union: this definition was inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Union: this definition was substituted, as from 2 October 2000, by section 240 Employment Relations Act 2000 (2000 No 24).

    Veteran's pension means a veteran's pension payable under Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954

    Veteran's pension: this definition was inserted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(3) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Veteran's pension: this definition was substituted, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18).

    Work preparation exercise has the meaning given to it in section 60HA(2)

    Work preparation exercise: this definition was inserted, as from 1 February 1999, by section 58(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 78 of that Act as to the various application dates of this amendment.

    Work test, in relation to a person, means the person's obligations under section 102(2); and work test obligations has a corresponding meaning

    Work test: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Work test: this definition was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 2(2) Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Work-test married rate

    • (a) Means, in relation to an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit, a rate in Schedule 8 or 9 that is payable to a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship, other than a rate payable if the person's spouse or partner is entitled to a benefit in his or her own right:

    • (b) Means, in relation to an invalid's benefit,—

      • (i) A rate in Schedule 6 payable to a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship, other than a rate payable if the person's spouse or partner is entitled to a benefit in his or her own right; and

      • (ii) Includes the rate payable under section 42(2) to the spouse or partner of a person receiving long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home:

    • (c) Means, in relation to an emergency benefit,—

      • (i) A rate of the benefit payable to a person that includes a payment for the person's spouse or partner; and

      • (ii) includes an emergency benefit paid to the spouse or partner of a resident assessed as requiring care (as defined in section 136) under regulations made under section 155.

    Work-test married rate: this definition was inserted, as from 1 February 1999, by section 58(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 78 of that Act as to the various application dates of this amendment.

    Work-test married rate: paragraph (a) of this definition was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 13(4) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit for a community wage.

    Work-test married rate: paragraphs (a) and (b) of this definition were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting person who is married or in a civil union for married person.

    Work-test married rate: paragraphs (a), (b)(i) and (ii), and (c)(i) and (ii) of this definition were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    sole parent: paragraphs (a) and (b)(i) of this definition were amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    Work-test married rate: paragraph (b)(ii) of this definition was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by substituting long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home for residential care disability services. See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Work-test married rate: paragraph (c)(ii) of this definition was substituted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Work-tested beneficiary means a person who is—

    • (a) a person granted an unemployment benefit; or

    • (b) A work-tested spouse or partner; or

    • (c) [Repealed]

    • (d) [Repealed]

    • (e) [Repealed]

    Work-tested benefit means—

    • (a) A community wage; or

    • (b) [Repealed]

    • (c) [Repealed]

    • (d) [Repealed]

    • (e) In relation to a work-tested spouse or partner, includes an emergency benefit or an invalid's benefit:

    Work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary

    [Repealed]

    Work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary: this definition was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 2(6) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(9) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by omitting , under section 60HD of this Act,.

    Work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary: paragraph (b) of this definition was amended, as from 1 February 1999, by section 58(5) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting 6 for 14. See section 78 of that Act as to the various application dates of this amendment.

    Work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary: this definition was repealed, as from 10 March 2003, by section 4(6) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    work-tested spouse or partner means a person who—

    • (a) has no dependent children, or whose youngest dependent child is aged 6 years or more; and

    • (b) has not been granted an exemption from the work test; and is either—

    • (c) the spouse or partner of a person granted an unemployment benefit, a sickness benefit, or an invalid's benefit or an emergency benefit, where the benefit is granted at a work-test married rate; or

    • (d) is the spouse or partner of a person who is receiving long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home, is aged under 60 years, and is in receipt of an invalid's benefit under section 42(2) or an emergency benefit under regulations made under section 155

    Work-tested spouse: this definition was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 2(6) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Work-tested spouse: this definition was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Work-tested spouse: this definition was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Work-tested spouse: this definition was substituted, as from 1 February 1999, by section 58(6) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 78 of that Act as to the various application dates of this amendment.

    work-tested spouse or partner: this definition was substituted for the definition of the term Work-tested spouse, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    work-tested spouse or partner: paragraph (d) of this definition was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by substituting long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home for residential care disability services. See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    work-tested spouse or partner: paragraph (d) of this definition was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by substituting section 155 for section 132B. See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Work-tested widow's beneficiary

    [Repealed]

    Work-tested widow's beneficiary: this definition was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 2(6) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Work-tested widow's beneficiary: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(9) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by omitting , under section 60HD of this Act,.

    Work-tested widow's beneficiary: this definition was amended, as from 1 February 1999, by section 58(7) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting 6 for 14. See section 78 of that Act as to the various application dates of this amendment.

    Work-tested widow's beneficiary: this definition was repealed, as from 10 March 2003, by section 4(6) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Working day means any day of the week other than—

    • (a) Saturday, Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Labour Day, the Sovereign's birthday, and Waitangi Day; and

    • (aa) The day observed as the anniversary of the appropriate province; and

    • (b) A day in the period commencing on the 25th day of December in any year and ending with the 15th day of January in the following year.

    Working day: this definition was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 2(6) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Working day: paragraph (a) of this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 2(2) Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Working day paragraph (aa) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 2(2) Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    (2) For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be deemed not to have attained a given age until the commencement of the relevant anniversary of the day of his birth.

    (2A) [Repealed]

    (3) Except for the purposes of a means assessment under Part 4, and notwithstanding the definition of the term income in subsection (1) of this section, where it is necessary to determine, for the purposes of this Act or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 or the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, the income of any person who—

    • (b) Is aged 60 years or more and whose spouse (if any), being a spouse or partner whose age is less than that of the person whose income is being determined, is aged 60 years or more; and

    • (c) Is in receipt of a pension under a superannuation scheme registered under the Superannuation Schemes Act 1989 or of payments under an annuity paid in respect of a policy of life insurance—

      • (i) Offered or entered into in New Zealand by a life insurer (as that term is defined in paragraph (a) of the definition of life insurer in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007); or

      • (ii) Offered or entered into outside of New Zealand by a life insurer (as so defined) that is resident in New Zealand within the meaning of section YD 1 or YD 2 (excluding section YD 2(2)) of the Income Tax Act 2007; and

    • (d) Commenced to receive payments of that pension or under that annuity—

      • (i) Before the 1st day of April 1992; and

      • (ii) When that person was aged not less than 55 years nor more than 59 years and when that person's spouse (if any), being a spouse or partner whose age is less than that of the person whose income is being determined, was aged 55 years or more,—

    50 percent of the amount received by that person under that pension or under that annuity shall not be included in the income of that person.

    (4) In considering, in respect of a person, whether any payment or credit or service is an income-related insurance payment or is for an income-related purpose, as the case may be, the chief executive shall have regard to the following matters:

    • (a) The nature of the contingency in respect of which the payment or credit or service was made or provided or used:

    • (b) The nature of the payment or credit or service:

    • (c) The manner in which and the occasions on which the payment or credit or service is made or provided or used:

    • (d) The manner in which the right or eligibility to the payment or credit or service is expressed in any contract of insurance or in any other document:

    • (e) Whether the payment or credit or service is required to be made or provided to any other person and, if so, the relationship between them:

    • (f) Whether the person has assigned his or her right to receive the payment or credit or service:

    • (g) Any other matters that the chief executive considers, in the circumstances of the particular case, to be relevant.

    (5) For the avoidance of doubt, a dependent child of a person granted a benefit at a work-test married rate is also a dependent child of that person's spouse or partner for the purposes of the definition of the term work-tested spouse or partner in subsection (1).

    (6) The definition of income in subsection (1) is at any time subject to any rules then in force under section 132H.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 10; 1945 No 11 s 3; 1951 No 54 s 15; 1955 No 9 s 16(1); 1958 No 46 s 26

    Section 3(1) application: substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 22(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 3(1) date of first contact: inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 22(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 3(1) income paragraph (f)(xviii): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 3(1) income tax: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 3(1) non-entitlement period paragraph (c): repealed, on 24 September 2007, by section 32(2)(a) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 3(1) non-entitlement period paragraph (e): added, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(6) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 3(1) part-time work-tested beneficiary: substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 22(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 3(1) suitable employment: substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 22(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 3(1) work-tested beneficiary paragraph (e): repealed, on 24 September 2007, by section 22(2)(a) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 3(1) work-tested benefit paragraph (d): repealed, on 24 September 2007, by section 22(2)(b) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Income: this definition was substituted, as from 21 November 1984, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1984 (1994 No 8).

    Income: this definition was amended, as from 26 October 1988, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147) by substituting surviving spouse for widow.

    Income: paragraph (ba) of this definition was inserted, as from 30 November 1992, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1992 (1992 No 99).

    Income: paragraph (d)(i) of this definition was amended, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(2)(a) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26) by inserting or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Income: paragraph (d)(ii) of this definition was amended, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(2)(b) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26) by omitting (not being an economic pension or a war veteran's allowance or a war service pension).

    Income: paragraph (d)(vii) and (d)(viii) of this definition were inserted, as from 1 July 1992, by Social Security Amendment Act (No 5) 1991 (1991 No 143).

    Income: paragraph (d)(ix) of this definition was inserted, as from 1 July 1992, by Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1992 (1992 No 59).

    Income: paragraph (d)(x) and (d)(xi) of this definition were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 2(4) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Income: this definition was substituted, as from 2 October 1994, by section 3(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Income: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting chief executive for Director-General.

    Income: paragraph (c) of this definition was substituted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Income: paragraph (c) of this definition was amended, as from 1 July 1999, by section 415(1) Accident Insurance Act 1998 (1998 No 114) by substituting Except where section 71A(2) applies, includes for Includes and by inserting subparagraph (iii).

    Income: paragraph (c) of this definition was amended, as from 1 April 2000, by section 9(1) Accident Insurance Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 6) by inserting (as it read immediately before its repeal by section 7 of the Accident Insurance Amendment Act 2000) after the words section 185 of that Act.

    Income: paragraph (d)(iva) of this definition was inserted, as from 1 July 2002, by section 6 Parental Leave And Employment Protection (Paid Parental Leave) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 7).

    Income: paragraph (f)(i) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting or the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 after Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Income: paragraph (f)(i) of this definition was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Income: paragraph (f)(i) of this definition was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Income: paragraph (f)(iii) of this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Income: paragraph (f)(iva) of this definition was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 11(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Income: paragraph (f)(va) of this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(7) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Income: paragraph (f)(ix) was amended, as from 1 July 1999, by section 415(1) Accident Insurance Act 1998 (1998 No 114) by adding or Part 13 or Part 4 of Schedule 1 of the Accident Insurance Act 1998.

    Income: paragraph (f)(ix) was amended, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49) by inserting, after the expression 1998, the words , or any impairment lump sum received under Schedule 1 of the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001. See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    Income: paragraph (f)(xiii) to (xv) of this definition were inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Income: paragraph (f)(xiv)(A) of this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Income: paragraph (f)(xiv)(A) of this definition was substituted, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Income: paragraph (f)(xvi) was inserted, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(1) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22). See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

    Income: paragraph (f)(xvi) was amended, as from 1 July 2006, by section 5(2)(h) Housing Restructuring and Tenancy Matters (Information Matching) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 34) by inserting and Tenancy Matters after Restructuring.

    Income: paragraph (f)(xvii) of this definition was inserted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 4(1) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Income: paragraph (f)(xviii) of this definition was inserted, as from 4 June 2004, by section 4(1) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Income Tax: this definition was substituted for the definition of social security income tax by section 3(3) Land and Income Tax Amendment Act (No 3) 1968 (1968 No 49). The former reference to the Income Tax Act 1976 (1976 No 65) was substituted for a reference to the repealed Land and Income Tax Act 1954.

    Income Tax: this definition was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by section YB 1 Income Tax Act 1994 (1994 No 164) by substituting Income Tax Act 1994 for Income Tax Act 1976.

    Income Tax: this definition was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section YA 2 Income Tax Act 2004 (2004 No 35) by substituting Income Tax Act 2004 for Income Tax Act 1994.

    Non-entitlement period: this definition was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 2(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Non-entitlement period: this definition was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Part-time work-tested beneficiary: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Part-time work-tested beneficiary: this definition was substituted, as from 1 February 1999, by section 58(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 78 of that Act as to the various application dates of this amendment.

    Part-time work-tested beneficiary: paragraph (a) of this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Part-time work-tested beneficiary: paragraph (b) of this definition was repealed, as from 10 March 2003, by section 4(2) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Suitable employment: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Suitable employment: this definition was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 2(2) Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Suitable employment: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting chief executive for Director-General.

    Work-tested beneficiary: this definition was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 2(6) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Work-tested beneficiary: paragraph (a) of this definition was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by substituting young job seeker's allowance for job search allowance.

    Work-tested beneficiary: this definition was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Work-tested beneficiary: paragraph (a) of this definition was substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 13(5) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Work-tested beneficiary: paragraph (b) of this definition were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Work-tested beneficiary: paragraphs (c) and (d) of this definition were repealed, as from 10 March 2003, by section 4(4) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Work-tested benefit: this definition was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 2(6) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Work-tested benefit: paragraph (a) of this definition was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by substituting young job seeker's allowance for job search allowance.

    Work-tested benefit: this definition was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Work-tested benefit: paragraph (b) was amended, as from 1 February 1999, by inserting ; or, and paragraph (c) was inserted, by section 58(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Work-tested benefit: paragraphs (b) and (c) of this definition were repealed, as from 10 March 2003, by section 4(5) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Work-tested benefit: paragraph (e) of this definition were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting In this Act for In this Part of this Act and in the Schedules to this Act.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsection (2A) was repealed, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting the words or the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 after Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by substituting a means assessment under Part 4 for section 69E of this Act. See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (3)(a) was substituted, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84).

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (3)(c) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section YA 2 Income Tax Act 2004 (2004 No 35) by substituting Income Tax Act 2004 for Income Tax Act 1994 in both places they appear.

    Section 3(3)(c)(i): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Subsection (3)(c)(i) was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by section YB 1 Income Tax Act 1994 (1994 No 164) by substituting paragraph (a) of the definition of life insurer in section OB 1 of the Income Tax Act 1994 for section 204 of the Income Tax Act 1976.

    Section 3(3)(c)(ii): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Subsection (3)(c)(ii) was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by section YB 1 Income Tax Act 1994 (1994 No 164) by substituting section OE 1 or section OE 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 1994 for section 241 of the Income Tax Act 1976.

    Subsection (3)(d)(ii) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (4) was inserted by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting chief executive for Director-General.

    Subsection (5) was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 2(7) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (5) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(11) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 February 1999, by section 58(8) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting work-test married rate for married rate (other than a rate for a person whose spouse is receiving a benefit in his or her own right). See section 78 of that Act as to the various application dates of this amendment.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the words spouse in both places where it appears.

    Subsection (6) was inserted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

3A Delegation of powers by Minister
  • [Repealed]

    Section 3A was inserted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 34(2) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Section 3A was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

Administration

4
  • [Repealed]

    Section 4 was repealed, as from 1 April 1972, by section 15(4) Department of Social Welfare Act 1971 (1971 No 60). See section 1(2) of that Act and SR 1972/37.

5 Chief executive to comply with directions
  • (1) In the exercise of powers, functions, and discretions conferred on the chief executive by this Act or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 or the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001, the chief executive must comply with any general or special directions given to the chief executive in writing by the Minister.

    (2) As soon as practicable after giving a direction under subsection (1), the Minister must publish in the Gazette and present to the House of Representatives a copy of the direction.

    Section 5 was substituted, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 25 July 1990, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74) by inserting the words or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (3) was repealed, as from 1 March 1991, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Section 5 was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990, the words or the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

6
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 6 and 7 were repealed, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(3)(e) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

7
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 6 and 7 were repealed, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(3)(e) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

8
  • [Repealed]

    Section 8 was repealed by section 17(2) Department of Social Welfare Act 1971 (1971 No 60). See section 1(2) of that Act and SR 1972/37.

9
  • [Repealed]

    Section 9 was repealed, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(3)(e) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

10 Delegation of Director-General's powers
  • [Repealed]

    Section 10 was substituted, as from 23 June 1987, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsections (1A) to (1C) were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1997, by section 3(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20) by inserting the words subsection (1) of.

    Section 10 was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

10A Review of decisions
  • (1) This section applies to—

    • (a) an applicant or beneficiary affected by a decision made by any person in the exercise of any power, function, or discretion conferred on the person by delegation , against which the applicant or beneficiary has a right of appeal under section 12J; or

    • (b) an applicant, beneficiary, or other person in respect of whom a person makes any decision in the exercise of a power under section 19D(1)(a) of the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 conferred on the decision-making person by delegation , against which the applicant or beneficiary or other person has a right of appeal under section 12J.

    (1A) A person to whom this section applies may apply in writing for a review of the decision to the appropriate district review committee established under this section.

    (1B) The application must be made—

    • (a) within 3 months after receiving notification of the decision; or

    • (b) if the committee considers there is good reason for the delay, within such further period as the committee may allow on application made either before or after the expiration of that period of 3 months.

    (1C) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person in respect of whom a decision or determination is made under Part 4 or under regulations made under section 155 is to be treated as a beneficiary.

    (2) The Minister shall establish at least 1 benefits review committee for every office of the Department where decisions or recommendations in relation to the matter or matters to which the Act applies are being made or was taken or made.

    (3) Every benefits review committee shall consist of—

    • (a) A person resident in or closely connected with the office of the Department where decisions or recommendations in relation to the matter or matters to which the Act applies are being made or was taken or made appointed by the Minister to represent the interests of the community on the committee:

    • (b) [Repealed]

    • (c) Two officers of the Department appointed by the chief executive—

      • (i) From time to time; or

      • (ii) In respect of the particular review.

    (4) The member of the benefits review committee appointed under subsection (3)(a) of this section—

    • (a) Shall hold office during the Minister's pleasure:

    • (b) May be paid out of the Department's Bank Account, from money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, remuneration by way of fees, salary, or allowances, and travelling allowances and expenses, in accordance with the Fees and Travelling Allowances Act 1951; and that Act shall apply accordingly:

    (5) All secretarial and administrative services required for the purposes of the review committee shall be supplied by the Department.

    (6) At any meeting of the review committee the quorum shall be the total membership, and the decision of any 2 members of the review committee shall be the decision of the committee.

    (7) No officer of the Department shall act as a member of the review committee if that officer was involved in the decision being reviewed.

    (8) As soon as practicable after receiving an application for review the review committee shall review the decision and may, in accordance with this Act, confirm, vary, or revoke the decision.

    (9) On reaching a decision on any review, the review committee shall give written notification of its decision to the applicant for review and shall include in the notification—

    • (a) The reasons for the review committee's decision; and

    • (b) Advice that the applicant has a right of appeal against the decision to the Social Security Appeal Authority.

    Section 10A was inserted, as from 23 June 1987, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 July 1992, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 5) 1991 (1991 No 143). See sections 253 and 256(1)(a) and (2) Child Support Act 1991 (1991 No 142) for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the words or (if the committee considers there is good reason for the delay) within such further period as the committee may allow on application made either before or after the expiration of that period of 3 months.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by omitting section 10 of.

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 23 November 2000, by section 8(1) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 88).

    Subsection (1)(a) amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 5(a) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by omitting under this Act. See section 31 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to review of decisions.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 5(b) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by omitting under that Act. See section 31 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to review of decisions. The words under that Act were also repealed by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) but the words had already been repealed.

    Subsection (1)(c) was inserted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsections (1A) and (1B) were inserted, as from 23 November 2000, by section 8(1) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 88).

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1992, by section 4(e) Social Security Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 15) by substituting office of the Department where decisions or recommendations in relation to the matter or matters to which the Act applies are being made or was taken or made for district of the Department.

    Subsection (3)(a) was substituted, as from 1 April 1991, by section 3 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 4).

    Subsection (3)(a) was amended, as from 1 April 1992, by section 4(e) Social Security Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 15) by substituting office of the Department where decisions or recommendations in relation to the matter or matters to which the Act applies are being made or was taken or made for social welfare district.

    Subsection (3)(b) was substituted, and subsection (3)(c) was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (3)(b) was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Subsection (3)(c) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting Two for In any other case, two.

    Subsection (4) was substituted, as from 1 April 1991, by section 3 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 4).

    As from 1 April 1992, references to district review committee were replaced by references to benefits review committee pursuant to section 4(g) Social Security Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 15).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, and all references to the Department of Social Welfare were replaced by references to the Department pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

11 Power to obtain information
  • (1) Subject to this section and to the code of conduct established under section 11B, the chief executive, for any purpose specified in subsection (2) of this section, may by notice in writing require any person (including any person who is an officer or employee in the service of the Crown in a Government department or public body (other than as an officer of a Court), in his or her official capacity,)—

    • (a) To provide the Department or a specified employee of the Department with such information as the chief executive requires; or

    • (b) To produce to the Department or to a specified employee of the Department any document in the custody of or under the control of that person, and to allow copies of or extracts from any such document to be made or taken; or

    • (c) To furnish to the Department or to a specified employee of the Department any copies or extracts from any document or record in the custody or under the control of that person—

    within a period (being not less than 5 working days after the notice is given) and in the manner specified in the notice, and without charge.

    (2) The purposes specified in subsection (1) of this section are—

    • (b) Determining the rate of benefit or payment that is or was applicable to that person; or

    • (c) Determining whether a person who has been issued with, or has made a claim for, an entitlement card under regulations in force under section 132A of this Act, is or was entitled to be issued with that card; or

    • (d) conducting or reviewing a means assessment under Part 4 (relating to payment for contracted care services as defined in section 136), or determining whether any such means assessment is correct; or

    • (da) Determining, pursuant to section 69FA, the amount that any person is required to pay towards the cost of the home-based disability support services supplied to that person, and whether a person who has been so assessed is entitled to that assessment; or

    (3) A person who—

    • (a) Refuses or fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a notice under this section to the extent that the person is capable of complying with it; or

    • (b) In purported compliance with such a notice knowingly or recklessly furnishes information which is false or misleading in any material particular, or attempts to do so,—

    commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

    (4) Nothing in subsection (1) requires any person to provide any information or produce any document that would be privileged in a court of law, except as provided in subsection (5).

    (5) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall require any person to provide any information or to produce any document that is legally professionally privileged:

    Provided that this subsection shall not apply to information or any document that consists wholly or partly of, or relates wholly or partly to,—

    • (a) The receipts, payments, income, expenditure, or financial transactions of a specified person (whether a law practitioner, his or her client, or any other person); or

    • (b) Investment receipts (being receipts arising or accruing from any money lodged at any time with a law practitioner for investment) of any person or persons (whether the law practitioner, his or her clients, or any other person or persons)—

    and is contained in, or comprises the whole or part of, any book, account, statement, or other record prepared by or kept in connection with a trust account of the law practitioner.

    (6) Where any person refuses to disclose any information or document on the ground that it is privileged under subsection (4) or subsection (5) of this section, the chief executive or that person or any other person to whom the information or document relates may apply to a District Court Judge for an order determining whether or not the claim of privilege is valid; and, for the purposes of determining any such application, the Judge may require the information or document to be produced to the Court.

    (7) [Repealed]

    (8) In this section—

    law practitioner means a barrister or solicitor of the High Court, and includes a firm or an incorporated law firm (within the meaning of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006) in which the law practitioner is, or is held out to be, a partner, director, or shareholder

    trust account, in relation to a law practitioner, has the same meaning as in section 6 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006.

    Section 11 was amended, as from 1 January 1970, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46) by inserting the words , or of inquiring as to the means, earning capacity, and economic circumstances of any person for the purposes of section 8 of the Domestic Proceedings Act 1968,.

    Section 11 was substituted, as from 23 June 1987, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 11 was substituted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the words and to the code of conduct established under section 11B.

    Subsection (2)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2)(a) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990, the words or under the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (2)(a) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (2)(a) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsection (2)(d) was substituted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (2)(da) was inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (2)(e) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2)(f) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990, the words or under the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (2)(f) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (2)(f) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 4(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by omitting and, if the offence is a continuing one, to a further fine not exceeding $200 for every day or part of a day during which the offence has continued.

    Subsection (4) was substituted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 4(4) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 4(5)(a) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the words subsection (4) or.

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 4(5)(b) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the words or any other person to whom the information or document relates.

    Subsection (7) was repealed, as from 17 September 1997, by section 4(6) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Section 11(8): substituted, on 1 August 2008, by section 348 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 (2006 No 1).

11A Power to obtain information for matching purposes
  • (1) Where the chief executive has reason to suspect that there is, or may have been, any person or persons in the employ of any employer—

    • (a) To whom benefits or payments under this Act have been paid; or

    • (b) To whom entitlement cards have been issued; or

    • (c) In respect of whom or whose spouse or partner, a means assessment under Part 4 has been conducted—

    that should not have been, the chief executive may, subject to this section, issue a notice under section 11(1) of this Act requiring that employer to provide the following information within a specified period:

    • (d) The names and addresses of that employer's employees or a specified class of employees (including any former employees who were employed by that employer within a specified period); and

    • (e) The tax file numbers of those employees or former employees.

    (2) The chief executive may issue a notice to an employer pursuant to subsection (1) of this section whether or not the chief executive is able to identify any employees or former employees of that employer as being individuals who—

    • (a) Are or have been receiving a benefit or payment under this Act; or

    • (b) Are or have been issued with entitlement cards pursuant to regulations in force under this Act; or

    • (c) have had their financial circumstances, or the financial circumstances of their spouse or partner, assessed under this Act.

    (3) The chief executive shall not issue a notice to any employer pursuant to subsection (1) of this section more than once in any 12-month period.

    (4) Where the chief executive obtains information pursuant to a notice issued under subsection (1) of this section, and that information, when used in an information-matching programme, produces a discrepancy, the chief executive shall not take adverse action against any individual in relation to that discrepancy—

    • (a) Unless the chief executive has given that individual written notice—

      • (i) Specifying particulars of the discrepancy and of the adverse action the chief executive proposes to take; and

      • (ii) Stating that the individual has 5 working days from the receipt of the notice in which to show cause why the action should not be taken; and

    • (b) Until the expiration of those 5 working days.

    (5) Nothing in subsection (4) of this section prevents the chief executive from taking adverse action against an individual if compliance with the requirements of that subsection would prejudice any investigation into the commission of an offence or the possible commission of an offence.

    (6) The provisions of sections 100 to 102 and 104 to 106 of the Privacy Act 1993, and of the information matching rules specified in Schedule 4 to that Act, shall apply, with all necessary modifications, to any information obtained by the chief executive pursuant to subsection (1) of this section and to any information matching programme using that information; but, notwithstanding anything in rule 4 of those rules,—

    • (a) The chief executive shall not be required to prepare more than one technical standards report in respect of information received from any employer or employers pursuant to subsection (1) of this section where the standards in that report are to apply to information so obtained from any employers generally; and

    • (b) The chief executive shall not be required to make that report available to any employer given notice pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, and nor shall any such employer be required to hold a copy of that report.

    (7) Where the chief executive fails to comply, in relation to any individual, with subsection (4) of this section or with any of the provisions of the sections or rules applied by subsection (6) of this section, the failure shall, for the purposes of Part 8 of the Privacy Act 1993, be deemed to constitute a failure to comply with the provisions of Part 10 of that Act.

    (8) In this section, information matching programme means the comparison of information obtained pursuant to subsection (1) of this section with other personal information held by the Department for the purpose of producing or verifying information about an identifiable individual; and expressions otherwise defined in section 97 of the Privacy Act 1993 shall have the meanings so defined, with any necessary modifications.

    (9) Nothing in this section shall limit or affect the provisions of section 103(1A) of the Privacy Act 1993.

    (10) In this section, tax file number has the same meaning as in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007.

    Section 11A was inserted, as from 23 June 1987, by section 6 Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 11A were substituted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the words spouse.

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by substituting a means assessment under Part 4 has been conducted for a financial means assessment has been made. See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (2)(c) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Section 11A(10): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Subsection (10) was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by section YB 1 Income Tax Act 1994 (1994 No 164) by substituting section OB 1 of the Income Tax Act 1994 for section 2 of the Income Tax Act 1976.

    Subsection (10) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section YA 2 Income Tax Act 2004 (2004 No 35) by substituting Income Tax Act 2004 for Income Tax Act 1994.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

11B Code of conduct applying to obtaining information under section 11
  • (1) The chief executive, in consultation with the Privacy Commissioner appointed under the Privacy Act 1993, must, within 3 months after the commencement of this section, issue a code of conduct that applies in respect of requirements to supply information or documents under section 11(1), and the chief executive, and every officer of the Department acting under the delegation of the chief executive must comply with that code of conduct in relation to making any such requirement.

    (2) The code of conduct—

    • (a) Must include the matters specified in section 11C; and

    • (b) May include restrictions on obtaining—

      • (i) Specified classes of information or documents; and

      • (ii) Information or documents from specified classes of persons or from persons in specified relationships—

      pursuant to a requirement under section 11(1); and

    • (c) Must specify procedures applying to the obtaining of information or documents under section 11.

    (3) The chief executive may from time to time, in consultation with the Privacy Commissioner, amend the code of conduct, or revoke the code of conduct and issue a new code of conduct.

    (4) Nothing in the code of conduct may derogate from any code of practice issued by the Privacy Commissioner under Part 6 of the Privacy Act 1993 that applies to the information required under section 11, and the chief executive, in consultation with the Privacy Commissioner, must amend the code of conduct to conform with any such code of practice. This subsection is affected by subsection (5).

    (5) Without limiting the general power to make regulations conferred by section 132, the Governor-General may, on the advice of the Minister given after consultation with the Privacy Commissioner, by Order in Council, make regulations under that section authorising the chief executive to obtain—

    • (a) Any specified class of information or document; or

    • (b) Information or documents from any specified class of persons; or

    • (c) Information or documents in any specified manner—

    pursuant to a requirement under section 11(1), despite the fact that the making of that requirement would otherwise be in breach of any code of practice issued by the Privacy Commissioner under Part 6 of the Privacy Act 1993.

    (6) Any person who is—

    • (a) Required to produce any information or document pursuant to a requirement under section 11(1); or

    • (b) The subject of any such information or document—

    may make a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner that the requirement breaches the code of conduct issued pursuant to this section.

    (7) Part 8 of the Privacy Act 1993 applies to any such complaint as if the code of conduct were a code of practice issued under Part 6 of the Privacy Act 1993.

    (8) As soon as practicable after issuing any code of conduct and any amendment to it under this section, the chief executive must cause it to be published in a form accessible to the public.

    Sections 11B and 11C were inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by omitting pursuant to section 10.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

11C Matters to be included in code of conduct
  • (1) The code of conduct established under section 11B must contain the following matters:

    • (a) Provisions—

      • (i) Requiring any information or document to be first sought from a beneficiary; and

      • (ii) Allowing the beneficiary a reasonable time to provide it—

      before a requirement under section 11(1) is issued to a person other than the beneficiary, except where compliance with such provision would prejudice the maintenance of the law:

    • (b) A provision prohibiting a requirement under section 11(1) being made in respect of a beneficiary to any person (not being the beneficiary, an employer or former employer of the beneficiary, a financial institution, or a law practitioner) unless there is reasonable cause to make a requirement under that section:

    • (c) A provision prohibiting a requirement under section 11(1) being made to an employer in respect of any information or document that relates solely to the marital or relationship status of an employee or former employee of that employer:

    • (d) Provisions otherwise restricting requirements under section 11(1) made to employers to specified information relating to that employment and the address of the employee or former employee.

    (2) In subsection (1)(b), reasonable cause includes—

    • (a) Cause to suspect that the beneficiary has committed an offence under this Act or has obtained by fraud any payment or credit or advance under this Act:

    • (b) The fact that the beneficiary or a spouse or partner of that beneficiary has failed within a reasonable time, or refused, to provide any information or produce any document in accordance with a request or requirement made to that person in accordance with subsection (1)(a).

    Sections 11B and 11C were inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or relationship after the word marital.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

11D Application process for benefits
  • (1) A benefit must not be granted to an applicant unless the requirement stated in subsection (2) has been complied with.

    (2) The requirement referred to in subsection (1) is that the department has received—

    • (a) an application form (provided by the chief executive for the purpose) completed by or on behalf of the applicant and his or her spouse or partner (if any) to the chief executive's satisfaction; and

    • (b) any supporting evidence (for example, a medical certificate) reasonably required by the chief executive.

    (3) The form referred to in subsection (2)(a) does not have to refer to a benefit of any particular kind.

    (4) The receipt by the department of a completed application form relating to a benefit of one kind is sufficient compliance with subsection (2)(a) to enable the granting of a benefit of another kind.

    (5) The chief executive—

    • (a) may waive all or part of a requirement to provide information under this section if satisfied that the department—

      • (i) already holds the information concerned; or

      • (ii) already holds enough other information to determine the matter for which the information concerned is needed; and

    • (b) may waive the requirement to complete an application form if satisfied that the department already holds a form relating to an application that has lapsed under subsection (8).

    (6) Subsection (1) is subject to subsection (5) and to section 81(3).

    (7) If the requirement stated in subsection (2) has been complied with, an application for a benefit must for the purposes of sections 80 and 80BA be treated as having been received on the date of first contact.

    (8) An application for a benefit lapses at the close of the period of 20 working days after the date of first contact (as from time to time extended under subsection (10)) unless, within the period, the requirement stated in subsection (2) has been complied with.

    (9) Subsection (8) does not apply to an application for a benefit made by a person resident in an overseas country to the competent authority of that country pursuant to an agreement or convention given effect in relation to New Zealand by an Order in Council made pursuant to section 19 of the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    (10) Before or after the expiration of the period referred to in subsection (8), the chief executive may extend that period, if in any particular case he or she thinks that there is a good and sufficient reason for non-compliance with the requirement stated in subsection (2) within that period.

    (11) The combined effect of subsections (1) and (8) is that an applicant whose application for a benefit has lapsed cannot become entitled to the benefit without applying for it again and establishing his or her eligibility to receive it.

    (12) This section is subject to section 96A.

    Section 11D: inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 24 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

12 Investigation of claims and grant of benefits
  • (1) Every claim for a benefit shall be investigated by the chief executive or by an officer of the Department acting with the authority of the chief executive, and all benefits shall (subject to any delegation of the chief executive's powers under this Act) be granted by the chief executive.

    (1AA) If he or she thinks an investigation into an application for a benefit of kind A is unlikely to be completed quickly (for example, because of the need to obtain further medical evidence), the chief executive may grant the applicant a benefit of kind B to which the applicant is entitled, on the basis that a benefit of kind A will be granted retroactively if it becomes apparent that the applicant is entitled to a benefit of kind A; and in that case, if (when the investigation has been completed) it becomes apparent that the applicant is in fact entitled to a benefit of kind A, the chief executive may—

    • (a) grant the applicant a benefit of kind A commencing on the date on which it would have commenced if the investigation had been completed before the benefit of kind B was granted; and

    • (b) terminate the benefit of kind B on that date.

    (1A) The chief executive or any officer of the Department acting with the authority of the chief executive may investigate the circumstances of any person who has been in receipt of a benefit as those circumstances existed immediately before the benefit was granted or during the period that the benefit was paid.

    (2) It shall be the duty of every person (including the applicant) to answer all questions put to him by the chief executive or by any officer of the Department concerning any applicant for a benefit or any person who is or has been in receipt of a benefit or concerning any statements contained in any application for a benefit, or concerning the means, earning capacity, and economic circumstances of any person, for the purposes of section 46 or section 91 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980, or of any person who is or may be liable to maintain any applicant for a benefit or any beneficiary, or any dependant of such an applicant or of a beneficiary.

    (3) Every person commits an offence who demands or accepts from any applicant or from any other person any fee or other consideration for procuring or endeavouring to procure the grant of a benefit.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 59

    Section 12(1AA): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 25 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by omitting section 10 of.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 24 August 1979, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 14)

    Subsection (2) was amended by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46) by inserting the words or concerning the means, earning capacity, and economic circumstances of any person, for the purposes of section 8 of the Domestic Proceedings Act 1968.

    Subsection (2) was amended by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133 by inserting the words or of any person who is or may be liable to, maintain any application for a benefit or any dependant of such an applicant.

    Subsection (2) was amended by section 189(1) Family Proceedings Act 1980 (1980 No 94) by substituting section 46 or section 91 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980 for section 8 of the Domestic Proceedings Act 1968.

    Subsection (2) was amended by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58) by substituting maintain any applicant for a benefit or any beneficiary, or any dependent of such an applicant or of a beneficiary for maintain any applicant for a benefit or any dependent of such an applicant.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 24 August 1979, by section (2)(a) and (b) Social Security Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 14) by inserting the words including the applicant and the words or any person who is or as been in receipt of a benefit.

    Subsection (2) was amended by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157) by inserting the words or any person who is a liable parent within the meaning of section 27I of this Act, which were subsequently repealed by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 5) 1991 (1991 No 143).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1992, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 5) 1991 (1991 No 143) by omitting or any person who is a liable parent within the meaning of section 27I of this Act.

    The words Director-General in subsections (1) and (2) were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

Appeal Authority

  • The heading Appeal Authority was inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

12A Social Security Appeal Authority
  • (1) There is hereby established an Authority to be known as the Social Security Appeal Authority.

    (2) The Authority shall consist of 3 persons appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister given after consultation with the Minister of Justice.

    (3) One of the members shall be appointed as Chairman of the Authority.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

12B Term of office of members
  • (1) Except as otherwise provided by this Act, every member of the Appeal Authority shall hold office for a term of 3 years, and shall be eligible for reappointment from time to time.

    (2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, every member of the Appeal Authority shall, unless he sooner vacates his office under section 12C of this Act, continue in office until his successor comes into office.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

12C Extraordinary vacancies
  • (1) Any member of the Appeal Authority may at any time be removed from office by the Governor-General for inability to perform the functions of the office, bankruptcy, neglect of duty, or misconduct, proved to the satisfaction of the Governor-General, or may at any time resign his office by written notice to the Minister.

    (2) When the office of any member becomes vacant by death, resignation, or removal from office, the vacancy so created shall be filled in the manner in which the appointment to the vacant office was originally made.

    (3) Every person appointed to fill an extraordinary vacancy shall hold office for the residue of the term for which his predecessor would have held office if the vacancy had not occurred.

    (4) The powers of the Appeal Authority shall not be affected by any vacancy in its membership.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 January 2002, by section 70(1) Human Rights Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 96) by substituting inability to perform the functions of the office for disability.

12D Special Appeal Authorities
  • (1) In addition to the Appeal Authority established by section 12A of this Act, there may from time to time be established in accordance with this section one or more Special Authorities each of which shall be known as a Special Social Security Appeal Authority.

    (2) Every Special Social Security Appeal Authority shall consist of 3 persons appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister given after consultation with the Minister of Justice, and those members shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor-General.

    (3) One of the members shall be appointed as Chairman of the Authority.

    (4) Any member of a Special Social Security Appeal Authority may from time to time be reappointed, or may at any time resign his office by written notice to the Minister.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

12E Deputies of members
  • (1) In the event of the incapacity of any member of the Appeal Authority by reason of illness or absence or any other cause, the Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the Minister given after consultation with the Minister of Justice, appoint some other person qualified for appointment to act in the place of the Chairman or member, as the case may require. Every person so appointed as deputy shall, while the incapacity continues, be deemed for all purposes to be the Chairman or a member of the Authority, as the case may be.

    (2) No appointment of a deputy, and no acts done by a deputy acting as Chairman or by the Authority, while the deputy is acting as such, shall in any proceedings be questioned on the ground that the occasion for his appointment had not arisen or had ceased.

    (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the Minister given after consultation with the Minister of Justice, appoint some other person qualified for appointment to be Deputy Chairman, to act as Chairman from time to time as required.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (3) was inserted by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1980 (1980 No 158).

12F Remuneration and travelling allowances
  • (1) The Appeal Authority is hereby declared to be a statutory Board within the meaning of the Fees and Travelling Allowances Act 1951.

    (2) There shall be paid, out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, to the members of the Appeal Authority remuneration by way of fees, salary, or allowances, and travelling allowances and expenses in accordance with the Fees and Travelling Allowances Act 1951, and the provisions of that Act shall apply accordingly.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

12G Services for Appeal Authority
  • The chief executive of the Department for Courts shall designate an officer of the Department for Courts to be secretary to the Appeal Authority, and shall provide such secretarial, recording, and clerical services as may be necessary to enable the Appeal Authority to discharge its functions.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Section 12G was substituted, as from 1 July 1995, by section 10(1) Department of Justice (Restructuring) Act 1995 (1995 No 39).

12H Authority to have seal
  • The Authority shall have a seal, which shall be judicially noticed by all Courts for all purposes.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

12I Functions of Appeal Authority
  • (1) The functions of the Appeal Authority shall be to sit as a judicial authority for the determination of appeals in accordance with section 12J of this Act and section 16A of the War Pensions Act 1954.

    (2) In hearing and determining any appeal, the Appeal Authority shall have all the powers, duties, functions, and discretions that the chief executive had in respect of the same matter.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

12J Right of appeal
  • (1) Any applicant or beneficiary affected may appeal to the Appeal Authority against any decision or determination of the chief executive under—

    that has been confirmed or varied by a benefits review committee under section 10A, or that was made by the chief executive other than pursuant to a delegation.

    (1A) An applicant or beneficiary or other person may appeal to the Appeal Authority against a decision—

    • (b) that has been confirmed or varied by a benefits review committee under section 10A or that was made by the chief executive other than pursuant to a delegation.

    (1B) Subsection (1) applies to a person in respect of whom a decision or determination is made under Part 4 or under regulations made under section 155 as if the person were a beneficiary.

    (2) The Appeal Authority shall not have the authority to hear and determine any appeal on medical grounds or on grounds relating to incapacity, or capacity for work against any decision or determination of the chief executive in respect of—

    • (a) An invalid's benefit; or

    • (b) A child disability allowance under section 39A of this Act; or

    • (c) [Repealed]

    • (e) A sickness benefit.

    (3) [Repealed]

    (4) Despite subsection (1), the Appeal Authority does not have the authority to hear and determine any appeal against any decision or determination made by the chief executive under section 110 (defining job seeker development activities).

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting Director-General for Commission.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1990, by section 38(1)(a) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26) by substituting any applicant or beneficiary affected may appeal for an appeal shall lie.

    Subsection (1)(a) was substituted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 April 1990, by section 38(1)(b) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26) by omitting the expression 27ZF and sections 27ZH and.

    Subsection (1)(a) was substituted, as from 1 July 1992, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 5) 1991 (1991 No 143).

    Subsection (1)(b) was substituted, as from 1 November 1976, by section (3)(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1996 (1996 No 49) by substituting Section 124(1)(d) for Sections 124(1)(d) and 125.

    Subsection (1)(ba) was inserted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(4) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by omitting under section 10 of this Act.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 19(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by inserting or Part 2 after Part 1.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by substituting , Part 2, or Part 4 for or Part 2. See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1)(ca) was inserted, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84).

    Subsection (1)(ca) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsection (1)(e) was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by substituting section 155 for section 132B. See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 38(1)(c) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Subsection (1A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 5(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 5) 1991 (1991 No 143).

    A new subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 23 November 2000, by section 8(1) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 88).

    Subsection (1B) was inserted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (2) was amended by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58) by inserting the words or a handicapped child's allowance under section 39A of this Act.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 6(2)(a) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the words or on grounds relating to incapacity.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 19(2)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by inserting, after the words to incapacity, the words , or capacity for work.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 6(2)(b) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the word ; or.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 1 September 1998, by section 12(4)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting child disability allowance for handicapped child's allowance.

    Subsection 2(c) was repealed, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(2) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22). See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

    Subsection (2)(d) and (e) were amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 6(2)(c) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (2)(d) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by substituting section 70 of the War Pensions Act 1954 for section 8 of the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (2)(e) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 19(2)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (2)(e) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting sickness benefit for community wage on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability.

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 23 June 1987, by section 6(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106). As from 1 April 1992, a reference in subsection (3) to district review committee was replaced by a reference to benefits review committee pursuant to section 4(g) Social Security Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 15).

    Subsection (3) was repealed, as from 17 September 1997, by section 6(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    A new subsection (3) was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 16(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (3) was repealed, as from 8 March 2001, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (4) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 3 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 43(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting defining job seeker development activities for which relates to the general specification of organised activities.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

12K Procedure on appeal
  • (1) An appeal under section 12J is begun by a written notice of appeal.

    (1A) If the appeal is against a decision or determination of the chief executive confirmed or varied by a benefits review committee, the notice of appeal must be lodged with the Secretary of the Appeal Authority within—

    • (a) Three months after the applicant is notified of the confirmation or variation under section 10A(9); or

    • (b) An additional time allowed by the Appeal Authority, on an application made to it before or after the end of that period of 3 months.

    (1B) If the appeal is against a decision or determination of the chief executive made other than pursuant to a delegation, the notice of appeal must be lodged with the Secretary of the Appeal Authority within—

    • (a) Three months after the applicant is notified of the decision or determination; or

    • (b) An additional time allowed by the Appeal Authority, on an application made to it before or after the end of that period of 3 months.

    (1C) The parties to an appeal are—

    • (a) The applicant or beneficiary affected by the decision or determination; and

    • (b) The chief executive.

    (2) The notice of appeal shall state with particularity the grounds of appeal and the relief sought.

    (3) Either before or immediately after the lodging of the notice of appeal, a copy of it shall be left with or sent to the chief executive.

    (4) As soon as possible after the receipt of the copy of the notice of appeal by the chief executive, he or she shall send to the Secretary of the Appeal Authority—

    • (a) Any application, documents, written submissions, statements, reports, and other papers lodged with, received by, or prepared for, the chief executive and relating to the decision or determination appealed against;

    • (b) A copy of any notes made by or by direction of the chief executive of the evidence given at the hearing (if any) before the chief executive;

    • (c) Any exhibits in the custody of the chief executive;

    • (d) A copy of the decision or determination appealed against; and

    • (e) A report setting out the considerations to which regard was had in making the decision or determination.

    (5) The Authority may direct that a further report be lodged by the chief executive, in addition to the report sent to the Authority under paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of this section.

    (6) A copy of every report lodged pursuant to paragraph (e) of subsection (4), or subsection (5), of this section shall be given or sent forthwith to every party to the appeal, and any such party shall be entitled to be heard and to tender evidence on any matter referred to in the report.

    (7) As soon as conveniently may be after the receipt of any appeal, the Appeal Authority shall, unless it considers that the appeal can be properly determined without a hearing, fix a time and place for the hearing of the appeal, and shall give not less than 10 clear days' notice thereof to the appellant and to the chief executive.

    (8) At the hearing of any appeal the chief executive may be represented by counsel or by an officer of the Department and any other party may appear and act personally or by counsel or any duly authorised representative.

    (9) Proceedings before the Authority shall not be held bad for want of form.

    (10) Except as provided by this Act or by any regulations for the time being in force under this Act, the procedure of the Authority shall be such as the Authority may determine.

    (11) Where notice of any decision or determination in respect of which an appeal lies to the Authority has been given by post addressed to the appellant at his last known or usual address, then, for the purposes of subsections (1A) and (1B), the appellant shall be deemed to have been notified of the decision or determination at the time when the letter would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, and subsections (1A) to (1C) were inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63). See section 7(3) of that Act as to the provisions of sections 12K, 12M, 12O, and 12P of this Act applying, without modification (except for the new subsection (1C) substituted by section 7(1) of that Act), to every appeal under section 12J of the principal Act that was lodged, and has not been dealt with, before 17 September 1997.

    Subsection (1B) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by omitting under section 10.

    Subsection 4 was amended by the words he or she been substituted for it following the replacement of the original term Commission by Director-General and then by chief executive.

    Subsection (11) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 7(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by substituting subsections (1A) and (1B) for subsection (1) of this section. See section 7(3) of that Act as to the provisions of sections 12K, 12M, 12O, and 12P of this Act applying, without modification (except for the new subsection (1C) substituted by section 7(1) of that Act), to every appeal under section 12J of the principal Act that was lodged, and has not been dealt with, before 17 September 1997.

    As from 23 June 1987, references to the Commission were replaced by references to the Director-General, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

12L Expenses payable to appellants
  • If the Appeal Authority requests an appellant to appear before it and the appellant does so, the chief executive shall, out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, pay the actual and reasonable travelling and accommodation expenses (if any) incurred by the appellant.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

12M Hearing and determination of appeal
  • (1) Subject to subsection (7) of section 12K of this Act, every appeal against a decision of the chief executive shall be by way of rehearing; but where any question of fact is involved in any appeal, the evidence taken before or received by the chief executive bearing on the subject shall, subject to any special order, be brought before the Authority as follows:

    • (a) As to any evidence given orally, by the production of a copy of the notes of the chief executive or of such other material as the Authority thinks expedient:

    • (b) As to any evidence taken by affidavit and as to any exhibits, by the production of the affidavits and such of the exhibits as may have been forwarded to the Authority by the chief executive, and by the production by the parties to the appeal of such exhibits as are in their custody.

    (2) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1) of this section, on any appeal against a decision or determination of the chief executive, the Authority may rehear the whole or any part of the evidence, and shall rehear the evidence of any witness if the Authority has reason to believe that any note of the evidence of that witness made by the chief executive is or may be incomplete in any material particular.

    (3) The Authority shall have full discretionary power to hear and receive evidence or further evidence on questions of fact, either by oral evidence or by affidavit.

    (4) The Authority shall also have regard to any report lodged by the chief executive under section 12K of this Act and to any matters referred to therein and to any evidence tendered thereon, whether or not such matters would be otherwise admissible in evidence.

    (5) In the exercise of its powers under this section the Authority may receive as evidence any statement, document, information, or matter which in the opinion of the Authority may assist it to deal with the matters before it, whether or not the same would be admissible in a Court of Law.

    (6) The Authority shall, within the scope of its jurisdiction, be deemed to be a Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1908, and subject to the provisions of this Act, all the provisions of the Act, except sections 2, 10, 11, and 12, shall apply accordingly.

    (7) Subject to subsection (2) of section 12I of this Act, in the determination of any appeal the Authority may confirm, modify, or reverse the decision or determination appealed against.

    (8) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (7) of this section, the Authority may refer to the chief executive for further consideration, the whole or any part of the matter to which an appeal relates, and where any matter is so referred the Authority shall advise the chief executive of its reasons for so doing and shall give such directions as it thinks just as to the rehearing or reconsideration or otherwise of the whole or any part of the matter that is so referred.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

12N Sittings of Appeal Authority
  • (1) The presence of the Chairman and one other member shall be necessary to constitute a sitting of the Authority.

    (2) The decision of a majority of the members present at a sitting of the Authority shall be the decision of the Authority. If the said members are equally divided in opinion, the decision of the Chairman shall be the decision of the Authority.

    (3) Every sitting of the Authority shall be held in private and in such place as it considers convenient having regard to the nature of the matters to be decided:

    Provided that the Authority may, in any case if it considers that the interests of the parties to the appeal and of all other persons concerned will not be adversely affected, order that the sitting or any part of it shall be held in public.

    (4) It shall not be lawful to publish any part of the proceedings before the Appeal Authority unless in any case the Authority orders otherwise.

    (5) Every person who acts in contravention of subsection (4) of this section commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $100.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

12O Costs
  • (1) Where an appeal is allowed in whole or in part, or the whole or any part of the matter is referred back to the chief executive, the Authority may allow the appellant the costs of bringing the appeal or any part thereof.

    (2) Where any appeal is not allowed, no award of costs shall be made against the appellant unless in the opinion of the Authority the appeal was frivolous or vexatious or one that ought not to have been brought.

    (3) The amount of costs awarded shall be stated in the order.

    (4) Where under this section an award of costs is made and any sum remains unpaid, the person in whose favour the award or order was made may obtain from the Secretary of the Authority a certificate under seal of the sum awarded. When any such certificate is filed in a District Court it may be enforced as to the amount specified therein that is still owing as if it were a judgment of that Court.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

12OA Costs incurred by Authority
  • Where an appeal is allowed in whole or in part the Authority, if it considers it appropriate, may require the Department to pay a sum fixed by the Authority to cover all or part of the costs incurred by the Authority in hearing and determining the appeal.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

12P Notice of decision
  • On the determination of any appeal, the Secretary shall send to the chief executive and to the appellant a memorandum of the Authority's decision and the reasons for the decision, and the chief executive shall forthwith take all necessary steps to carry into effect the decision of the Authority.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

12Q Appeals to High Court on questions of law only
  • (1) Where any party to any proceedings before the Authority is dissatisfied with any determination of the Authority as being erroneous in point of law, he may appeal to the High Court by way of case stated for the opinion of the Court on a question of law only.

    (2) [Repealed]

    (3) Within 14 days after the date of the determination the appellant shall lodge a notice of appeal with the Secretary of the Authority. The appellant shall forthwith deliver or post a copy of the notice to every other party to the proceedings.

    (4) Within 14 days after the lodging of the notice of appeal, or within such further time as the Chairman of the Authority may in his discretion allow, the appellant shall state in writing and lodge with the Secretary of the Authority a case setting out the facts and the grounds of the determination and specifying the question of law on which the appeal is made. The appellant shall forthwith deliver or post a copy of the case to every other party to the proceedings.

    (5) As soon as practicable after the lodging of the case, the Secretary of the Authority shall submit it to the Chairman of the Authority.

    (6) The Chairman shall, as soon as practicable, and after hearing the parties if he considers it necessary to do so, settle the case, sign it, send it to the Registrar of the High Court at Wellington, and make a copy available to each party.

    (7) The settling and signing of the case by the Chairman shall be deemed to be the statement of the case by the Authority.

    (8) If within 14 days after the lodging of the notice of appeal, or within such time as may be allowed, the appellant does not lodge a case pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, the Chairman of the Authority may certify that the appeal has not been prosecuted.

    (9) The Court or a Judge thereof may in its or his discretion, on the application of the appellant or intending appellant, extend any time prescribed or allowed under this section for the lodging of a notice of appeal or the stating of any case.

    (10) Subject to the provisions of this section, the case shall be dealt with in accordance with rules of Court.

    Sections 12A to 12R were inserted, as from 1 May 1974, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 15 August 1991, by section 3(4) Judicature Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 60)

12R Appeals to Court of Appeal

National superannuation

13 National Superannuation
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 13 to 18 were substituted, as from 9 February 1977, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Sections 13 to 15 were repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(18) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

14 Residential qualifications for national superannuation
  • [Repealed]

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 20 October 1972, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Subsection (2)(e) was inserted, as from 1 January 1970, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46).

    Sections 13 to 18 were substituted, as from 9 February 1977, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 13 to 15 were repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(18) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

15 Rates of national superannuation
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 13 to 18 were substituted, as from 9 February 1977, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Sections 13 to 15 were repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(18) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

16 Special provisions in respect of married couples where one spouse not entitled to national superannuation
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 13 to 18 were substituted, as from 9 February 1977, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Section 16 was repealed, as from 1 April 1989, by section 29 Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 13).

17 Commencement and payment of national superannuation
  • [Repealed]

    Section 17 was substituted, as from 20 October 1972, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Sections 13 to 18 were substituted, as from 9 February 1977, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Section 17 was repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(18) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

18 Termination of national superannuation on death of recipient
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 13 to 18 were substituted, as from 9 February 1977, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Section 18 was repealed, as from 28 September 1982 by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

19 Special allowance for South African War veterans
  • [Repealed]

    Section 19 was repealed, as from 20 October 1972, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    A new section 19 was inserted, as from 9 February 1977, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Section 19 was repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(18) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

20
  • [Repealed]

    Section 20 was repealed, as from 9 February 1977, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

Widows' benefits

21 Widows' benefits
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act,—

    • (a) Every widow who is the mother of one or more dependent children; and

    • (b) Every widow (not being a widow to whom paragraph (a) of this subsection applies) who satisfies the following conditions, namely:

      • (i) That she has had one or more children; and

      • (ii) That the duration of her marriage (or, if she was married more than once, the aggregate of the periods of the duration of her marriages) was not less than 15 years, or, in the alternative, that the aggregate of the periods of the duration of her marriage or marriages and any subsequent period during which she had the care and control of at least one of her children under 16 years of age was not less than 15 years; and

    • (c) Every widow who, on the expiration of not less than 5 years after the date of her marriage, became a widow after she had attained the age of 50 years; and

    • (d) Every widow (not being a widow to whom paragraph (c) of this subsection applies) who satisfies all of the following conditions, namely:

      • (i) That she is not less than 50 years of age;

      • (ii) That she became a widow after she had attained the age of 40 years;

      • (iii) That the duration of her marriage (or, if she was married more than once, the aggregate of the periods of the duration of her marriages) was not less than 10 years; and

      • (iv) That not less than 15 years has elapsed since the date of her marriage or, if she was married more than once, the date of her first marriage,—

    shall be entitled to receive a widow's benefit under this Act.

    (2) An applicant for a widow's benefit must meet the residential requirements in section 74AA.

    (2A) A woman who receives a benefit under this section must—

    • (b) comply with any other obligation arising under any of sections 60Q to 60S.

    (2B) [Repealed]

    (2C) [Repealed]

    (2D) [Repealed]

    (3) [Repealed]

    (4) [Repealed]

    (5) [Repealed]

    (6) For the purposes of this section, the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, regard a dependent child as being a child of an applicant, and the applicant as being the mother of the child, if—

    • (a) the child—

      • (i) is being maintained by the applicant; and

      • (ii) was at any time maintained by the applicant's husband; or

    • (b) section 28(a) or 29(b) applies to the child; or

    • (c) the child's parents are unwilling to support the child because of circumstances the chief executive considers exceptional.

    (7) For the purpose of determining eligibility for a benefit under this section, a woman whose civil union partner or de facto partner has died is treated in the same way as a widow is treated, and her civil union partner or de facto partner is treated in the same way as a husband of a widow is treated.

    (8) For the purpose of this section,—

    • (a) a reference in this section to a marriage must be read as a reference to a marriage or civil union or de facto relationship; and

    • (b) a reference in this section to being married must be read as a reference to being married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship; and

    • (c) a reference in this section to a date of a marriage must be read as a reference to the date of a marriage or of entering into a civil union or a de facto relationship.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 22; 1945 No 11 s 9(c); 1952 No 81 s 15

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 January 1984, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 138) by omitting under 16 years of age.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 10(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsections (2A) to (2C) were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (2A) was substituted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 6 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Subsection (2B) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 20(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (2B) was repealed, as from 10 March 2003, by section 6 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Subsection (2C) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by 20(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting an exemption from the work test for , under section 60HD of this Act, an exemption from complying with section 60HC of this Act.

    Subsection (2C) was repealed, as from 10 March 2003, by section 6 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Subsection (2D), originally numbered (2A), was inserted, as from 23 June 1987, by section 9 Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (2D) was renumbered, as from 1 April 1997, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (2D), was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 59 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (2D) was repealed, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21). See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    Subsection (3)(a) was substituted by section 12(2) Status of Children Act 1969 (1969 No 18) and repealed by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Subsection (3)(b)(iii) was amended by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123) by inserting the word or.

    Subsection (3)(b)(iv) was inserted by section 3(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Subsections (3) and (4) were repealed, as from 2 July 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsection (5) was repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 37(2) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Subsection (6) was amended by section 7(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58) by substituting The for Notwithstanding anything in subsection (3) of this section, the.

    The words Director-General in subsection (6) were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Subsection (6) was substituted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsections (7) and (8) were inserted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsections (7) and (8) were repealed, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21). See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

22
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 22 and 23 were repealed, as from 14 November 1973, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

23
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 22 and 23 were repealed, as from 14 November 1973, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

24 Rates of widows' benefits
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the rate of the widow's benefit payable to any beneficiary shall be the appropriate rate specified in Schedule 3.

    (2) [Repealed]

    (3) [Repealed]

    Subsections (2) and (3) were repealed, as from 14 November 1973, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Section 24 was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Section 24 was amended, as from 1 February 1999, by section 60 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting Schedule 3 for Schedule 3 to this Act.

25
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 25 and 26 were repealed, as from 14 November 1973, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

26
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 25 and 26 were repealed, as from 14 November 1973, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

27 Continuation of benefit when benefit ceases to be payable in respect of children
  • [Repealed]

    Section 27 was repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 37(2) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

Domestic purposes benefits

  • The heading Domestic Purposes Benefits was inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

27A Interpretation
  • (1) [Repealed]

    (2) [Repealed]

    (3) For the purposes of sections 27B to 27D and Schedule 16, the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, regard a dependent child as being a child of an applicant, and the applicant as being the mother or father of the child, if—

    • (a) the child—

      • (i) is being maintained by the applicant; and

      • (ii) was at any time maintained by the applicant's spouse or partner; or

    • (b) section 28(a) or 29(b) applies to the child; or

    • (c) the child's parents are unwilling to support the child because of circumstances the chief executive considers exceptional.

    Sections 27A to 27H were inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (1) Children: paragraph (b)(iii) was amended by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123) by inserting or.

    Subsection (1) Children: paragraph (b)(iv) was inserted by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Subsection (1) Husband: this definition was repealed, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21). See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    Subsections (1) and (2) were repealed, as from 2 July 2007, by section 6 Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsection (3)(a) was repealed, as from 1 October 1986, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39).

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting Director-General for Commission. The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) of that Act.

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or civil union partner after the word wife.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or wife or civil union partner. See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 6 Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

27B Domestic purposes benefits for solo parents
  • (1) In this section the term applicant means—

    • (a) A woman who is the mother of one or more dependent children and who is living apart from, and has lost the support of or is being inadequately maintained by, her spouse or partner:

    • (b) a single woman who is the mother of 1 or more dependent children:

    • (c) a woman whose marriage or civil union has been dissolved, and who is the mother of 1 or more dependent children:

    • (d) [Repealed]

    • (e) a woman who is the mother of 1 or more dependent children and who has lost the regular support of her spouse or partner because he or she is subject to a sentence of imprisonment and is—

      • (i) serving the sentence in a penal institution; or

      • (ii) subject to release conditions (as that term is defined in section 4(1) of the Parole Act 2002) that prevent him or her undertaking employment:

      • (iii) serving the sentence on home detention, subject to detention conditions that prevent him or her undertaking employment:

    • (ea) a woman who is the mother of 1 or more dependent children and who has lost the regular support of her spouse or partner because he or she is subject to a sentence of supervision, intensive supervision, or home detention and is subject to conditions (including post-detention conditions of a sentence of home detention) that prevent him or her from undertaking employment:

    • (f) A man who is the father of 1 or more dependent children whose mother is dead or who for any other reason are not being cared for by their mother.

    (2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, an applicant shall be entitled to receive a domestic purposes benefit if the chief executive is satisfied that—

    • (aa) the applicant meets the residential requirements in section 74AA; and

    • (a) The applicant either—

      • (i) is or has been legally married or in a civil union; or

      • (ii) Has attained the age of 18 years; and

    • (b) The applicant is caring for a dependent child or children; and

    • (c) the applicant is not living together with his or her spouse or partner or with the other parent of the child, as the case may be.

    (2A) A person who receives a benefit under this section must—

    • (b) comply with any other obligation arising under any of sections 60Q to 60S.

    (2B) [Repealed]

    (2C) [Repealed]

    (3) [Repealed]

    (4) [Repealed]

    (5) [Repealed]

    (6) [Repealed]

    Sections 27A to 27H were inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or civil union partner.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or civil union partner. See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting a woman who is not married or in a civil union and for An unmarried woman.

    Subsection (1)(b) was substituted, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21). See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    Subsection (1)(c) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsection (1)(d) was repealed, as from 9 February 1977, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Subsection (1)(e) was amended, as from 1 September 1993, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 45) by inserting or of his release, following imprisonment, to a habilitation centre (as defined in section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1985).

    Subsection (1)(e) was substituted, as from 30 June 2002, by section 125 Parole Act 2002 (2002 No 10). See clause 2 Parole Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/177).

    Subsection (1)(e) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsection (1)(e) was substituted, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21). See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    Subsection (1)(e)(i) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting prison for penal institution. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Section 27B(1)(e)(ii): substituted, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

    Section 27B(1)(e)(iii): added, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

    Section 27B(1)(ea): inserted, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

    Subsection (1)(f) was substituted by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (2) was substituted by section 11(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106). Paragraph (a) was substituted by section 4(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2)(aa) was inserted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 10(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsection (2)(a)(i) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsection (2)(c) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or his or her civil union partner after wife.

    Subsection (2)(c) was substituted, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21). See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    Subsections (2A) to (2C) were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 6 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (2A) was substituted, as from 1 February 1999, by section 61 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (2A) was substituted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 7 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Subsection (2B) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 21(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (2B) was repealed, as from 10 March 2003, by section 7 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Subsection (2C) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 21(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting an exemption from the work test for , under section 60HD of this Act, an exemption from complying with section 60HC of this Act.

    Subsection (2C) was repealed, as from 10 March 2003, by section 7 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Subsection (3) was repealed, as from 9 February 1977, by section 5(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Subsection (4) was repealed, as from 23 December 1977, by section 5(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133).

    Subsections (5) and (6) were repealed, as from 9 February 1977, by section 5(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    As from 1 October 1998, the reference in this section to Director-General was replaced by a reference to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

27BA Split custody
  • (1) If the parents of 2 or more dependent children—

    • (a) Are living apart; and

    • (b) Each parent is the principal caregiver of 1 or more of the children; and

    • (c) Both parents are otherwise entitled to a domestic purposes benefit—

    only 1 parent shall be entitled to a domestic purposes benefit in respect of the children.

    (2) The parent entitled to a domestic purposes benefit under subsection (1) of this section shall be—

    • (a) The parent already receiving a domestic purposes benefit in respect of any of the children; or

    • (b) The parent whom the chief executive considers was the principal caregiver in respect of the children immediately before the parents began living apart, if no parent is already receiving a domestic purposes benefit in respect of any of the children; or

    • (c) The parent who is the principal caregiver in respect of the youngest child, if neither parent was the principal caregiver in respect of the children before they began living apart, or the chief executive is unable to ascertain which parent was the principal caregiver in respect of the children immediately before they began living apart.

    (3) This section shall not apply where each parent has become the principal caregiver in respect of at least 1 child under 1 or more orders made by a Court of competent jurisdiction, and about the role of providing day-to-day care for children.

    (4) This section shall apply only to a person who applies for a domestic purposes benefit on or after the 1st day of October 1991, or where the Department was not notified before the 1st day of October 1991 that each parent was the principal caregiver in respect of 1 or more of the children.

    (5) In this section, child means a dependent child of the parents—

    • (a) born of their relationship; or

    • (b) adopted by the parents or by 1 of the parents during their marriage or civil union or de facto relationship.

    Section 27BA was inserted by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 151 Care of Children Act 2004 (2004 No 90) by substituting under 1 or more orders made by a Court of competent jurisdiction, and about the role of providing day-to-day care for children for pursuant to a custody order or orders made by a Court of competent jurisdiction.

    Subsection (5) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsection (5)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by adding or de facto relationship. See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

27C Domestic purposes benefits for women alone
  • (1) In this section—

    Marriage includes a relationship in the nature of marriage although the 2 parties to the relationship are not legally married

    relative in relation to any person (person A) means any of the following

    • (a) a parent or step-parent of person A:

    • (b) a child of person A or a stepchild of person A who is over the age of 16 years:

    • (c) a grandparent or great grandparent of person A:

    • (d) a sister or brother or stepsister or stepbrother of person A:

    • (f) an aunt or uncle of person A:

    • (g) a child of a brother or sister of person A, or of a person with whom a brother or sister of person A is in a marriage or civil union or de facto relationship:

    • (h) a child of an uncle or aunt of person A, or of a person with whom an uncle or aunt of the person is in a marriage or civil union or de facto relationship

    Relative: this definition was amended, as from 13 January 1994, by the Gazette 13 January 1994 p 59 by substituting child or stepchild over the age of 16 years for child or stepchild over the age of 15 years.

    relative: this definition was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    relative: paragraphs (g) and (h) of this definition were amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by adding or de facto relationship. See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    woman alone means a woman who has never been married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship, or who has lost the support of her spouse or partner

    Woman alone: this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a civil union after the word married.

    Woman alone: this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by adding or civil union partner.

    Woman alone: this definition was substituted, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21). See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    (2) The Minister may from time to time, by notice in the Gazette, amend the definition of the term relative in subsection (1) of this section by—

    • (a) Inserting any other class of relative:

    • (b) Omitting any class of relative—

    and every such notice shall have effect according to its tenor.

    (3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a woman alone with no dependent children shall be entitled to receive a domestic purposes benefit if—

    • (a) She has had the care and control of one or more dependent children for not less than 15 years and ceased to have the care and control of such child or children after she had attained the age of 50 years; or

    • (b) She has had one or more children and the aggregate of the periods during which she was married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship and any subsequent period during which she had the care and control of at least one of her dependent children was not less than 15 years, and she ceased to have the care and control of such a child after she had attained the age of 50 years; or

    • (c) She was married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship for not less than 5 years and lost the support of her spouse or partner after she had attained the age of 50 years; or

    • (d) She had the responsibility for the full-time care and attention of an incapacitated relative for not less than 5 years and ceased to have responsibility for the said relative after she had attained the age of 50 years.

    (4) A woman who receives a benefit under this section must—

    • (b) comply with any other obligation arising under any of sections 60Q to 60S.

    (5) [Repealed]

    (6) [Repealed]

    Sections 27A to 27H were inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Section 27C was inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 23 December 1977, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting during which she was married or in a civil union for of the duration of her marriage or marriages.

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union. See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    Subsection (3)(c) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting married or in a civil union for married.

    Subsection (3)(c) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or civil union partner after husband.

    Subsection (3)(c) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union. See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    Subsection (3)(c) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or civil union partner. See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    Subsection (4) was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 February 1999, by section 62 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting full-time employment for part-time work in both places where they appear.

    Subsection (4) was substituted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 8 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Subsection (5) was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (5) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 22(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (5) was repealed, as from 10 March 2003, by section 8 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Subsection (6) was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 22(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting an exemption from the work test for , under section 60HD of this Act, an exemption from complying with section 60HC of this Act.

    Subsection (6) was repealed, as from 10 March 2003, by section 8 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

27D Applicants for domestic purposes benefits for women alone to meet residential qualifications in section 74AA
  • An applicant for a benefit under section 27C must meet the residential requirements in section 74AA.

    Sections 27A to 27H were inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsections (1)(a), (1)(b) and (2)(a) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or civil union partner after husband.

    Subsections (1)(a), (1)(b) and (2)(a) were amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or civil union partner. See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    Subsection (2)(d) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Section 27D was substituted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 10(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

27E Continuation of benefit when benefit ceases to be payable in respect of children
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27A to 27H were inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Section 27E was repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 37(2) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) 1990 (1990 No 26).

27F Special provisions as to maintenance
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27A to 27H were inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    The words District Court were substituted for Magistrate's Court, as from 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 18(1) District Courts Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 125).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 27F was repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 5) 1991 (1991 No 143).

27G Domestic purposes benefits for care at home of sick or infirm
  • (1) In this section, patient means any sick or infirm person receiving the full time care and attention of an applicant for a domestic purposes benefit.

    (2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, an applicant who has attained the age of 16 years and meets the residential requirements in section 74AA is entitled to receive a domestic purposes benefit under this section if the chief executive is satisfied that the applicant is required to give full time care and attention at home to some other person (other than the applicant's spouse or partner) who would otherwise have to receive—

    • (c) care of a kind equivalent to any of those kinds of care.

    (2A) An applicant aged 16 or 17 years must not be granted a domestic purposes benefit under this section unless the chief executive is satisfied, having regard to the circumstances of the applicant, the person he or she is giving care and attention to, and their families, that no other caregiver is reasonably available to care for the other person.

    (3) Every application for a domestic purposes benefit under this section shall be supported by the certificate of a medical practitioner certifying that the patient requires the full-time care and attention of the applicant and that but for that care and attention the patient would have to receive such services; and the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, require that the patient be examined by a medical practitioner to be nominated by the chief executive for the purpose, who shall determine whether the patient would, but for the full-time care and attention of the applicant, have to receive such services.

    (4) Any benefit granted under this section may, in the discretion of the chief executive, be continued for any period not exceeding 4 weeks notwithstanding that the patient was not during that period in the full-time care of the beneficiary.

    (4A) It is a condition of a benefit under this section that the beneficiary shall attend and participate in a mandatory interview if requested to do so under section 60HA of this Act.

    (5) [Repealed]

    Sections 27A to 27H were inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 October 2002 by section 58(1) Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 (2001 No 93) by substituting receive hospital care within the meaning of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 for be admitted to hospital within the meaning of section 88 of this Act. See section 11 of that Act for transitional provisions.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or civil union partner after wife.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or wife or civil union partner. See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting in the Director-General's discretion for in its discretion.

    Subsection (3) was amended pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting Director-General's for chief executive's.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 October 2002 by section 58(1) Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 (2001 No 93) by substituting receive such services for be admitted to such a hospital in both places that they occur. See section 11 of that Act for transitional provisions.

    Subsection (4A) was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (5) was repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 37(2) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for section Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

27H Rates of domestic purposes benefits
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and to section 70A of this Act, the rate of domestic purposes benefit payable to any beneficiary under section 27B or section 27C of this Act shall be the appropriate rate specified in Schedule 16.

    (1A) [Repealed]

    (1B) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the rate of domestic purposes benefit payable to any beneficiary under section 27G of this Act shall be the appropriate rate specified in Schedule 17 to this Act.

    (2) In determining the rate of domestic purposes benefit payable to any applicant to whom paragraph (e), or paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of section 27B, or section 27C, of this Act applies, such income of the spouse or partner of the applicant (including any pension or allowance under the War Pensions Act 1954) as the chief executive considers reasonable in the circumstances, having regard to the nature of the income and the means by which it was derived, shall be taken into account as if it were income derived by the applicant.

    Sections 27A to 27H were inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, and subsections (1A) and (1B) inserted, as from 23 June 1987, by section 12(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 25 July 1990, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74) by substituting section 70A of this Act for subsection (1A) of this section.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 February 1999, by section 63 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting Schedule 16 for Schedule 16 to this Act.

    Subsection (1A) was repealed, as from 25 July 1990, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74).

    Subsection (1B) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2) was amended by section 6(1)(a) and (b) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40) by omitting paragraph (d),, and by inserting or section 27C.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or civil union partner after wife.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or wife or civil union partner. See section 6 of that Act as to the transitional provision regarding relationships in the nature of marriage.

    The words Director-General in subsection (2) were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

Contribution towards cost of domestic purposes benefits for solo parents

  • The heading Contribution towards cost of domestic purposes benefits for solo parents was inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

  • The heading Contribution towards cost of domestic purposes benefits for solo parents was repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27I Interpretation
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsection (1) Benefit: this definition was amended, as from 13 January 1982, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 154) by inserting the words , otherwise than to an applicant to whom subsection (1)(e) of that subsection applies.

    Subsection (1) Benefit: substituted, as from 1 October 1986, by section 14(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39).

    Subsection (1) Benefit: further substituted, as from 25 July 1990, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74).

    Subsection (1) Benefit: paragraph (c)(iv) was substituted, and paragraph (d) was inserted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    Subsection (1) Child supplement: repealed, as from 1 October 1986, by section 14(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39).

    Subsection (1) Court: amended, as from 1 October 1981, by section 17(1) Family Courts Act 1980 (1980 No 161) by inserting or Family Court.

    Subsection (1) Dependent Child: substituted, as from 16 December 1983, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 138)

    Subsection (1) Dependent Child: repealed, as from 1 October 1986, by section 6(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39).

    Subsection (1) Employer: inserted, as from 16 December 1983, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 138).

    Subsection (1) Employer: substituted, as from 12 December 1985, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 159).

    Gross earnings: repealed, as from 1 October 1987, by section 13(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (1) Salary or wages: substituted, as from 12 December 1985, by section 3(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 159).

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 23 June 1987, by section 13(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 23 June 1987, by section 12(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by inserting the words section 27H and of.

    Subsection (2)(ba) was inserted, as from 23 June 1987, by section 13(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (2)(e) was substituted, as from 26 October 1988, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

    Subsection (5) was inserted, as from 16 December 1983, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 138).

    Subsection (5) was repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    A new subsection (5) was inserted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 6(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    Subsection (6) was inserted, as from 26 October 1988, by section 3(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27J Maintenance order or agreement suspended while benefit is paid
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsections (1) and (2) were amended, as from 13 January 1983, by section 3(a) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 154) by omitting registered.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 13 January 1983, by section 3(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (No 2) (1982 No 154) by substituting beneficiary or any child for beneficiary and any child.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 13 January 1983, by section 3(c) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (No 2) (1982 No 154)

    by substituting on for from.

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 12 December 1985, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 159).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 October 1987, by section 14(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 25 July 1990, by section 6 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74) by substituting benefit for domestic purposes benefit under section 27B of this Act.

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27K Liable Parent to contribute towards cost of benefit and child supplement
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from, 16 December 1983, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 138) by substituting $15 for $10.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting $5 for $15.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 25 July 1990, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74) by substituting $10 for $5.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 16 December 1983, by section 5(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 138) by inserting on the 28th day.

    Subsection (2A) was amended, as from 16 December 1983, by section 5(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 138).

    Subsection (5) was inserted, as from 26 October 1988, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27L Director-General to give liable parent notice of grant of benefit
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 October 1987, by section 16(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 25 July 1990, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74) by substituting of the grant of a benefit for in the prescribed form of the grant of a domestic purposes benefit under section 27B of this Act.

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27M Liable parent to notify Director General of gross earnings, etc
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by section 17(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting total income for gross earnings.

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 1 October 1987, by section 17(1)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by section 17(1)(c) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by omitting or subsection (2).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by section 17(1)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting weekly income for gross earnings.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by section 17(1)(e) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting total annual income for gross earnings.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by section 17(1)(f) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by omitting subsection (2) or.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by section 17(1)(g) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting total income for gross earnings.

    Subsection (5) was substituted, as from 26 October 1988, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27N Director-General to assess contribution and notify liable parent
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 28 September 1982, by section 6 Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16) by inserting the words section 27K of and.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by section 17(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting weekly income for gross earnings.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 26 October 1988, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 25 July 1990, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74) by omitting in the prescribed form.

    The proviso to subsection (2) was inserted, as from 26 October 1988, by section 6(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

27O Notice of objection
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsections (1) and (2) were substituted, as from 13 January 1983, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 154).

    Subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 26 October 1988, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 13 January 1983, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 154) by substituting objector for liable parent.

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27P Grounds on which objection may be made
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Paragraph (b) was amended, as from 16 December 1983, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 138) by substituting Subject to section 27I(5) of this Act, that, in respect of for That, in respect of.

    Paragraph (c) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by section 17(3)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting weekly income for gross earnings.

    The proviso to paragraph (c) was repealed, as from 1 October 1987, by section 17(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Paragraph (b)(iv) was amended, as from 13 January 1983, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 154) by inserting the words (not being or relating to the financial ability of the objector to pay any contribution fixed by section 27K(1) of this Act or properly assessed in accordance with Schedule 12 to this Act).

    The words Director-General in paragraph (c) were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Paragraph (d) was substituted, and paragraph (e) was repealed, as from 26 October 1988, by section 8(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

    Paragraph (f) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by section 29(7) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by omitting or clause 5.

    Paragraph (f) was repealed, as from 26 October 1988, by section 8(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27Q Procedure to be followed where objection received
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27R Hearing of objection by Court
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsections (2), (3), (4) and (6) were amended, as from 13 January 1983, by section 4(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 154) by substituting objector for liable parent.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27S Findings of Court
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 October 1988, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147) by omitting or, as the case may require, that the objector is not liable in law to maintain that child.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by substituting weekly income for gross earnings.

    Subsection (4) was substituted, and subsections (5) and (6) were repealed, as from 26 October 1988, by section 9(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by section 29(8) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by omitting or clause 5.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27T Appeal from decisions of Courts
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27U Proceedings not open to public
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27V Restriction of publication of reports
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27W Costs
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27X Recovery of unpaid contributions
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27Y Deduction notices
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27Z Effect of deduction notices
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1981, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1981 (1981 No 46) by substituting 27Y for 27N.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 October 1987, by section 17 Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting 10 for 5.

    Subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 26 October 1988, by section 10 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

    Section 27Z(2A) (as saved by section 256(a) Child Support Act 1991 (1991 No 142)) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by substituting equal to for not greater than, and by inserting the words , or the amount the Director-General assesses, having regard to all the liable parent's financial circumstances and commitments, the liable parent can reasonably afford to pay on a periodical basis, whichever is the greater. See the historic information below for the amended version of this section.

27ZA Liability of employer
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27ZB Protected earnings
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    The reference to section 4 of the Holidays Act 1981, in subsection (2) was substituted, as from 1 February 1982, for a reference to s 2 of the Annual Holidays Act 1944 pursuant to section 36(1) Holidays Act 1981 (1981 No 15).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27ZC Variation or discharge of deduction notice
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 12 December 1985, by section Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 159) by substituting employer or for employer of.

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27ZD Transaction fee
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27ZE Wrongful treatment of employee
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27ZF Extent to which deduction notices bind the Crown
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27ZG Relief in cases of serious hardship
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsection (2) was inserted, as from 25 July 1990, by section 10 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27ZH Review of contributions
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

27ZI Service of notices, etc, by Director-General
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were inserted, as from 1 April 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 157).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 19 March 1990, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1990 (1990 No 5) by substituting prepaid for registered.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 19 March 1990, by section 3(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1990 (1990 No 5) by inserting the words prepaid letter or.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 27I to 27ZI were repealed, as from 1 July 1992, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

Orphans' benefits

28 Orphans' benefits
  • A person who is a principal caregiver in respect of a dependent child shall be entitled to receive an orphan's benefit in respect of that child if—

    • (a) Each of the child's natural or adoptive parents is dead, or cannot be found, or suffers a serious long-term disablement which renders him or her unable to care for the child; and

    • (b) The applicant is likely to be the principal caregiver in respect of the child for at least 1 year from the date of application for the benefit; and

    • (c) The applicant is aged 18 years or over; and

    • (d) Either—

      • (i) The child is both resident and present in New Zealand; or

      • (ii) The applicant has been both resident and present in New Zealand for a continuous period of 12 months at any time.

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 20 October 1972, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Subsection (3) was repealed, as from 1 January 1970, by section 12(2) Status of Children Act 1969 (1969 No 18).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 28 and 29 were substituted, as from 1 October 1990, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74).

    Section 28 was substituted, as from 1 April 1991, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

29 Unsupported child's benefit
  • A person who is a principal caregiver in respect of a dependent child shall be entitled to receive an unsupported child's benefit in respect of the child if—

    • (a) That person is not the natural parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent of the child; and

    • (b) Because of a breakdown in the child's family, no natural parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent of the child is able to care for the child or to provide fully for the child's support; and

    • (c) The applicant is likely to be the principal caregiver in respect of the child for at least 1 year from the date of application for the benefit; and

    • (d) The applicant is aged 18 years or over; and

    • (e) Either—

      • (i) The child is both resident and present in New Zealand; or

      • (ii) The applicant has been both resident and present in New Zealand for a continuous period of 12 months at any time.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 28 and 29 were substituted, as from 1 October 1990, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74).

    Section 29 was substituted, as from 1 April 1991, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

29A Rates of orphan's benefit and unsupported child's benefit
  • (1) The rate of the orphan's benefit and the rate of the unsupported child's benefit payable in respect of any orphan or unsupported child shall in each case be fixed by the chief executive, but shall not in any case exceed the appropriate rate specified in Schedule 4 to this Act.

    Section 29A was inserted, as from 1 October 1990, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74)

    As from 1 October 1998, the reference in this section to Director-General was replaced by a reference to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

30 Period for which orphan's benefit payable
  • [Repealed]

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 30 was repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 37(2) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

31 Orphan's benefit and unsupported child's benefit to be used for benefit of child
  • Every orphan's benefit and every unsupported child's benefit shall, as the chief executive determines, be paid to the person having the care and control of the child, or to some other reputable person, and shall be applied towards the maintenance or education of the child or otherwise for his benefit.

    Section 31 was amended, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting Director-General for Commission.

    Section 31 was amended, as from 1 October 1990, by section 12(1) Social Security Amendment (No 2) Act 1990 (1990 No 74) by inserting the words and every unsupported child's benefit

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

Family benefits

32 Family benefits
  • [Repealed]

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 32 to 39 were repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

33 Residential qualifications for family benefit
  • [Repealed]

    The words Director-General in paragraph (c) were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 32 to 39 were repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

34 Rate of family benefits
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 32 to 39 were repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

35 Period for which family benefit payable
  • [Repealed]

    Section 35 was substituted, as from 20 October 1972, by section 9 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 32 to 39 were repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

36 Advance payments of family benefit
  • [Repealed]

    Subsection (1)(b) was substituted, as from 3 December 1970, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1970 (1970 No 149).

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 3 December 1970, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1970 (1970 No 149).

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 32 to 39 were repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

37 Person to whom family benefit payable
  • [Repealed]

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 32 to 39 were repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

38 Family benefit to be expended for maintenance of children
  • [Repealed]

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 32 to 39 were repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

39 Payment of family benefit not to restrict right to maintenance, compensation, or damages
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 32 to 39 were repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

Child disability allowance

  • This heading was substituted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 12(5) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). The heading previously read Handicapped Child's Allowance.

39A Child disability allowance
  • (1) For the purposes of this section and of sections 39B to 39F of this Act, child with a serious disability means a dependent child who—

    • (a) Has a physical or mental disability;

    • (b) Because of that disability needs constant care and attention; and

    • (c) Is likely to need such care and attention permanently or for a period exceeding 12 months.

    (2) In determining for the purposes of subsection (1)(b) of this section whether a child with a serious disability needs constant care and attention the chief executive shall consider whether the child requires—

    • (a) From another person, frequent attention in connection with his bodily functions; or

    • (b) Attention and supervision substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age and sex; or

    • (c) Regular supervision from another person in order to avoid substantial danger to himself or others.

    (3) Subject to the provisions of this section and of sections 39B to 39E of this Act, the chief executive may grant a child disability allowance in respect of a child with a serious disability being cared for—

    • (a) In a private home that is the residence of the person caring for that child; or

    • (b) In a home or hostel operated by an approved voluntary organisation if the child's parent or guardian is required to contribute to the cost of maintaining him in that home or hostel and the child is cared for by his parent or guardian during school holidays or weekends.

    Sections 39A to 39F were inserted, as from 18 October 1978, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1991, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1) by substituting dependent child for child in respect of whom a family benefit or orphan's benefit is payable under this Part of this Act, or in respect of whom a war pension is payable under the War Pensions Act 1954, and.

    Subsections (1) to (3) were amended, as from 1 September 1998, by section 12(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting child with a serious disability for seriously handicapped child. See section 12(3) of that Act as to every handicapped child's allowance that was payable immediately before 1 September 1998 becoming, on that date, a child disability allowance under this section.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 September 1998, by section 12(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting child disability allowance for handicapped child's allowance. See section 12(3) of that Act as to every handicapped child's allowance that was payable immediately before 1 September 1998 becoming, on that date, a child disability allowance under this section (as amended by section 12).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

39B Rate of child disability allowance
  • The rate of a child disability allowance granted under section 39A of this Act shall be the rate specified in Schedule 19 to this Act.

    Sections 39A to 39F were inserted, as from 18 October 1978, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Section 39B was amended, as from 1 September 1998, by section 12(4)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting child disability allowance for handicapped child's allowance.

39C Medical examination may be required
  • (1) The chief executive may determine that an application for a child disability allowance be supported by the certificate of a medical practitioner certifying whether or not, in the opinion of the medical practitioner, the child in respect of whom the application is made is a child with a serious disability within the meaning of subsections (1) and (2) of section 39A of this Act.

    (2) Before an application for a child disability allowance is granted, the chief executive may require the child in respect of whom the application is made to be examined by a medical practitioner nominated by the chief executive for the purpose.

    Sections 39A to 39F were inserted, as from 18 October 1978, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Section 39C was amended, as from 1 September 1998, by section 12(4)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting child disability allowance for handicapped child's allowance. It was amended by section 12(4)(b) of that Act by substituting child with a serious disability for seriously handicapped child.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

39D Child disability allowance not payable with other benefit or pension
  • A child disability allowance shall not be payable under this Act in addition to—

    • (a) Any benefit which is granted to the child under this Act, apart from an unsupported child's benefit or an orphan's benefit or a disability allowance:

    • (b) Any pension or allowance which is granted to the child under the War Pensions Act 1954, apart from a child's war pension or a war orphan's pension:

    Sections 39A to 39F were inserted, as from 18 October 1978, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 1 April 1991, by section 9 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1) by substituting an unsupported child's benefit for a family benefit.

    Section 39D was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Section 39D was amended, as from 1 September 1998, by section 12(4)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting child disability allowance for handicapped child's allowance.

    Paragraph (c) was amended, as from 1 July 1999, by section 415(1) Accident Insurance Act 1998 (1998 No 114) by substituting Weekly compensation within the meaning of section 13 of the Accident Insurance Act 1998 for Earnings related compensation within the meaning of section 2 of the Accident Compensation Act 1982.

    Paragraph (c) was substituted, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49). See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    The Accident Compensation Act 1982 has been substituted for the repealed Accident Compensation Act 1972.

39E Person to whom child disability allowance payable
  • The chief executive may, in his or her discretion, pay a child disability allowance granted under section 39A of this Act to the person who is the principal caregiver in respect of the child or, if there is no such person, to the person for the time being having the care and control of the child.

    Sections 39A to 39F were inserted, as from 18 October 1978, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting Director-General for Commission. The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 39E was substituted, as from 1 April 1991, by section 10 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Section 39E was amended, as from 1 September 1998, by section 12(4)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting child disability allowance for handicapped child's allowance.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

Invalids' benefits

  • The heading Invalids' benefits was repealed, as from 1 September 1998, by section 13 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

39F Purpose of invalid's benefit
  • (1) The purpose of the invalid's benefit is to provide income support to people who—

    • (a) Have, and are likely to have in the future, a severely restricted capacity to support themselves through open employment because of sickness, injury, or disability; or

    • (b) Are totally blind.

    (2) The purpose in subsection (1) is to be considered in the context of the expectation that people of working age support themselves directly or indirectly through employment, and that other measures are available for people who are temporarily unable to support themselves.

    Sections 39A to 39F were inserted, as from 18 October 1978, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Section 39F was repealed, as from 1 October 1986, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39).

    A new section 39F was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 13 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

40 Invalid's benefit
  • (1) A person who is aged 16 years or more is eligible for an invalid's benefit if the chief executive is satisfied that—

    • (aa) the applicant meets the residential requirements in section 74AA; and

    • (a) The person is totally blind; or

    • (b) The person is permanently and severely restricted in his or her capacity for work because of sickness, or because of injury or disability from accident or congenital defect.

    (2) A person is permanently restricted in his or her capacity for work if the chief executive is satisfied that—

    • (a) The restricting sickness, injury, or disability is expected to continue for at least the period set out in regulations made under this Act for the purposes of this section; or

    • (b) The person is not expected to live for the period set out in those regulations, because the person's sickness, injury, or disability is terminal.

    (3) A person is severely restricted in his or her capacity for work if the chief executive is satisfied that the person is incapable of regularly working 15 or more hours a week in open employment.

    (3A) Subsection (3) is subject to section 44A.

    (4) A person who is not both permanently and severely restricted in his or her capacity for work must not be granted an invalid's benefit, unless he or she is totally blind.

    (5) A person must not be granted an invalid's benefit if the chief executive is satisfied that the person's restricted capacity for work, or total blindness, was self-inflicted and brought about by the person with a view to qualifying for a benefit.

    (6) A person who is granted a benefit under this section must—

    Section 40 was substituted by section 10 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Section 40 was amended by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40) by omitting and who is not qualified to receive an age benefit.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 40 was amended, as from 1 August 1991, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78) by substituting 16 for 15.

    Section 40 was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Section 40 was substituted, and the preceding heading Invalids' benefits was repealed, as from 1 September 1998, by section 13 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (1AA) was inserted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 10(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsection (3A) was inserted, as from 1 July 2004, by section 5(2) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Section 40(6): added, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(4) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

41 Residential qualifications for invalids' benefits
  • [Repealed]

    Subsection (1) was substituted by section 11 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Subsection (2) was amended by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40) by inserting the words or guide-dog.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Section 41 was repealed, as from 2 July 2007, by section 10(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

42 Rates of invalids' benefits
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the rate of the invalid's benefit payable to any beneficiary shall be the appropriate rate specified in clause 1 of Schedule 6 to this Act.

    (2) Despite Schedule 6, where a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship (other than a person who has been means assessed under Part 4) is receiving long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home because he or she has a psychiatric, intellectual, physical, or sensory disability,—

    • (a) The rate of invalid's benefit payable to the person receiving those services is one-half of the appropriate rate specified in that Schedule; and

    • (b) The rate of invalid's benefit payable to that person's spouse or partner (being a spouse or partner who is not receiving long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home) is the appropriate rate of an invalid's benefit that would be payable under this Act if he or she was entitled to that benefit in his or her own right and was single,—

    and section 83 does not apply to either rate of benefit.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 34; 1945 No 11 s 18; 1958 No 46 s 12; 1960 No 13 s 16(1); 1964 No 37 s 11(1)

    Section 42 was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2) was inserted, as from 1 July 1995, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting person who is married or in a civil union for married person.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by substituting (other than a person who has been means assessed under Part 4) is receiving long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home for (other than a person whose financial means have been assessed under section 69F) is receiving residential care disability services. See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting single for unmarried.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse in each place it appears.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by substituting (being a spouse or partner who is not receiving long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home) for (being a spouse or partner who is not receiving residential care disability services). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

42A Obligations on spouse or partner of invalid's beneficiary
  • (1) This section applies to the spouse or partner of a person granted an invalid's benefit at a work-test married rate.

    (2) A person to whom this section applies—

    • (b) if he or she is a work-tested spouse or partner, must comply with the work test.

    Section 42A was inserted, as from 1 February 1999, by section 64 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    The heading to section 42 was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in each place it appears.

    Subsections (1) and (2)(b) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in each place it appears.

    Section 42A(2): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 26 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

43 Subsidy on earnings of blind beneficiaries
  • In addition to the benefit computed as provided in section 42 of this Act, there shall be payable to every person who for the time being is in receipt of an invalid's benefit in respect of his total blindness and who is employed in any occupation an additional allowance equal to 25% of his average earnings for the year:

    Provided that an allowance shall not be granted under this section of such an amount that the total amount from all sources, including any benefit and the value of any benefits in kind, received by the beneficiary for his own use in any year shall exceed the appropriate amount specified in clause 2 of Schedule 6 to this Act.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 35; 1964 No 37 s 12(1)

    The proviso was amended, as from 1 April 1991, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1) by omitting (other than a family benefit and an additional benefit for a dependent child or children).

44 Medical examination of invalids
  • (1) The chief executive may require an applicant for an invalid's benefit, or a person in receipt of an invalid's benefit, to submit himself or herself for examination by a medical practitioner or a psychologist. The medical practitioner or psychologist must be agreed for the purpose between the applicant or beneficiary and the chief executive, or, failing agreement, must be nominated by the chief executive.

    (2) The medical practitioner or psychologist must certify whether, in his or her opinion, the applicant or beneficiary is, or is not, or whether there is doubt about whether he or she is or is not, permanently and severely restricted in his or her capacity for work, or totally blind.

    (3) A certificate given under this section must state the grounds upon which the opinion is founded.

    (4) A certificate given under this section must, in the case of doubt referred to in subsection (2), and may, in any other case, indicate a date for review of the permanency, severity, or both, of the applicant's or beneficiary's sickness, injury, or disability.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 38

    Section 44 was amended, as from 20 October 1972, by section 13 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133) by substituting and severely restricted in his capacity for incapacitated.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 44 was substituted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

44A Beneficiary receiving invalid's benefit may establish whether open employment is sustainable
  • (1) The purpose of this section is to encourage persons who are receiving an invalid's benefit to undertake open employment in order to establish whether they can sustain that employment and cease receiving that benefit.

    (2) This section applies to a person who—

    • (a) is receiving an invalid's benefit granted on the ground of permanent and severe restriction of capacity for work; and

    • (b) with the agreement of the chief executive, is undertaking open employment for a period agreed with the chief executive to establish whether he or she can sustain such employment.

    (3) The period of open employment agreed with the chief executive under subsection (2)(b) must not exceed 26 weeks but the anticipated duration of that employment may be for a longer period than the agreed period.

    (4) A person to whom subsection (2) applies does not lose his or her entitlement to an invalid's benefit by reason only of working 15 or more hours a week in open employment during the agreed period.

    Section 44A was inserted, as from 1 July 2004, by section 5(1) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

45 Invalids' beneficiaries may be required to undertake activities
  • [Repealed]

    Section 45: repealed, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(4) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

46 Refusal to undertake vocational training
  • [Repealed]

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 46 was amended, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting in the Director-General's discretion for in its discretion.

    Section 46 was repealed, as from 1 September 1998, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

Work capacity assessment

  • The heading Work Capacity Assessment was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). The heading Miner's Benefits immediately following section 46 was repealed by section 15(2) of that Act.

  • The heading Work Capacity Assessment was repealed, as from 8 March 2001, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

47 Procedure for assessment of capacity for work
  • [Repealed]

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 47 to 53 were repealed, as from 30 June 1993, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    New sections 47 to 51 were inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsections (1) to (3), (6) and (7) were amended, as from 1 October 1999, by section 13 Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82) by substituting chief executive of the Department of Social Welfare for Director-General of Social Welfare.

    Subsection (7) was amended, as from 1 October 1999, by section 13 Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82) by substituting chief executive of that Department for Director-General.

    Sections 47 to 51, and the heading Work Capacity Assessment preceding section 47, were repealed, as from 8 March 2001, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

48 Assessment of capacity for work
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 47 to 53 were repealed, as from 30 June 1993, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    New sections 47 to 51 were inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Sections 47 to 51 were repealed, as from 8 March 2001, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

49 Content of assessment
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 47 to 53 were repealed, as from 30 June 1993, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    New sections 47 to 51 were inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Sections 47 to 51 were repealed, as from 8 March 2001, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

50 Effect of assessment
  • [Repealed]

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 47 to 53 were repealed, as from 30 June 1993, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    New sections 47 to 51 were inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Sections 47 to 51 were repealed, as from 8 March 2001, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

51 Reassessment
  • [Repealed]

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 47 to 53 were repealed, as from 30 June 1993, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    New sections 47 to 51 were inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Sections 47 to 51 were repealed, as from 8 March 2001, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

52 Funeral grant on death of miner
  • [Repealed]

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 47 to 53 were repealed, as from 30 June 1993, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

53 Miners' widows' benefits
  • [Repealed]

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 47 to 53 were repealed, as from 30 June 1993, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

Appeals

  • The heading Appeals was inserted, as from 1 October 1986, by section 13 Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39).

53A Right of appeal on medical grounds
  • (1) If—

    • (a) Any claim for a child disability allowance is declined on the grounds that the child is not a child with a serious disability within the meaning of subsections (1) and (2) of section 39A of this Act, or if any such allowance is cancelled on those grounds; or

    • (b) Any claim for an invalid's benefit is declined on medical grounds or any such benefit is cancelled on medical grounds; or

    • (ba) Any claim for a sickness benefit is declined on medical grounds or on grounds relating to a person's capacity for work, or a person's sickness benefit is cancelled on medical grounds or on grounds relating to the person's capacity for work; or

    • (bb) [Repealed]

    • (c) [Repealed]

    • (d) [Repealed]

    • (da) under section 60Q(7), the chief executive refuses to exempt a person receiving an invalid's benefit from the application of section 60Q; or

    • (e) Any claim for a veteran's pension under section 70 of the War Pensions Act 1954, on the grounds of the applicant's mental or physical infirmity, is declined, or any such pension is cancelled on those grounds—

    the applicant or beneficiary shall, at any time within 3 months after the decision of the chief executive has been communicated to that person or (if the Board considers there is good reason for the delay) within such further period as the Board may allow on application made either before or after the expiration of that period of 3 months, have a right of appeal to a Board.

    (1A) The Board referred to in subsection (1) is to comprise 3 members to be appointed by the chief executive for the particular purpose, being medical practitioners, rehabilitation professionals, or other persons having appropriate expertise in the fields of vocational training or vocational support for persons with sickness, injury, or disability.

    (2) On any appeal heard pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the chief executive shall be bound by the decision of the Appeal Board.

    (3) In this section, rehabilitation professional means—

    • (a) a person professionally engaged in the rehabilitation of persons from sickness or accident or with disabilities; and

    • (b) a nurse; and

    • (c) an occupational therapist; and

    • (d) a physiotherapist; and

    • (e) a psychologist.

    Section 53A was inserted, as from 1 October 1986, by section 13 Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39).

    Section 53A was amended, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting Director-General of Social Welfare for Social Security Commission.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 10(1)(d) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the words or (if the Board considers there is good reason for the delay) within such further period as the Board may allow on application made either before or after the expiration of that period of 3 months.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 10(1)(e) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by substituting 2 medical practitioners and a rehabilitation professional for 3 medical practitioners.

    Subsection (1) was amended by section 16(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 by omitting of 2 medical practitioners and a rehabilitation professional, to be appointed for that purpose by the Director-General.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 September 1998, by section 12(4)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting child disability allowance for handicapped child's allowance.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended by section 12(4)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 by substituting child with a serious disability for seriously handicapped child.

    Subsection (1)(ba) was inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 10(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (1)(ba) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (1)(ba) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(1)(b) and (2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting sickness benefit for community wage on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability, and by substituting person's sickness benefit for person's community wage.

    Subsection (1)(bb) was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 16(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (1)(bb) was repealed, as from 8 March 2001, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (1)(c) was repealed, as from 30 June 1993, by section 5(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (1)(d) was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (1)(d) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 10(1)(b) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by substituting Act; or for Act—.

    Subsection (1)(d) was repealed, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(2) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22). See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

    Section 53A(1)(da): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(4) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (1)(e) was inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 10(1)(c) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (1)(e) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by substituting section 70 of the War Pensions Act 1954 for section 8 of the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 16(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 10(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

Sickness benefits

54 Sickness benefit: standard eligibility requirements
  • (1) A person is entitled to a sickness benefit if he or she satisfies the criteria in subsections (2), (3), and (4), and—

    • (a) is not in full-time employment, is willing to undertake it, but because of sickness, injury, or disability is limited in his or her capacity to seek, undertake, or be available for full-time employment; or

    • (b) is in employment, but is losing earnings because, through sickness or injury, he or she is not actually working, or is working only at a reduced level.

    (2) An applicant for a sickness benefit must be—

    • (a) aged 18 years or over; or

    • (b) aged 16 years or over, be married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship, and have 1 or more dependent children.

    (3) An applicant for a sickness benefit must meet the residential requirements in section 74AA.

    (4) An applicant for a sickness benefit must have—

    • (a) No income; or

    • (b) an income of less than the amount that would fully abate the benefit.

    (5) Nothing in subsection (4) affects the entitlement of a person to receive a sickness benefit if, during a temporary period, the person has income sufficient to fully abate the benefit but otherwise fulfils the conditions of entitlement to the benefit.

    (6) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), any payment made by a person to any other person who acts as his or her substitute during a period of sickness or injury may be treated as a loss of earnings by the first-mentioned person.

    (7) A person who is granted a benefit under this section must—

    Subsection (1) was amended by section 14(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133) by substituting who has attained the age of 15 years for over the age of 16 years. This was amended, as from 1 August 1991, by section 8(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2)) 1991 (1991 No 78) by substituting 16 for 15.

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23). See section 2(3) of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting Act for Part. It was amended by section 3(1) of that Act by substituting 2 years for 12 months. See section 3(2) of that Act as to nothing in section 3(2) affecting a sickness beneficiary's benefit entitlement, if that person was receiving a sickness benefit immediately before 1 July 1998.

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (3) was repealed by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Sections 54 to 56 were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 24(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    A new section 54 was inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a civil union after married.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 10(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Section 54(7): added, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(4) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

54A Sickness benefit: grounds of hardship
  • (1) The chief executive may grant a sickness benefit under section 54 to a person who meets the criteria in subsections (1) and (2) of that section, but who does not meet the other criteria set out in that section, if—

    • (a) the person is suffering hardship; and

    • (b) the person is not qualified to receive any other benefit; and

    • (c) the person is unable to earn sufficient income to support the person and his or her spouse or partner and any dependent children.

    (2) The chief executive may grant a sickness benefit under section 54 to a person who, if the person met the criteria in section 54(2), would be eligible under subsection (1) of this section to be granted a sickness benefit, but only if the person—

    • (a) is single and aged 16 or 17; and

    • (b) is either pregnant or undergoing treatment in a rehabilitation programme recognised by the chief executive.

    Section 54A was inserted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Subsection (3 was amended, as from 27 July 1977, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58) by substituting (f) for (e).

    Subsection (5) was added, as from 23 December 1977, by section 11 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133).

    Section 54A was repealed, as from 1 January 1984, by section 8(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 138).

    A new section 54A was inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (2)(a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting single for unmarried.

54B Sickness benefit: medical examinations
  • (1) A person who applies for a sickness benefit must include in the application a certificate by—

    • (a) a medical practitioner; or

    • (b) a dentist (in respect of a condition that is within the ambit of his or her profession); or

    • (c) a midwife (in respect of a pregnancy, childbirth, or any related condition that is within the ambit of his or her profession).

    (2) The certificate under subsection (1) must—

    • (a) certify that the applicant's capacity for work is affected by sickness, injury, or disability; and

    • (b) indicate the nature of the sickness, injury, or disability, the extent to which the applicant's capacity for work is affected by it, and the length of time that effect is likely to last; and

    • (c) contain such other particulars as the chief executive may require.

    (3) The chief executive may at any time require an applicant for a sickness benefit or a sickness beneficiary to submit himself or herself for examination by a medical practitioner or psychologist. The medical practitioner or psychologist must be agreed for the purpose between the applicant or beneficiary and the chief executive or, failing agreement, must be nominated by the chief executive.

    (4) A medical practitioner or psychologist who conducts an examination under subsection (3) must prepare a report that states whether the applicant's or beneficiary's capacity for work is affected by sickness, injury, or disability, and how long that effect is likely to continue; and must send a copy of the report to the chief executive.

    Sections 54B to 54F were inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (1)(b) and (c) was amended, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48) by omitting registered. See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

54C Sickness benefit: payment
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 54B to 54F were inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Section 54C was repealed, as from 2 July 2007, by section 13(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

54D Rates of sickness benefit
  • (1) A sickness benefit must be paid to a sickness beneficiary at the appropriate rate in Schedule 9, unless subsection (2) applies.

    (2) The appropriate rate in Schedule 8 that was payable immediately before 1 July 1998 must, until the appropriate rate in Schedule 9 is equal to or greater than that rate, be paid to a person who—

    • (a) was a sickness beneficiary immediately before 1 July 1998; and

    • (b) continued to receive that benefit until it was changed to a community wage; and

    • (c) continued to receive the community wage on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability until the community wage was changed to a sickness benefit; and

    • (d) has continued since then to receive a sickness benefit.

    (3) If no payment is made under this section in respect of the spouse or partner of a sickness beneficiary, the chief executive may increase the rate of sickness benefit payable to the beneficiary by an amount not exceeding the amount specified in clause 2 of Schedule 9 in respect of any person who for the time being has the care of the home of the beneficiary.

    (4) An applicant is entitled to be paid the rate in clause 5 of Schedule 9 during any period when the applicant's spouse or partner is ineligible for a benefit because of—

    • (a) the application of section 60H (which relates to voluntary unemployment or loss of employment through misconduct, etc); or

    • (b) a strike, either by himself or herself, or by fellow members of the same union at the same place of employment.

    Sections 54B to 54F were inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsections (3) and (4) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

54E Obligations of spouse or partner of sickness beneficiary
  • From the time that payment of the sickness benefit commences, the spouse or partner of a person granted a sickness benefit at a work-test married rate—

    • (a) must comply with—

    • (b) if he or she is a work-tested spouse or partner, must comply with the work test.

    Section 54E: substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 27 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Sections 54B to 54F were inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    The heading to section 54E was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Section 54E was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in both places it appears.

54F Transfer from community wage to sickness benefit on 1 July 2001
  • (1) This section applies to a person who, immediately before 1 July 2001, was—

    • (a) in receipt of a community wage on the ground of the person's sickness, injury, or disability; and

    • (b) either—

      • (i) was fulfilling the conditions of entitlement to the community wage on that ground; or

      • (ii) was eligible to be granted a community wage on that ground under former section 90.

    (2) On 1 July 2001, in relation to a person to whom this section applies,—

    • (a) the community wage becomes a sickness benefit as if it were granted under section 54; and

    • (b) the person ceases to be subject to the work test; and

    • (c) any sanctions to which the person was subject under any of former sections 115, 116, or 118 cease to apply.

    (3) For the avoidance of doubt, the operation of subsection (2) does not affect—

    • (a) the rate of benefit paid to the person and his or her spouse (if any); and

    • (b) in relation to the person's spouse, any of the following:

      • (ii) any exemption from the work test under section 105:

      • (iii) a sanction under any of former sections 115 to 118 applying to the spouse.

    (4) In this section, former section means a section of this Act as it was before 1 July 2001.

    Sections 54B to 54F were inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

55 Rates of sickness benefits
  • [Repealed]

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 46; 1945 No 11 s 23; 1958 No 46 s 19; 1960 No 13 s 16(1); 1961 No 6 s 6(3); 1964 No 37 s 15(1)

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 August 1991, by section 9 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78) by repealing the second proviso.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act. It was amended by section 4(1) of that Act by substituting Schedule 9 for Schedule 8 to this Act.

    Subsection (2) was amended by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58) by substituting spouse for wife.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting Schedule 9 for Schedule 8 to this Act.

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 1 July 1998, by section 4(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 54 to 56 were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 24(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

56 Medical examination of applicants for sickness benefits
  • [Repealed]

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 48

    Subsection (1) was amended by section 15 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133) by inserting the words , or the certificate of a registered dentist in respect of any condition within the ambit of his profession,.

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 54 to 56 were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 24(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

57 Period for which sickness benefit payable
  • [Repealed]

    Section 57 was substituted, as from 20 October 1972, by section 16 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 57 was repealed, as from 1 March 1991, by section 12(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1)

Unemployment benefits

58 Unemployment benefits
  • [Repealed]

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 51

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 11 October 1978, by section 12(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58) by substituting the proviso.

    The words Director-General in subsection (1) were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 December 1990, by section 14(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74) by substituting over the age of 16 years for of or over the age of 18 years or who is of or over the age of 16 years and is married with a dependent child or dependent children.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by substituting of or over the age of 25 years for of or over the age of 18 years or who is of or over the age of 16 years and is married with a dependent child or dependent children. See section 3(4) of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1)(b) was substituted, as from 1 October 1989, by section 31(1) Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 13).

    Subsection (1)(d) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting not less than 2 years for not less than 12 months. See section 5(2) of that Act as to people receiving the unemployment benefit immediately before 1 July 1998.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 11 October 1978, by section 12(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Subsection (1A) was repealed, as from 1 March 1991, by section 13(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1)

    Subsection (2) was repealed by section 9 Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123)

    A new subsection (2) was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 9 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsections (3) and (4) were inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 3(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23). See section 3(4) of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting Act for Part.

    Sections 58 to 60C were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

59 Rates of unemployment benefits
  • [Repealed]

    Compare: 1938 No 7 ss 52, 53; 1945 No 11 ss 25, 26; 1964 No 37 s 16(1)

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1991, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1) by substituting Except as provided in section 60L of this Act, the for The.

    Subsections (1A) to (1C) were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 10 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 October 1979, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 14) by substituting spouse for wife.

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 1 November 1976, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Subsections (4) and (5) were inserted, as from 23 March 1989, by section 32 Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 13) and repealed, as from 1 December 1990, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 58 to 60C were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

59A Mandatory interview or work test for spouse
  • [Repealed]

    Section 59A was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 11 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Sections 58 to 60C were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

Young job seekers' allowances

  • The heading Young Job Seekers' Allowances was inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23).

59B Young job seekers' allowances
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 59B to 59E were inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting Act for Part.

    Subsection (1)(g) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting 2 years for 12 months. See section 6(2) of that Act as to nothing in section 6(1) affecting a young job seeker's allowance entitlement if that person was receiving the young job seeker's allowance immediately before 1 July 1998.

    Sections 58 to 60C were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

59C Rates of young job seekers' allowances
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 59B to 59E were inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23).

    Sections 58 to 60C were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

59D Spouse of young job seeker's allowance recipient
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 59B to 59E were inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23).

    Sections 58 to 60C were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

59E Period for which young job seeker's allowance payable
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 59B to 59E were inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23).

    Sections 58 to 60C were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

Young job seeker's allowances

60 Commencement of unemployment benefit, etc
  • [Repealed]

    Paragraph (3)(d) was inserted, as from 20 October 1972, by section 18 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133). This amending Act also inserted the expression ; or in paragraph (c).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 60 was substituted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 August 1991, by section 10 Social Security Amendment (No 2) Act 1991 (1991 No 78) by substituting section 60J, section 60N, or section 80B for or section 60J.

    Section 60 was repealed, as from 1 April 1997, by section 12 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

Training benefits

60A Training benefits: purpose
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60A to 60C were inserted, as from 1 October 1989, by section 33(1) Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 13).

    Subsection (2) was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 13 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Section 60A was substituted, and section 60AA was inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63). See section 11(2) of that Act as to entitlement to a training benefit.

    Sections 58 to 60C were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

60AA Training benefits: qualifications
  • [Repealed]

    Section 60A was substituted, and section 60AA was inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63). See section 11(2) of that Act as to entitlement to a training benefit.

    Subsection (2)(c) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting 2 years for 12 months. See section 7(2) of that Act as to nothing in 7(1) affecting a training beneficiary's benefit entitlement if that person was receiving the training benefit immediately before 1 July 1998.

    Sections 58 to 60C were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

60B Rates of training benefits
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60A to 60C were inserted, as from 1 October 1989, by section 33(1) Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 13).

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 1 July 1996, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1996 (1996 No 49). See section 2(4) of that Act as to the savings provisions.

    Subsections (3) and (4) were repealed, as from 1 January 1998, by section 6 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23).

    Sections 58 to 60C were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

60C Period for which training benefit payable
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60A to 60C were inserted, as from 1 October 1989, by section 33(1) Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 13).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 12 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by substituting A person is not entitled to receive a training benefit until his or her employment (if any) has ceased; and, unless for Unless.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 11(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by substituting section 60AA for section 60A of this Act. See section 11(2) of that Act as to entitlement to a training benefit.

    Sections 58 to 60C were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

60D Job search allowance
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60D to 60G were inserted, as from 1 October 1989, by section 17(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74).

    Subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Sections 60D and 60E were repealed, as from 1 January 1998, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23). See section 7(2) of that Act for the transitional provisions.

60E Rates of job search allowance
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60D to 60G were inserted, as from 1 October 1989, by section 17(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74).

    Sections 60D and 60E were repealed, as from 1 January 1998, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23). See section 7(2) of that Act for the transitional provisions.

60F Independent youth benefits: basic qualifications
  • (1) The basic qualifications for entitlement to an independent youth benefit are in subsection (2). The qualifications for a single person are in section 60FA. The qualifications for a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship are in section 60FB.

    (2) The basic qualifications for entitlement to an independent youth benefit are that a person—

    • (a) Is 16 years or 17 years; and

    • (b) Is without a dependent child or dependent children; and

    • (c) meets the residential requirements in section 74AA; and

    • (d) Is in 1 of the situations described in subsections (3) to (6).

    (3) The first situation is that the person—

    • (a) Is unemployed (other than because of a strike either by the person or by fellow members of the same union at the same place of employment); and

    • (b) Is capable of undertaking suitable employment and is willing to do so; and

    • (c) [Repealed]

    • (d) Is not a full-time student.

    (4) The second situation is that the person—

    • (a) Is unemployed (other than because of a strike either by the person or by fellow members of the same union at the same place of employment); and

    • (b) Is enrolled in a full-time course of secondary instruction (but his or her entitlement may be affected by section 60FC(1)).

    (5) The third situation is that the person is engaged full-time in an employment-related training programme approved by the chief executive for the purposes of this section.

    (6) The fourth situation is that, because of sickness, injury, or disability, the person has a limited capacity for work.

    Sections 60D to 60G were inserted, as from 1 October 1989, by section 17(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74).

    Subsection (1)(c)(iii) was substituted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 15 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Section 60F was substituted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 13(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63). See section 13(2) of that Act as to the entitlement to an independent youth benefit of a person who was receiving the benefit immediately before 1 January 1998. The substitution of this section replaced the changes proposed by section 8(1) to (3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    Subsection (2)(c) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 8(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting 2 years for 12 months. See section 8(2) of that Act as to nothing in section 8(1) affecting an independent youth beneficiary's benefit entitlement if that person was receiving the independent youth benefit immediately before 1 July 1998.

    Subsection (2)(c) was substituted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 10(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 26(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (3)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 16 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting union for employees organisation.

    Section 60F(3)(c): repealed, on 24 September 2007, by section 28(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (6) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 26(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

60FA Independent youth benefits: single persons
  • (1) A single person is entitled to an independent youth benefit if—

    • (a) Section 60F(2) applies to him or her; and

    • (b) He or she is in the following situation, established to the satisfaction of the chief executive:

      • (i) He or she is not living with his or her parents; and

      • (ii) He or she is not being financially supported by his or her parents or any other person; and

      • (iii) He or she cannot reasonably be expected to be financially dependent on his or her parents or any other person for a reason described in subsection (2).

    (2) The reasons are—

    • (a) Because there has been a breakdown in the person's relationship with his or her parents; or

    • (b) Because the person's parents are absent and are unable to support the person financially; or

    • (c) Any other good and sufficient reason.

    (3) In this section, parents

    • (a) Means the parents or guardian or other person who had the care of the person most recently before the person turned 16 years; but

    • (b) Does not include the chief executive of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services acting in his or her official capacity.

    Sections 60FA to 60FD were inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 13(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63). See section 13(2) of that Act as to the entitlement to an independent youth benefit of a person who was receiving the benefit immediately before 1 January 1998.

    The heading to section 60FA was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting single for unmarried.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting A single for An unmarried.

    Subsection (2)(ba) was inserted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 17 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by inserting of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services after chief executive.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

60FB Independent youth benefits: persons who are married, in civil union, or de facto relationship
  • A person who is married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship is entitled to an independent youth benefit if section 60F(2) applies to him or her.

    Sections 60FA to 60FD were inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 13(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63). See section 13(2) of that Act as to the entitlement to an independent youth benefit of a person who was receiving the benefit immediately before 1 January 1998.

    The heading to section 60FB was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting persons who are married or in civil union for married persons.

    Section 60FB was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting person who is married or in a civil union for married person.

    Section 60FB was substituted, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

60FC Independent youth benefits: persons enrolled in full-time course of secondary instruction
  • (1) A person enrolled in a full-time course of secondary instruction is not entitled to an independent youth benefit if—

    • (a) He or she has moved from his or her parents' home in order to better his or her educational prospects; and

    • (b) There is no breakdown in his or her relationship with his or her parents.

    (2) A person—

    • (a) Entitled to receive an independent youth benefit; and

    • (b) Enrolled in a full-time course of secondary instruction during the year in which he or she turns 18 years—

    continues to be entitled to receive the benefit until 31 December of the year in which he or she turns 18 years.

    (3) In this section, parents

    • (a) Means the parents or guardian or other person who had the care of the person most recently before he or she turned 16 years; but

    • (b) Does not include the chief executive of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services acting in his or her official capacity.

    Sections 60FA to 60FD were inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 13(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63). See section 13(2) of that Act as to the entitlement to an independent youth benefit of a person who was receiving the benefit immediately before 1 January 1998.

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 18 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by inserting, after the words chief executive, the words of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services.

    As from 1 October 1998, a reference in this section to Director-General were replaced by a reference to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

60FD Independent youth benefits: sickness, injury, or disability
  • Section 54B(1) to (3) (which relate to the requirement to include a medical certificate with an application, and to submit to a medical examination if required to do so by the chief executive) apply to an applicant for, or a person granted, an independent youth benefit on the ground in section 60F(6), as if the references in those provisions to sickness benefit were references to independent youth benefit.

    Sections 60FA to 60FD were inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 13(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63). See section 13(2) of that Act as to the entitlement to an independent youth benefit of a person who was receiving the benefit immediately before 1 January 1998.

    Section 60FD was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 27 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Section 60FD was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(4) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting Section 54B(1) to (3) for Sections 92(1) to (3) and 97(3).

    Section 60FD was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(5) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting sickness benefit for community wage.

60G Rates of independent youth benefit
  • The rate of independent youth benefit payable to any beneficiary shall be the appropriate rate specified in Schedule 26 to this Act.

    Sections 60D to 60G were inserted, as from 1 October 1989, by section 17(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1990 (1990 No 74).

60GAA Period for which independent youth benefit payable
  • (1) An independent youth benefit is paid in respect of a 5-day working week.

    (2) The days of the week to be included in the working week of a person granted an independent youth benefit are determined by the chief executive after consultation with the beneficiary, but must not include—

    • (a) a Saturday except with the agreement of the beneficiary; or

    • (b) a Sunday.

    Section 60GAA was inserted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 9 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

60GAB Independent youth benefits: obligations
  • (1) A person granted an independent youth benefit is subject to the obligations set out in subsection (2) or (3) from the day on which the benefit is first paid.

    (2) Unless subsection (3) applies, the obligations are—

    • (a) when required by the chief executive, to participate, for at least 30 hours a week and not more than 40 hours a week, in any approved activities the person has previously agreed in writing to undertake; or

    • (b) to be available for, and take reasonable steps to obtain, full-time employment, to the satisfaction of the chief executive.

    (3) The obligations of a person granted an independent youth benefit on the grounds stated in section 60F(6) are to participate when required by the chief executive in at least one approved activity (being an educational, training, or developmental activity) for at least 3 hours a week.

    (4) A failure without good and sufficient reason to comply with obligations under this section is subject to sanctions, as provided in section 115A.

    (5) In this section—

    approved activity, in relation to a person, means—

    • (a) attending and participating in education or employment-related training; or

    • (b) taking reasonable steps to obtain suitable employment, including attending and participating in any interview for any opportunity of suitable employment to which the person is referred by the chief executive, and undertaking work-focused activities; or

    • (c) attending and participating in an activity (other than activity in the community) intended to develop the person's capabilities for employment, including a social rehabilitation programme; or

    • (d) attending and participating in skills training; or

    • (e) a combination of any of the activities described in paragraphs (a) to (d)

    work-focused activity means any of the following

    • (a) attending and participating in an employment-related seminar provided by the department, or by any other person approved by the chief executive for the purpose:

    • (b) attending and participating in an interview for an opportunity of suitable employment to which the person concerned is referred by the chief executive:

    • (c) attending and participating in employment-related training approved by the chief executive for the purpose:

    • (d) attending and participating in an interview with an officer of the department:

    • (e) completing any self-assessment or planning required by the chief executive.

    Section 60GAB: inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 28(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

60GAC Department to explain obligations to beneficiaries
  • The chief executive must take reasonable and appropriate steps to make every person granted an independent youth benefit aware, as soon as is practicable after the benefit is granted, of—

    • (b) the consequences of failure to comply with the obligations and, in particular, the sanctions that may be imposed under section 115A.

    Section 60GAC: inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 28(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

Further conditions of benefits

  • The heading Further Conditions of Benefits was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 16 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

60GA Purposes of sections 60H to 60M
  • [Repealed]

    Section 60GA was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 16 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Paragraph (b)(ii) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Paragraph (b)(ii) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 28 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Section 60GA was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(4) of that Act as to persons subject to sanction immediately before 1 October 1998.

60H Voluntary unemployment or loss of employment through misconduct, etc
  • (1) In this section, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    Benefit means a work-tested benefit

    Employment means,—

    • (a) In the case of an applicant for a work-tested benefit,—

      • (i) Full-time employment; or

      • (ii) Part-time employment if the chief executive is satisfied that, for a period of not less than 13 weeks preceding the termination of the employment, the income from that employment was sufficient to maintain the person; or

    • (b) In the case of a part-time work-tested beneficiary, regular part-time work; and

    • (c) In the case of any other work-tested beneficiary, full-time employment.

    Employment: paragraph (b) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by substituting young job seeker's allowance for job search allowance.

    Employment: this definition was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 29(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Employment: paragraph (c) of this definition was substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(6) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Rate of the benefit

    [Repealed]

    Rate of the benefit: this definition was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 4(1) Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Regular

    [Repealed]

    Regular: this definition was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 29(1)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Scheme means a Government-assisted scheme that the chief executive considers analogous to a benefit

    As from 1 October 1998, a reference in this section to Director-General were replaced by a reference to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Unemployed means resigning from or otherwise leaving employment, other than by dismissal.

    (2) This section applies to a person who is—

    • (a) A person who is an applicant for a benefit if, on the grant of the benefit, he or she would be a work-tested beneficiary; or

    • (b) A person who is the spouse or partner of an applicant for a married rate of benefit, if, on the grant of the benefit, he or she would be a work-tested spouse or partner; or

    • (c) A work-tested beneficiary.

    (3) This section applies if the chief executive is satisfied that a person referred to in subsection (2) of this section—

    • (a) Has voluntarily become unemployed without good and sufficient reason; or

    • (b) Has been in receipt of payments under a scheme and has voluntarily ceased to be part of that scheme without good and sufficient reason; or

    • (c) Has lost his or her employment because of misconduct as an employee; or

    • (d) Has ceased to be part of a scheme by reason of any misconduct.

    (4) If this section applies, the chief executive must cancel the benefit (if granted), and the person is not entitled to the cancelled benefit or a work-tested benefit during the period of 13 weeks commencing on—

    • (a) The date the person's employment ceased; or

    • (b) The date the person's participation in the scheme ceased.

    (5) Subsection (4) is subject to subsection (6) and to sections 123, 123A, and 123B.

    (6) If this section applies because of misconduct—

    • (a) The chief executive may, in his or her discretion, decide not to apply subsection (4) of this section to the person; or

    • (b) The chief executive may pay the benefit, or the benefit without the reduction, on the condition that the person will repay the amount to which he or she would not be entitled but for this paragraph, if—

      • (i) A Court, person, or body authorised by law to determine the matter determines the misconduct to be proved; and

      • (ii) The chief executive, in his or her discretion, so directs.

    (7) Any amount that the chief executive directs to be repayable under subsection (6)(b) of this section may be recovered from the person under section 86(1) of this Act.

    Sections 60H to 60L were inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 16 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Section 60H was substituted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 17 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20). See section 21 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (2)(c) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 29(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in both places it appears.

    Subsections (4) and (5) were substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 4(2) Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94) as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (7) was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 10 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by substituting 86(1) for 86(1A).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

60HA Work preparation exercise
  • (1) The chief executive may request a person to whom this section applies—

    • (a) To participate in one mandatory interview each year until the person is required to comply with the work test; and

    • (b) To participate in one activity under subsection (2)(b), but only in the year before the date that the person's youngest dependent child attains the particular age giving rise to an obligation on that person to comply with the work test.

    (2) A work preparation exercise is either or both of the following:

    • (a) A mandatory interview by or on behalf of the chief executive:

    • (b) An activity, set by the chief executive, for the purpose of preparing a person for employment.

    (3) This section applies to a beneficiary who is required under this Act to comply with a request under this section.

    (4) The chief executive may not make a request under subsection (1)(b) to a person who is granted a domestic purposes benefit under section 27G.

    (5) If a person fails without good and sufficient reason to comply with a request under this section, the chief executive must apply the appropriate penalty under this Act for a failure to comply with a request under this section.

    Sections 60HA to 60HF were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 18 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (1)(a)(ii) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (1)(a)(ii) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 30(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting a community wage for an unemployment benefit or a young job seekers' allowance.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 5 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Subsection (4) was inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23).

    Subsection (4) was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 30(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    As from 1 October 1998, all references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Section 60HA was substituted, as from 1 February 1999, by section 65(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 78 of that Act as to the various application dates of this amendment.

60HB Effect of failure to attend or participate in mandatory interview
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60HA to 60HF were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 18 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Section 60HB was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 31 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Section 60HB was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(4) of that Act as to persons subject to sanction immediately before 1 October 1998.

60HC Beneficiaries to be work-tested
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60HA to 60HF were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 18 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (3) was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 32(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 32(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting Subsection (4) does not apply for Subsections (3) and (4) of this section do not apply.

    Subsections (6), (8) and (9) were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 32(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Section 60HC was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(4) of that Act as to persons subject to sanction immediately before 1 October 1998.

60HCA General duty of Director-General to ensure that work-tested beneficiaries aware of obligations
  • [Repealed]

    Section 60HCA was inserted, as from 1 July 1997, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 (1997 No 22).

    Section 60HCA was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 33(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

60HD Power of Director-General to grant exemption from mandatory interview or work test
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60HA to 60HF were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 18 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 34(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting a community wage for an unemployment benefit or a young job seekers' allowance.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 34(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 34(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by inserting after the words subsection (1), the words or subsection (2).

    Subsection (4) was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 34(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Sections 60HD to 60KA were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(4) of that Act as to persons subject to sanction immediately before 1 October 1998.

60HE Persons exempted from mandatory interview or work test to notify change of circumstances
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60HA to 60HF were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 18 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 32(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Sections 60HD to 60KA were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(4) of that Act as to persons subject to sanction immediately before 1 October 1998.

60HF Delay of work test obligation for existing beneficiaries
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60HA to 60HF were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 18 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Section 60HF was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or young job seeker's allowance.

    Section 60HF was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 35 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Sections 60HD to 60KA were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(4) of that Act as to persons subject to sanction immediately before 1 October 1998.

60I Effect of redundancy payments, etc, on entitlement to benefits
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60H to 60L were inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 16 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Subsection (1) was repealed by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by section YB 1 Income Tax Act 1994 (1994 No 164) by substituting Part KD of the Income Tax Act 1994 for Part 9A of the Income Tax Act 1976.

    Subsection (3) was repealed by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    Sections 60HD to 60KA were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(4) of that Act as to persons subject to sanction immediately before 1 October 1998.

60J Failure to comply with work test
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60H to 60L were inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 16 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Section 60J was substituted and sections 60JA to 60JC were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 20 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20). See section 21 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (2)(a)(ii) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 36(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting Undertake, participate satisfactorily in, or for Undertakes or.

    Subsection (3)(d) was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by 40(2)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (5) was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by 40(2)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (6) was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 36(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Sections 60HD to 60KA were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(4) of that Act as to persons subject to sanction immediately before 1 October 1998.

60JA Penalty for failure to attend or participate in mandatory interview or comply with work test
  • [Repealed]

    Section 60J was substituted and sections 60JA to 60JC were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 20 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20). See section 21 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 37(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting a community wage for an unemployment benefit or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (5)(b) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (5)(b) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 37(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (10) benefit: this definition was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (10) Benefit: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 37(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting a community wage for an unemployment benefit or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Sections 60HD to 60KA were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(4) of that Act as to persons subject to sanction immediately before 1 October 1998.

60JB Effect of recompliance with mandatory interview or work test
  • [Repealed]

    Section 60J was substituted and sections 60JA to 60JC were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 20 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20). See section 21 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Sections 60HD to 60KA were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(4) of that Act as to persons subject to sanction immediately before 1 October 1998.

60JC Reduction of benefit or non-entitlement period to end if person ceases to be subject to mandatory interview or work-testing
  • [Repealed]

    Section 60J was substituted and sections 60JA to 60JC were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 20 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20). See section 21 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(12)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting paragraphs (b), (c), or (d) for paragraph (b).

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 18(12)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting those paragraphs for that paragraph.

    Sections 60HD to 60KA were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(4) of that Act as to persons subject to sanction immediately before 1 October 1998.

60K Effect of undertaking employment
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60H to 60L were inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 16 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Section 60K was substituted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 22 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20). See section 21(2) of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Sections 60HD to 60KA were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(4) of that Act as to persons subject to sanction immediately before 1 October 1998.

60KA Effect of participation in approved activities
  • [Repealed]

    Section 60KA was inserted, as from 1 April 1992, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 15).

    Section 60KA was substituted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20). See section 21(2) of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Section 60KA was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 38(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 38(2) of that Act as to community task force projects or training programmes commenced before 1 October 1998 becoming activities for the purposes of the new section 60KA.

    Sections 60HD to 60KA were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 8 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94). See section 10(3) of that Act as to section 60KA continuing to apply to persons referred to in section 10(2) of that Act.

60L Effect of sections 60H to 60J and section 60N on entitlement to supplementary benefits and on spouses
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60H to 60L were inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 16 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Section 60L was substituted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 24 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20). See section 21(3) of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Section 60L (before paragraph (a) and after paragraph (b)) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Paragraph (b) was substituted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23).

    Section 60L was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by 39 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 38(2) of that Act as to activities commenced before 1 October 1998 under the former section 60KA, becoming activities for the purposes of the new section 60KA.

60M Community task force scheme
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60M and 60N were inserted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 15 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20) by substituting 13 for 26.

    Subsection (1) was substituted and subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 26(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (1)(a)(i) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1995, by section 27(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20) by substituting the amount set out in clause 6 of Schedule 9 to this Act for $15 a week.

    Section 60M was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by 40(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

60N Effect of failure to participate in community task force project
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 60M and 60N were inserted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 15 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    Section 60N was repealed, as from 1 April 1997, by section 28 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20). See section 21 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

60O Interpretation
  • In sections 60P to 60Z, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    chief executive includes—

    • (a) an officer of the department acting under a delegation from the chief executive; and

    • (b) a person authorised by the chief executive to act on behalf of the chief executive (except in sections 60U to 60Y)

    personal development and employment plan or plan means a plan that—

    • (a) has goals—

      • (i) to assist the beneficiary to move towards employment; and

      • (ii) designed to support the economic and social participation of the beneficiary who developed it:

    • (b) sets out a plan of action designed to meet the goals referred to in paragraph (a), including the activities that will be undertaken by the beneficiary to facilitate the achievement of those goals:

    • (c) includes a statement of the information the department will provide to assist the beneficiary to do 1 or more of the following:

      • (i) achieve the goals referred to in paragraph (a):

      • (ii) improve his or her capabilities (including employment capabilities):

      • (iii) obtain employment:

    • (d) includes, if agreed to by the chief executive, a statement of the assistance that the department will provide to assist the beneficiary to do 1 or more of the things described in paragraph (c)(i) to (iii).

    Sections 60O to 60Z were inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 11 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

60P Purpose of sections 60Q to 60Z
  • The purpose of sections 60Q to 60Z is—

    • (a) to facilitate the movement of domestic purposes beneficiaries and widows' beneficiaries, and the spouses and partners (other than work-tested spouses or partners) of emergency, invalids', sickness, and unemployment beneficiaries, into ongoing employment as their parenting responsibilities and individual circumstances allow:

    • (ab) to facilitate the movement of invalids' beneficiaries and sickness beneficiaries into employment as their disability-related or medical conditions, and circumstances, allow:

    • (b) to provide opportunities for those beneficiaries to improve their capabilities for employment:

    • (c) to improve social and economic outcomes for those beneficiaries and their dependent children.

    Sections 60O to 60Z were inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 11 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Section 60P(a): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 29(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60P(ab): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 29(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

60Q Personal development and employment plans
  • (1) The chief executive may, from time to time, require a person to whom this section applies—

    • (a) to attend and participate in one or more interviews with the chief executive for any or all of the following purposes:

      • (i) identifying the matters referred to in subsection (2):

      • (ii) carrying out any of the activities referred to in any of paragraphs (ab) to (d):

      • (iii) any other purpose related to either of those purposes:

    • (ab) to undertake planning for personal development and employment:

    • (b) to develop, in co-operation with and with the assistance of the chief executive, a personal development and employment plan for the person based on the matters referred to in subsection (2):

    • (c) to co-operate with the chief executive in the conduct of any review of the person's personal development and employment plan under section 60S:

    • (ca) to undertake a work-related activity or programme included in the person's personal development and employment plan:

    • (cb) to undertake any activity or any rehabilitation (other than an activity or rehabilitation involving participation in work, voluntary work, activity in the community, or unpaid work experience, or medical treatment) the chief executive considers suitable for the beneficiary to improve the beneficiary's work-readiness or prospects for employment:

    • (d) to develop, in co-operation with and with the assistance of the chief executive, a new plan for the person, if the chief executive considers that, because of a substantial change to the person's circumstances, the person's existing plan is inappropriate and the person requires a new plan.

    (2) The matters referred to in subsection (1) are—

    • (a) any features of the person's individual circumstances or parenting responsibilities that may affect the ability of the person to obtain employment; and

    • (b) any specific constraints arising from those circumstances or responsibilities that the person may have in obtaining and sustaining employment; and

    • (c) any practical assistance the person requires to enable the person to support himself or herself through employment; and

    • (d) the person's skills and experience (including those developed through unpaid work) that are relevant to facilitating the most effective path to enable the person to obtain employment.

    (3) For the purposes of this section and sections 60R to 60Z, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    • (a) a person who is required to develop a personal development and employment plan does not complete his or her development of the plan unless the person signs it:

    • (b) a document developed by any person as his or her personal development and employment plan is not a plan unless he or she signs it:

    • (c) a personal development and employment plan developed in accordance with section 60W(3) or section 60Y(4)(b) is, unless the context otherwise requires, to be treated as a plan developed under subsection (1)(d).

    (3A) A person—

    • (a) cannot be required to include in his or her personal development and employment plan provisions relating to his or her undertaking activity in the community; and

    • (b) cannot be required under subsection (1) to undertake activity in the community (whether or not it is included in his or her personal development and employment plan).

    (3B) Subsection (3A)(a) does not prevent the inclusion in a person's personal development and employment plan of provisions relating to his or her undertaking activity in the community.

    (4) A personal development and employment plan does not create any rights or obligations that are enforceable in a court or tribunal.

    (5) Nothing in subsection (4) affects section 10A or sections 12J to 12R.

    (6) This section applies to every person (other than a person for the time being exempted under subsection (7)) who—

    • (a) is the recipient of—

      • (i) a benefit under section 21 (the widow's benefit); or

      • (ii) a benefit under section 27B (the domestic purposes benefit for solo parents); or

      • (iii) a benefit under section 27C (the domestic purposes benefit for women alone); or

      • (iv) a benefit under section 40 (the invalid's benefit); or

      • (v) a benefit under section 54 (the sickness benefit); or

    • (b) is the spouse or partner of a person who—

      • (i) is the recipient of an emergency benefit, an invalid's benefit, a sickness benefit, or an unemployment benefit; and

      • (ii) has a dependent child aged under 6.

    (7) The chief executive may, on the grounds of severe disability or sickness, exempt a person receiving an invalid's benefit from the application of this section.

    Sections 60O to 60Z were inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 11 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Section 60Q(1)(a): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60Q(1)(ab): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60Q(1)(b): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60Q(1)(c): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60Q(1)(ca): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60Q(1)(cb): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60Q(3A): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60Q(3B): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60Q(6): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(3) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60Q(7): added, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(3) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

60R Developing and reviewing personal development and employment plans
  • (1) A personal development and employment plan should be—

    • (a) developed by the beneficiary with the assistance of the chief executive:

    • (b) a plan that is acceptable to the beneficiary and that the beneficiary is willing to sign.

    (2) If, despite reasonable efforts by the chief executive, the beneficiary does not co-operate in the prompt development of a personal development and employment plan or does not sign it, the chief executive may conclude that the beneficiary has failed to comply with a requirement under section 60Q(1).

    (3) At any time after a personal development and employment plan is signed, a beneficiary or the chief executive, may ask for a review of the plan, but, until a review is completed, the beneficiary must demonstrate commitment to the plan in its current form.

    (4) If a beneficiary or the chief executive asks for a review of the beneficiary's personal development and employment plan,—

    • (a) the beneficiary, in co-operation with and with the assistance of the chief executive, must review the plan as soon as practicable; and

    • (b) the beneficiary—

      • (i) may confirm the plan by signing it; or

      • (ii) may amend the plan by signing a revised version of it that includes the amendments.

    Sections 60O to 60Z were inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 11 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Section 60R(3): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(4) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60R(4): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 30(4) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

60S Beneficiary must demonstrate commitment to personal development and employment plan at review
  • (1) This section applies to a beneficiary who has signed a personal development and employment plan developed in accordance with a request under s 60Q(1).

    (2) The chief executive may, at any reasonable time after the beneficiary's current personal development and employment plan was signed or last reviewed, review it with the beneficiary.

    (3) [Repealed]

    (4) At any review of the personal development and employment plan, the chief executive may require the beneficiary to demonstrate that, during the period under review, the beneficiary has had a commitment to the goals set out in that plan and in any other plan in effect during that period.

    (5) The chief executive determines whether a beneficiary has demonstrated a commitment to achieving the goals set out in a personal development and employment plan during any period by considering the overall response of the beneficiary to those goals and to the action plan included in the plan, having regard to,—

    • (a) the extent to which the beneficiary has—

      • (i) undertaken the activities set out in that plan; or

      • (ii) undertaken any other activities relevant to the goals set out in that plan; and

    • (b) if the beneficiary has failed to undertake any or all of the activities set out in the plan, whether those activities were realistically achieveable during the period under consideration.

    (5A) When considering whether a beneficiary has demonstrated commitment to the goals in their plan, the chief executive must not have any regard to whether the beneficiary has failed or refused to undertake activity in the community

    (6) [Repealed]

    Sections 60O to 60Z were inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 11 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Section 60S heading: amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 31(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60S(2): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 31(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60S(3): repealed, on 24 September 2007, by section 31(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60S(4): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 31(3) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60S(5A): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 31(4) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 60S(6): repealed, on 24 September 2007, by section 31(5) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

60T Department must explain rights and obligations in relation to personal development and employment plans
  • The chief executive must take reasonable and appropriate steps to make every beneficiary aware, before the beneficiary signs a personal development and employment plan, of—

    • (a) the beneficiary's obligations that arise from payment of a benefit and the beneficiary's right to assistance to develop or review a plan; and

    • (b) the effect and consequences of signing a plan; and

    • (c) the consequences of failure to comply with a requirement under section 60Q(1) or to demonstrate commitment to the goals of the plan and, in particular, the sanctions that may be imposed under section 60Y; and

    • (d) the beneficiary's right under section 60R(3) to ask for a review of his or her plan; and

    • (e) the beneficiary's right under sections 10A and 12J to review and appeal decisions relating to the plan.

    Sections 60O to 60Z were inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 11 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

60U Failure to comply with personal development and employment plan obligations
  • (1) The chief executive must impose the sanctions set out in section 60Y on a beneficiary if the chief executive considers that a beneficiary has, without a good and sufficient reason,—

    • (a) failed to comply with a requirement under section 60Q(1); or

    • (ab) failed to comply with a request under section 60HA; or

    • (b) failed to demonstrate commitment to the goals in the beneficiary's personal development and employment plan.

    (2) Before determining that there is a failure by the beneficiary and that the failure is a failure without good and sufficient reason, the chief executive must—

    • (a) review the beneficiary's personal development and employment plan (if the beneficiary has one) to determine whether it is appropriate; and

    (3) For the purposes of this section and sections 60V and 60W, a beneficiary has a good and sufficient reason for failing to demonstrate commitment to achieving the goals set out in a personal development and employment plan if—

    • (a) the undertaking by the beneficiary of any activities set out in the plan was dependent on the department taking any action or providing any assistance specified in the plan; and

    • (b) the department did not take that action or supply that assistance, or did not do so to the extent or in the manner specified in the plan.

    (4) Subsection (3) does not limit the circumstances in which a beneficiary has a good and sufficient reason for failing to demonstrate commitment to the goals set out in a personal development and employment plan.

    Sections 60O to 60Z were inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 11 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Section 60U(1)(ab): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 32(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

60V Procedure for determining whether failure is without good and sufficient reason
  • (1) This section applies if the chief executive is considering whether sanctions must be imposed on a beneficiary under section 60Y.

    (2) If this section applies, the chief executive must set a review period of 30 working days during which the chief executive must give the beneficiary (and any support person of the beneficiary's choice) an opportunity to meet with the chief executive.

    (3) The purposes of the meeting and review period under subsection (2) are—

    • (a) to ascertain whether there is a failure by the beneficiary and, if so, the reasons for the beneficiary's failure, and whether those reasons are good and sufficient reasons:

    • (b) in the case of a failure to comply with a requirement under section 60Q(1), to give the beneficiary a further opportunity to remedy the failure within that period:

    • (c) in the case of a failure to demonstrate commitment to the goals set out in the beneficiary's personal development and employment plan, to give the beneficiary the opportunity to co-operate in developing a new plan within that period.

    Sections 60O to 60Z were inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 11 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

60W Failure without good and sufficient reasons
  • (1) If, during the review period set under section 60V(2), the beneficiary fails to take advantage of the opportunity given to him or her, and the chief executive considers that the reasons (if any) given by the beneficiary for the failure to remedy an initial failure are not good and sufficient reasons, the chief executive may,—

    • (a) in the case of a beneficiary who has failed to comply with a requirement under section 60Q(1), require the beneficiary to remedy the failure to comply within a further period of 20 working days; or

    • (b) in the case of a beneficiary who has failed to demonstrate commitment to the goals in the beneficiary's personal development and employment plan, require the beneficiary to undertake to the satisfaction of the chief executive, within a further period of 20 working days, a specified activity that the chief executive considers suitable.

    (2) If the beneficiary does not comply with a requirement under subsection (1)(a) within the required period, the chief executive may consider that the beneficiary has failed without a good and sufficient reason to comply with a requirement under section 60Q(1).

    (3) If the beneficiary does not comply with a requirement under subsection (1)(b) within the required period, the chief executive may consider the beneficiary has failed to demonstrate commitment to the goals in the beneficiary's plan unless, within the period, the beneficiary develops a new personal development and employment plan.

    (4) In this section, specified activity

    • (a) means—

      • (i) an activity in the beneficiary's current personal development and employment plan; or

      • (ii) a pre-employment activity (being an activity designed to prepare a person for employment); but

    • (b) does not include any activity that requires the beneficiary to seek employment or undertake any work.

    Sections 60O to 60Z were inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 11 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

60X Procedure for imposing sanctions
  • (1) This section applies if a sanction is to be imposed on a beneficiary under section 60Y.

    (2) If this section applies, the chief executive must not reduce a benefit payable to a beneficiary unless the chief executive has first given the beneficiary written notice—

    • (a) stating that the beneficiary has failed to comply with a specified obligation under this Act; and

    • (b) specifying the nature of that failure; and

    • (c) stating that, because of that failure, the chief executive is reducing the benefit payable to the beneficiary; and

    • (d) specifying a date on which the reduction is to take effect, and the nature and duration of the reduction; and

    • (e) stating that the beneficiary has 10 working days from the giving of the notice to dispute the reduction; and

    • (f) advising the beneficiary to contact the department if the beneficiary wants to dispute or discuss the decision to reduce the benefit; and

    • (g) containing a clear statement of the beneficiary's right, under section 10A, to apply for a review of the decision, and of the procedure for applying for a review.

    (3) Section 114 applies with all necessary modifications to notices under this section.

    Sections 60O to 60Z were inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 11 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

60Y Sanctions for failure to comply with obligations in relation to personal development and employment plan
  • (1) The sanctions that the chief executive must apply in respect of a failure under section 60U are:

    • (a) the person's benefit must be reduced by 20% until the person complies; and

    • (b) if, after 4 weeks from the date on which the reduction under paragraph (a) takes effect, the person has not complied, the benefit must be reduced by a further 30% (so that the total reduction is 50%) until the person complies.

    (1A) A reduction under subsection (1),—

    • (a) in the case of an emergency benefit, an invalid's benefit, a sickness benefit, or an unemployment benefit, that is payable at the rate for a person who is married or in a civil union or de facto relationship, applies to only half the benefit (but the beneficiary's spouse or partner is, subject to the appropriate Income Test applied at half its abatement rate, entitled to receive the other half of the benefit); and

    • (b) in any other case, applies to the whole of the benefit payable to the beneficiary.

    (2) A reduction under subsection (1) applies to the rate of benefit payable to the beneficiary after any abatement on account of income.

    (3) The reduction of the benefit must not take effect before the close of the 10 working days specified in the notice under section 60X(2)(e).

    (4) For the purposes of this section and section 60Z, a person complies if the person—

    • (a) remedies the relevant failure; or

    • (b) if the person has been required to undertake an activity specified by the chief executive, undertakes that activity to the satisfaction of the chief executive, or develops a new personal development and employment plan.

    (5) This section is subject to section 60Z.

    Sections 60O to 60Z were inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 11 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Section 60Y(1A): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 33 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

60Z Effect of compliance or agreement to comply
  • (1) If a person complies, the reduction applied to the person's benefit ceases and the person is entitled to be paid the benefit at the rate otherwise payable on and after the date that the person's benefit was first reduced under section 60Y.

    (2) Subject to subsection (4), if a person (other than a person to whom sanctions are being applied under subsection (4)(a)) agrees to comply within a period set by the chief executive, the reduction applied to the person's benefit ceases and the person is entitled to be paid the benefit at the rate otherwise payable on and after the date that the person's benefit was first reduced under section 60Y.

    (3) The chief executive must give to every person to whom subsection (2) applies a notice that—

    • (a) confirms the agreement under subsection (2); and

    • (b) states the period for compliance set under sub- section (2) (which must be a period of not less than 10 working days from the date the notice is given in accordance with section 114, which applies with all necessary modifications).

    (4) If a person who has agreed to comply fails to do so within the period set under subsection (2) and the chief executive considers that the person does not have a good and sufficient reason for the failure,—

    • (a) the chief executive must apply the sanctions set out in section 60Y(1), which applies with the following modifications:

      • (i) if the person's benefit was subject to a reduction of 20% under section 60Y(1)(a) immediately before the reduction ceased under subsection (2), that benefit must again be reduced by 20% under section 60Y(1)(a) and, if the person has not complied after 4 weeks from the date on which that subsequent reduction takes effect, the amount of that reduction must be increased under section 60Y(1)(b):

      • (ii) if the person's benefit was subject to a reduction of 50% under section 60Y(1)(b) immediately before the reduction ceased under subsection (2), that benefit must again be reduced by 50% under section 60Y(1)(b):

    • (b) the chief executive is not required to comply with sections 60V to 60X before applying those sanctions, and section 60Y(3) does not apply.

    Sections 60O to 60Z were inserted, as from 10 March 2003, by section 11 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

Emergency benefits

61 Chief executive may grant emergency benefit in cases of hardship
  • (1) The chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion and subject to such conditions as it thinks fit to impose, grant an emergency benefit under this Act on account of hardship to any person who satisfies the following conditions, namely:

    • (a) That by reason of age, or of physical or mental disability, or of domestic circumstances, or for any other reason, he is unable to earn a sufficient livelihood for himself and his dependants (if any); and

    • (b) That he is not qualified to be granted any benefit:

    Provided that the chief executive may at any time, in the chief executive's discretion, grant an emergency benefit instead of or in substitution for an invalid's benefit, a domestic purposes benefit, a widow's benefit, an independent youth benefit, or a an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit:

    Provided also that, where the chief executive is of the opinion that a person applying for or in receipt of an invalid's benefit, a domestic purposes benefit, a widow's benefit, an independent youth benefit, or a an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit should undergo a course of training in any occupation, or should submit himself for examination at any medical or psychological clinic, or should receive any medical or other treatment, or should undergo any course of training for the improvement of his physical or mental capacities, or should do any work required of him, or should take more adequate steps to secure suitable employment, the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, grant an emergency benefit instead of or in substitution for an invalid's benefit, a domestic purposes benefit, a widow's benefit, an independent youth benefit, or a an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit; and in any such case the grant or continuance of the emergency benefit may be made subject to the condition that he shall comply with the requirements of the chief executive in respect of any such matters.

    (1A) Where the chief executive is considering granting an emergency benefit on the grounds of hardship under subsection (1), the chief executive must first consider whether to grant a sickness benefit under section 54A or an unemployment benefit under section 90 .

    (2) The rate of the emergency benefit shall, in each case, be in the discretion of the chief executive, but, except in any case where the beneficiary is receiving medical or other treatment, shall not exceed the rate to which the beneficiary would be entitled if he were qualified to receive such other benefit as in the opinion of the chief executive is analogous to the emergency benefit.

    (3) Every emergency benefit shall commence on such date and shall be continued for such period and subject to such conditions as the chief executive in each case determines.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 58; 1948 No 78 s 21

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 6 September 1971, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1971 (1971 No 8) by inserting the words and subject to such conditions as it thinks fit to impose.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(3)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit for a community wage.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 1991, by section 17(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1) by omitting other than a family benefit.

    The first and second provisos to subsection (1) were amended, as from 1 April 1991, by section 17(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit, an independent youth benefit, or a job search allowance for or an unemployment benefit.

    The first and second provisos to subsection (1) were further amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by substituting young job seeker's allowance for job search allowance.

    The first and second provisos to subsection (1) were further amended, as from 1 October 1998, by 41(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting an invalid's benefit, a domestic purposes benefit, a widow's benefit, an independent youth benefit, or a community wage for an invalid's benefit, a sickness benefit, an unemployment benefit, an independent youth benefit, or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by 41(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (1A) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(7) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting a sickness benefit under section 54A or an unemployment benefit under section 90 for a community wage under section 89.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 6 September 1971, by section 2(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1971 (1971 No 8) by inserting the words and subject to such conditions.

    The words Director-General in subsections (1) to (3) were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion in subsection (1) were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

61A Obligations of spouse or partner of person granted emergency benefit
  • (1) This section applies to—

    • (a) The spouse or partner of a person granted an emergency benefit at a work-test married rate; or

    • (b) A person (being a person who is under the age of 60) granted an emergency benefit under regulations made under section 155.

    (2) A person to whom this section applies—

    • (b) if he or she is a work-tested spouse or partner, must comply with the work test.

    Section 61A was substituted by section 19 Social Security Amendment Act 1972, and further substituted, as from 25 July 1979, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 14).

    Section 61A and the preceding heading were repealed, as from 1 October 1986, by section 14(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39). See section 14(7) of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    A new section 61A was inserted, as from 1 February 1999, by section 73 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    The heading to section 61A was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by substituting section 155 for section 132B. See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Section 61A(2): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 34 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

61B Special provisions in respect of additional benefits for dependent children
  • [Repealed]

    Section 61B was substituted by section 19 Social Security Amendment Act 1972, and further substituted, as from 25 July 1979, by section 8(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 14).

    Section 61B was repealed, as from 1 October 1986, by section 14(1)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39). See section 14(7) of that Act for the transitional provisions.

61C Special powers of Director-General in respect of maintenance
  • In respect of any period in which a benefit is payable, any officer of the department, without special appointment, may, as if he or she were the beneficiary, institute or appear personally or by agent in any proceedings under the Family Proceedings Act 1980 or the Child Support Act 1991 for or relating to—

    • (a) The maintenance of the beneficiary; or

    • (b) The payment of child support for any child of that beneficiary; or

    • (c) The establishment of the paternity of any child of the beneficiary.

    Section 61C was substituted by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973, further substituted, as from 1 October 1981, by section 189(1) Family Proceedings Act 1980 (1980 No 94).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 61C was substituted, as from 1 July 1992, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act (No 5) 1991 (1991 No 143).

61CA Maintenance payable to Crown
  • (1) In this section,—

    Beneficiary means a person who was granted the benefit in respect of which a maintenance debt was incurred

    Maintenance has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980

    Maintenance debt means any money payable under a maintenance order that was payable to the Consolidated Revenue Account or Crown Bank Account under section 27F of this Act (as it existed immediately before its repeal by section 6(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act (No 5) 1991), and unpaid as at the close of the 30th day of June 1992, declared to continue to be payable to the Crown Bank Account as a debt due to the Crown by section 9(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993

    Maintenance order has the same meaning as it had in section 2 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980 immediately before the amendment of that definition by the Family Proceedings Amendment Act 1991.

    (2) In respect of any maintenance debt—

    • (a) The chief executive shall, for the purposes of the Family Proceedings Act 1980 or any other enactment, be deemed to be the person to whom and for whose benefit the money is payable pursuant to the maintenance order, and may take any proceedings accordingly:

    • (b) All money received under the maintenance order shall, without any further authority, be paid into the Crown Bank Account:

    • (c) Either the beneficiary or the chief executive or any officer of the Department, acting for and on behalf of the beneficiary, may institute and prosecute proceedings under Part 7 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980 (as preserved by section 259(1) of the Child Support Act 1991) for the enforcement of the maintenance order.

    (3) While any maintenance debt remains payable, the chief executive shall be served with all proceedings instituted under the Family Proceedings Act 1980 in relation to the maintenance order, by the delivery of a true copy of all documents filed in the proceedings to the relevant office of the Department nearest to the Court in which the proceedings are filed. The chief executive or any officer of the Department shall, without special appointment, be entitled to appear and be heard in those proceedings.

    Section 61CA was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

Epidemics

  • This heading was inserted, as from 19 December 2006, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 90).

61CB Payment of benefits during epidemic in New Zealand
  • (1) This subsection applies to any period comprising—

    • (a) the period when a domestic epidemic management notice is in force; and

    • (b) a period after the notice expires that the Minister thinks reasonable in the circumstances.

    (2) During a period to which subsection (1) applies, the chief executive may, with the written approval of the Minister and within any limits stated in the approval, do any or all of the following:

    • (a) cause benefits to be paid to people who would not otherwise be entitled to be paid benefits because—

      • (i) their benefits are subject to a stand down period; or

      • (ii) their benefits, or payments of their benefits, are suspended:

    • (b) reinstate the benefits of, and for any parts of the period the chief executive thinks fit make payments under them to, people whose benefits—

      • (i) were cancelled or terminated within the 8 weeks before the commencement of the domestic epidemic management notice concerned; or

      • (ii) are cancelled or terminated while the notice is in force:

    • (c) as the case requires, grant benefits to or reinstate the benefits of, and for any parts of the period the chief executive thinks fit make payments under them to, people who—

      • (i) were subject to a non-entitlement period on the commencement of the domestic epidemic management notice concerned; or

      • (ii) become subject to a non-entitlement period while the notice is in force:

    • (d) cause payments under benefits to be made to people at a rate—

      • (i) higher than a lower rate to which they would otherwise be entitled (being a lower rate resulting from one or more of the following:

        • (A) a reduction or variation of a rate of benefit:

        • (B) a suspension of a benefit or payments under a benefit:

        • (C) a direct deduction from payments under a benefit:

        • (D) a sanction, penalty, or non-entitlement period, imposed on a spouse or partner); but

      • (ii) not higher than the maximum rate to which they would otherwise be entitled:

    • (e) refrain from exercising a power to cancel, suspend, vary, or terminate benefits or payments under benefits, in circumstances where the holders satisfy the normal criteria for cancellation, suspension, variation, or termination of benefits or payments:

    • (f) refrain from cancelling, suspending, or terminating benefits in circumstances where this Act requires them to be cancelled, suspended, or terminated.

    (3) A benefit granted or reinstated under paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) of subsection (2) must be treated as having ended when the period concerned expires, unless its holder has or has again become entitled to be granted it.

    (4) Subsection (2) overrides every provision of this Act to contrary.

    Sections 61CB to 61CF were inserted, as from 19 December 2006, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 90).

61CC Granting of emergency benefits during epidemic in New Zealand
  • (1) While a domestic epidemic management notice is in force, and for any period after it expires that the Minister thinks reasonable in the circumstances, the chief executive may, with the written approval of the Minister, cause emergency benefits to be granted to people who would not otherwise be entitled to be granted emergency benefits.

    (2) Payments made under a benefit granted under subsection (1) are provisional only; and if the chief executive believes on reasonable grounds that its granting was not appropriate (or that too much was paid under it),—

    • (a) the person granted it is liable to repay the amount paid (or what the chief executive considers to be the amount of the excess); and

    • (b) section 85A(b) applies accordingly.

    (3) Subsection (1) overrides every other provision of this Act.

    Sections 61CB to 61CF were inserted, as from 19 December 2006, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 90).

61CD During epidemic benefits may be granted without normal investigations
  • While a domestic epidemic management notice is in force, and for any period after it expires that the Minister thinks reasonable in the circumstances, a benefit may be granted to a person even if the claim for it has not been investigated, or has not been fully investigated, as required by section 12(1).

    Sections 61CB to 61CF were inserted, as from 19 December 2006, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 90).

61CE Overseas epidemics affecting visitors to New Zealand
  • (1) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare that the effects of an outbreak outside New Zealand of a stated quarantinable disease are likely to cause hardship to people temporarily in New Zealand by preventing or hindering their prompt return to stated places.

    (2) The notice comes into force on its commencement, and expires on the earliest of the following:

    • (a) the day 3 months after its commencement:

    • (b) a day stated in the notice:

    • (c) if the notice does not provide for its expiry, a day stated by the Minister by further notice in the Gazette.

    (3) Before or after the notice expires, the Minister can give a new notice in respect of the same disease.

    (4) The Minister must not give the notice except on, and after considering, the written recommendation of the chief executive of the Ministry of Health.

    (5) In subsection (1), quarantinable disease has the meaning given to it by section 2(1) of the Health Act 1956.

    Sections 61CB to 61CF were inserted, as from 19 December 2006, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 90).

61CF Special assistance for visitors affected by overseas epidemics
  • (1) The Minister may, in respect of any period for which an overseas epidemic management notice is in force, by notice in the Gazette establish programmes of special assistance for visitors to New Zealand prevented or hindered from returning promptly to places stated in the notice by the outbreak outside New Zealand of the disease stated in the notice.

    (2) The notice must state—

    • (a) the criteria by which it is to be determined which people are given assistance; and

    • (b) any maximum amounts of assistance to be given; and

    • (c) if different amounts of assistance may be given to different people, the criteria by which it is to be determined how much assistance people are to be given; and

    • (d) for how long assistance may be given; and

    • (e) any conditions subject which assistance is to be given.

    (3) The programme, and the matters stated in the notice establishing it, override every other provision of this Act.

    Sections 61CB to 61CF were inserted, as from 19 December 2006, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 90).

61D Interpretation
  • (1) In sections 61DB, 61DC, and 61DD of this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    Assessable estate means the estate of a deceased person, including a deceased child; but does not include—

    • (a) Any asset which the chief executive considers is impracticable to realise; or

    • (b) Any administration expenses; or

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Child includes a still-born child as defined in section 2 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995

    Non-assessable assets, in relation to a deceased person, a spouse or partner, or the parents or any other person who was liable in law to maintain a deceased child on the date of death, are—

    • (a) That person's estate or interest, on the date of death of the deceased, in his or her own principal place of residence, including any estate or interest in the land on which it is erected, and any other buildings or improvements on that land which are used principally for the purposes of that person's household; and

    • (b) Chattels which the person owned or which were in his or her possession pursuant to a hire purchase agreement or conditional sale agreement or an agreement for lease or hire, on the date of death of the deceased, and which are—

      • (i) Furniture, appliances, tools, ornaments, or other articles used principally for the purposes of the deceased's household; or

      • (ii) Motor vehicles, caravans, trailers, or boats used principally for family purposes; and

    • (c) Any undivided beneficial interest in common in Maori land.

    Non-assessable assets: this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    (2) In sections 61DB and 61DD of this Act, the annual income of any person shall be that person's estimated income for the 52-week period commencing on the day following the date of death of the deceased in respect of whom the application is made.

    Section 61D was substituted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    Sections 61D to 61DE were substituted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 16(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78)

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Section 61D(1) child: amended, on 24 January 2009, by section 47 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 48).

    The reference to section 2 of the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1995 was substituted, as from 1 September 1995, for a reference to section 2 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1951 by section 96 of the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (1995 No 16).

61DA Restrictions on payment of funeral grants
  • Funeral grants shall not be payable under section 61DB or section 61DC or section 61DD of this Act if—

    • (c) A payment under regulation 45 of the War Pensions Regulations 1956, or an analogous payment, is payable in respect of the deceased; or

    • (d) The deceased person, including a deceased child, was not ordinarily resident in New Zealand on the date of death.

    Sections 61DA to 61DG were inserted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 61D to 61DE were substituted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 16(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78)

    Section 61DA was amended, as from 1 July 1999, by section 415(1) Accident Insurance Act 1998 (1998 No 114) by substituting Clause 65 of Schedule 1 of the Accident Insurance Act 1998 for Section 81 of the Accident Compensation Act 1982.

    Paragraph (a) was substituted, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49). See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    Paragraph (b) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by substituting section 74A of the War Pensions Act 1954 for section 12 of the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

61DB Payment of funeral grants where there is a surviving spouse or partner or children
  • If a person, other than a child, dies and the deceased person is survived by—

    • (a) A spouse or partner; or

    • (b) A child or children whom he or she is liable in law to maintain; or

    • (c) Any other dependent child or dependent children (whether dependent on the deceased or any other person) aged 16 years or 17 years of whom the deceased person was the parent—

    the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, pay a funeral grant not exceeding $1,820.08 to meet the deceased person's reasonable funeral expenses if—

    • (d) Those funeral expenses cannot be paid from the aggregate of—

      • (i) The deceased's assessable estate before the payment of any other debts; and

      • (ii) The assets of any spouse or partner who survives the deceased, other than non-assessable assets, in excess of the amount in clause 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 31; and

    • (e) The annual income of any spouse or partner who survives the deceased is less than 52 times the appropriate amount in Part 2 of Schedule 31.

    Sections 61DA to 61DG were inserted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    The words Director-General in the previous section 61DB were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 61D to 61DE were substituted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 16(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78)

    The heading to section 61DB was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Section 61DB: amended, on 1 April 2009, by clause 3(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2009 (SR 2009/27).

    Section 61DB was amended, as from 1 April 1993, by regulation 2(a) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances Order 1993 (SR 1993/67) by substituting $1,016 for $1,000.

    Section 61DB was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by regulation 2(a) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances Order 1994 (SR 1994/38) by substituting $1,030 for $1,016.

    Section 61DB was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by regulation 2(a) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1995 (SR 1995/51) by substituting $1,058.84 for $1,030

    Section 61DB was amended, as from 1 April 1996, by clause 2(a) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1996 (SR 1996/49) by substituting $1,089.76 for $1,058.84.

    Section 61DB (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended, as from 1 April 1997, by clause 2 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1997 (SR 1997/40) by substituting $1,117.55 for $1,089.76.

    Section 61DB (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended, as from 1 April 1998, by clause 3 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1998 (SR 1998/34) by substituting 1,126.83 for 1,117.55.

    Section 61DB (that part after paragraph (c) was amended, as from 1 April 1999, by clause 2 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1999 (SR 1999/58) by substituting 1,131.00 for 1,126.83.

    Section 61DB (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended by clause 3 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2000 (SR 2000/41) by substituting 1,136.77 for 1,131.00, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2000.

    Section 61DB (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended by clause 3 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2001 (SR 2001/24) by substituting 1,182.01 for 1,136.77, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2001.

    Section 61DB (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2002 (SR 2002/53) by substituting $1,203.52 for 1,182.01, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2002.

    Section 61DB (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2003 (SR 2003/44) by substituting $1,236.26 for $1,203.52 with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2003.

    Section 61DB (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Funeral Grants) Order 2003 (SR 2003/149) by substituting $1,545.33 for $1,236.26 with application to persons who die on or after 1 July 2003.

    Section 61DB (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2004 (SR 2004/52) by substituting $1,569.28 for $1,545.33, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2004.

    Section 61DB (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2005 (SR 2005/42) by substituting $1,611.65 for $1,569.28, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2005.

    Section 61DB (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended, as from 1 April 2006, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2006 (SR 2006/44) by substituting $1,662.58 for $1,611.65 with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2006.

    Section 61DB (that part after paragraph (c)) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2007 (SR 2007/60) by substituting $1,706.31 for $1,662.58 with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2007.

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Section 61DB(c): amended, on 1 April 2008, by clause 3(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2008 (SR 2008/53).

    Paragraph (d)(ii) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section 6(a) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by substituting the amount in clause 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 31 for the value of an amount equivalent to 400 percent of the maximum weekly rate of invalid's benefit which a married couple is entitled to receive. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Paragraph (d)(ii) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Paragraph (e) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section 6(b) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by substituting is less than 52 times the appropriate amount in Part 2 of Schedule 31 for would not be sufficient to disentitle a person in receipt of that income from receiving an invalid's benefit. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Paragraph (e) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

61DC Payment of funeral grants where there is no surviving spouse or partner or children
  • If a person, other than a child, dies and section 61DB of this Act does not apply, the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, pay a funeral grant not exceeding $1,820.08 to meet the deceased person's reasonable funeral expenses if those funeral expenses cannot be paid from the deceased's assessable estate before the payment of any other debts.

    Sections 61DA to 61DG were inserted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    The words Director-General in the previous section 61DC were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion in the previous section 61DC were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 61D to 61DE were substituted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 16(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78)

    The heading to section 61DC was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Section 61DC: amended, on 1 April 2009, by clause 3(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2009 (SR 2009/27).

    Section 61DC: amended, on 1 April 2008, by clause 3(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2008 (SR 2008/53).

    Section 61DC was amended, as from 1 April 1993, by regulation 2(b) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances Order 1993 (SR 1993/67) by substituting $1,016 for $1,000.

    Section 61DC was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by regulation 2(b) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances Order 1994 (SR 1994/38) by substituting $1,030 for $1,016.

    Section 61DC was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by regulation 2(b) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1995 (SR 1995/51) by substituting $1,058.84 for $1,030

    Section 61DC was amended, as from 1 April 1996, by clause 2(b) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1996 (SR 1996/49) by substituting $1,089.76 for $1,058.84.

    Section 61DC was amended, as from 1 April 1997, by clause 2 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1997 (SR 1997/40) by substituting $1,117.55 for $1,089.76.

    Section 61DC was amended, as from 1 April 1998, by clause 3 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1998 (SR 1998/34) by substituting 1,126.83 for 1,117.55.

    Section 61DC was amended, as from 1 April 1999, by clause 2 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1999 (SR 1999/58) by substituting 1,131.00 for 1,126.83.

    Section 61DC was amended, as from 1 April 2000, by clause 3 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2000 (SR 2000/41) by substituting 1,136.77 for 1,131.00.

    Section 61DC was amended by clause 3 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2001 (SR 2001/24) by substituting 1,182.01 for 1,136.77, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2001.

    Section 61DC was amended, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2002 (SR 2002/53) by substituting $1,203.52 for 1,182.01, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2002.

    Section 61DC was amended, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2003 (SR 2003/44) by substituting $1,236.26 for $1,203.52 with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2003.

    Section 61DC was amended, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Funeral Grants) Order 2003 (SR 2003/149) by substituting $1,545.33 for $1,236.26 with application to persons who die on or after 1 July 2003.

    Section 61DC was amended by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2004 (SR 2004/52) by substituting $1,569.28 for $1,545.33, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2004.

    Section 61DC was amended by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2005 (SR 2005/42) by substituting $1,611.65 for $1,569.28, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2005.

    Section 61DC was amended, as from 1 April 2006, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2006 (SR 2006/44) by substituting $1,662.58 for $1,611.65 with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2006.

    Section 61DC was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2007 (SR 2007/60) by substituting $1,706.31 for $1,662.58 with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2007.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

61DD Children's funeral grants
  • If a child dies the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, pay a funeral grant not exceeding $1,820.08 to meet the deceased child's reasonable funeral expenses if—

    • (a) Those funeral expenses cannot be paid from the aggregate of—

      • (i) The deceased child's assessable estate before the payment of any other debts; and

      • (ii) The combined assets of the parents, or any other person or persons, who were liable in law to maintain the deceased child on the date of death, other than non-assessable assets, in excess of the amount in clause 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 31; and

    • (b) The combined annual income of the parents, or any other person or persons, who were liable in law to maintain the deceased child on the date of death is less than 52 times the appropriate amount in Part 2 of Schedule 31.

    Sections 61DA to 61DG were inserted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 61D to 61DE were substituted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 16(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    Section 61DD: amended, on 1 April 2009, by clause 3(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2009 (SR 2009/27).

    Section 61DD: amended, on 1 April 2008, by clause 3(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2008 (SR 2008/53).

    Section 61DD was amended, as from 1 April 1993, by regulation 2(c) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances Order 1993 (SR 1993/67) by substituting $1,016 for $1,000.

    Section 61DD was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by regulation 2(c) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances Order 1994 (SR 1994/38) by substituting $1,030 for $1,016.

    Section 61DD was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by regulation 2(c) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1995 (SR 1995/51) by substituting $1,058.84 for $1,030

    Section 61DD was amended, as from 1 April 1996, by clause 2(b) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1996 (SR 1996/49) by substituting $1,089.76 for $1,058.84.

    Section 61DD was amended, as from 1 April 1996, by clause 2(c) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1996 (SR 1996/49) by substituting $1,089.76 for $1,058.84.

    Section 61DD (that part before paragraph (a)) was amended, as from 1 April 1997, by clause 2 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1997 (SR 1997/40) by substituting $1,117.55 for $1,089.76.

    Section 61DD (that part before paragraph (a)) was amended, as from 1 April 1998, by clause 3 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1998 (SR 1998/34) by substituting 1,126.83 for 1,117.55.

    Section 61DD (that part before paragraph (a)) was amended, as from 1 April 1999, by clause 2 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 1999 (SR 1999/58) by substituting $1,131.00 for $1,126.83.

    Section 61DD (that part before paragraph (a)) was amended, as from 1 April 2000, by clause 3 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2000 (SR 2000/41) by substituting $1,136.77 for $1,131.00.

    Section 61DD (that part before paragraph (a)) was amended by clause 3 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2001 (SR 2001/24) by substituting $1,182.01 for $1,136.77, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2001.

    Section 61DD (that part before paragraph (a)) was amended, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2002 (SR 2002/53) by substituting $1,203.52 for $1,182.01, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2002.

    Section 61DD (that part before paragraph (a)) was amended, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2003 (SR 2003/44) by substituting $1,236.26 for $1,203.52 with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2003.

    Section 61DD (that part before paragraph (a)) was amended, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Funeral Grants) Order 2003 (SR 2003/149) by substituting $1,545.33 for $1,236.26 with application to persons who die on or after 1 July 2003.

    Section 61DD was amended by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2004 (SR 2004/52) by substituting $1,569.28 for $1,545.33, with application in respect of persons who die on or after 1 April 2004.

    Section 61DD was amended by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2005 (SR 2005/42) by substituting $1,611.65 for $1,569.28, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2005.

    Section 61DD was amended, as from 1 April 2006, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2006 (SR 2006/44) by substituting $1,662.58 for $1,611.65, with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2006.

    Section 61DD was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by clause 3(1) Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2007 (SR 2007/60) by substituting $1,706.31 for $1,662.58 with application to persons who die on or after 1 April 2007.

    Paragraph (a)(ii) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section 7(a) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by substituting the amount in clause 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 31 for the value of an amount equivalent to 400 percent of the maximum weekly rate of invalid's benefit which a married couple is entitled to receive. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Paragraph (b) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section 7(b) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by substituting is less than 52 times the appropriate amount in Part 2 of Schedule 31 for would not be sufficient to disentitle a person in receipt of that income from receiving an invalid's benefit. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

61DE Method of making payments
  • (1) Any payment under section 61DB or section 61DC or section 61DD of this Act shall be made, in the chief executive's discretion,—

    • (a) To the spouse or partner or any child of the deceased; or

    • (b) To the estate of the deceased; or

    • (c) To any person who has paid the deceased's funeral expenses; or

    • (d) To the appropriate funeral director; or

    • (e) In the case of a deceased child, to the parent or any other person or persons who were liable in law to maintain that child immediately before the date of death.

    (2) If the quantum of the assets of a deceased person's estate, or the income derived or to be derived by any person whose income is to be tested under section 61DB or section 61DD of this Act, has not been finally determined, and there is a doubt as to whether any funeral grant is payable under section 61DB or section 61DC or section 61DD of this Act, the chief executive, in the chief executive's discretion, may advance any amount payable under those sections on the condition that the whole or any part of it will be repaid if it is subsequently established that there was no entitlement to all or any part of that payment.

    Sections 61DA to 61DG were inserted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    The words Director-General in the previous section 61DE were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion in the previous section 61DE were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 61D to 61DE were substituted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 16(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78)

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

61DF Method of making payments
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 61DA to 61DG were inserted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 61DF was repealed, as from 1 August 1991, by section 16(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78)

61DG Applications for lump sum payments after death
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 61DA to 61DG were inserted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    Section 61DG was repealed, as from 12 December 1985, by section 12 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 159).

Accommodation supplement

  • The heading Accommodation Supplement was inserted, as from 2 July 1975, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

61DH Purpose of accommodation supplement
  • The purpose of sections 61E to 61EC and Schedule 18 is to provide targeted financial assistance to help certain people with high accommodation costs to meet those costs.

    Section 61DH was inserted, as from 4 June 2004, by section 8 Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

61E Interpretation
  • (1) In this section and sections 61EA, 61EB and 61EC, of, and in Schedule 18 to, this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    Accommodation costs, in relation to any person for any given period, means,—

    • (a) in relation to premises rented by the person, the total cost, excluding arrears, of the premises to the person:

    • (aa) [Repealed]

    • (b) In relation to premises that are owned by the person, the total amount of all payments (including essential repairs and maintenance, local authority rates, and house insurance premiums, but excluding any arrears) that—

      • (i) Subject to section 68A of this Act, are required to be made under any mortgage security for money advanced under that security to acquire the premises, or to repay advances similarly secured; or

      • (ii) The chief executive is satisfied are reasonably required to be made:

    • (c) In relation to a person who is a boarder or lodger in any premises, 62% of the amount paid for board or lodging (excluding any arrears):

      Provided that, where a person is a joint tenant or owner in common of any premises with another person or other persons living in the premises, that applicant's accommodation costs shall be the share of the total accommodation costs of the premises that the chief executive is satisfied the person is paying:

    Accommodation costs: paragraph (a) of this definition was substituted, and paragraph (aa) was inserted, as from 3 June 1998, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60).

    Accommodation costs: paragraph (a) of this definition was substituted, and paragraph (aa) was repealed, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(1) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22). See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

    Accommodation costs: paragraph (b)(i) of this definition was amended, as from 2 October 1994, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) by substituting Subject to section 68A of this Act, are for Are with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Accommodation costs: paragraph (c) of this definition was amended, as from 1 July 1997, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 21) by substituting 62% for two-thirds.

    Beneficiary means any person who is being paid—

    • (a) an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit, a widow's benefit, a domestic purposes benefit, an invalid's benefit, an independent youth benefit, or an emergency benefit; or

    • (b) New Zealand superannuation or a veteran's pension:

    Beneficiary: paragraph (a) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by substituting young job seeker's allowance for job search allowance. See section 9(2) of that Act as to the meaning of the term beneficiary in sections 61E and 61EA of this Act for the purposes of assessing entitlement to an accommodation supplement.

    Beneficiary: paragraph (a) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 42 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Beneficiary: paragraph (a) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit for a community wage.

    Beneficiary: paragraph (b) was substituted, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149).

    Beneficiary: paragraph (b) was amended, as from 15 April 2005, by section 4(1) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30) by omitting , a transitional retirement benefit,.

    cash assets

    • (a) means—

      • (i) money saved with a bank or other institution, money invested with a bank or other institution, or money banked with a bank or other institution:

      • (ii) money invested in securities, bonds, or debentures, or advanced on mortgage:

      • (iii) money invested in shares in a partnership or limited liability company or other incorporated or unincorporated body; but

    • (ab) does not include any contributions to, or any member's interest in, any KiwiSaver scheme that is registered under the KiwiSaver Act 2006; and

    • (b) does not include any specified item or amount of cash assets, or cash assets of a specified kind, that is declared not to be cash assets for the purposes of this Act by regulations made under section 132

    cash assets: this definition was substituted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 12 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    cash assets: paragraph (a)(i) of this definition was substituted, as from 15 April 2005, by section 4(2) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    cash assets: paragraph (a)(iia) of this definition was inserted, as from 1 December 2006, by section 231 KiwiSaver Act 2006 (2006 No 40). See section 232 of that Act as to the transitional provision requiring all KiwiSaver contributions to be paid to the Commissioner in the first 3 months. See clause 2(2) KiwiSaver Act Commencement Order 2006 (SR 2006/357).

    cash assets: paragraph (ab) of this definition was inserted, as from 1 December 2006, by section 231 KiwiSaver Act 2006 (2006 No 40). See section 232 of that Act as to the transitional provision requiring all KiwiSaver contributions to be paid to the Commissioner in the first 3 months. See clause 2(2) KiwiSaver Act Commencement Order 2006 (SR 2006/357).

    deferred payment disposition means a contract under which a person sells or agrees to sell property or provides or agrees to provide services (whether or not possession of the property is given, or the services are provided, before all money payable under the contract has been paid) in consideration of a promise by another person to pay, or to procure the payment of, in the future and in respect of the sale or provision, a sum or sums of money exceeding in aggregate the cash price of the property or services

    deferred payment disposition: this definition was substituted, as from 1 April 2005, by section 139 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 (2003 No 52). See sections 141 to 143 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Mortgage security includes—

    • (a) A deferred payment disposition; and, in any such case, the balance of the purchase price required to be paid to the vendor of the premises under any such disposition shall, for the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of the term accommodation costs, be treated as money advanced under a mortgage security:

    • (c) Money payable under and secured by a deferred payment licence under the Land Act 1948:

    The reference to Part 7A of the Land Transfer Act 1952 replaced, as from 1 July 1994, a reference to the Companies Amendment Act 1964 pursuant to section 3 Land Transfer Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 124).

    Non-beneficiary means a person who is not a beneficiary

    Owner includes a person legally entitled to occupy the premises under—

    • (a) A deferred payment disposition; or

    • (b) A lease, where the occupier is also the lessor as owner or one of the lessors as one of the owners; or

    • (ba) a licence to occupy, where the premises are a residential unit in a retirement village (as those terms are defined in the Retirement Villages Act 2003); or

    and owned has a corresponding meaning

    The reference to Part 7A of the Land Transfer Act 1952 replaced, as from 1 July 1994, a reference to the Companies Amendment Act 1964 pursuant to section 3 Land Transfer Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 124).

    owner: paragraph (ba) was inserted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 4(3) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Premises, in relation to any person, means the place that he or she occupies as a home; and includes, in relation to a person who is a boarder or lodger, any room or other accommodation occupied as a home by that person

    Tenant, in relation to any rented premises, includes a person who pays rent, whether or not he or she is a party to the tenancy agreement or lease of the premises

    Weekly accommodation costs means the greater of—

    • (a) The total amount of a person's accommodation costs for a 12-month period divided by 52; or

    • (b) The amount which, at the time of application or subsequent renewal, the person is required to pay weekly for accommodation costs or may reasonably be required to set aside weekly to pay accommodation costs.

    (2) While a person is not entitled to an accommodation supplement under section 80C of this Act, the accommodation costs of that person shall be considered to be the accommodation costs of that person's spouse or partner for the purposes of—

    • (a) This section; and

    (3) Subsection (2) of this section is subject to section 61EB of this Act (which relates to joint tenants who are married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship) and to section 80C(1A) of this Act (which relates to continuing accommodation supplement for certain benefit applicants).

    Sections 61E to 61G were inserted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    The words accommodation benefit were substituted for additional benefit, as from 14 October 1981, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1981 (1981 No 46).

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 9 February 1977, by section 14(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40) by substituting A for An age.

    Paragraph (aa) was inserted, as from 9 February 1977, by section 14(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Paragraph (aa) was repealed, as from 11 October 1978, by section 16(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Paragraph (aa) was inserted, as from 24 August 1979, by section 9 Social Security Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 14).

    Paragraph (e) was repealed, as from 9 February 1977, by section 14(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 61E to 61F were substituted by sections 61E to 61EC, as from 1 July 1993, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(1) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22) by substituting and 61EC for 61EC, 61FA, 61FB, 61FC, and 61FD. See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189). See also section 7(6) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22), which states that until the first day on or after 17 November 2000 that is the first day of a rent period, sections 61E to 61EC, 61FC, 61FD, and Schedule 18 of this Act, continue to apply to a tenant of HNZ housing as if they were still in force in relation to the tenant. See section 7(7) of that Act which states that in section 7(6), terms defined in section 42(1) of this Act have the meanings given to them by that section.

    Subsections (2) and (3) were inserted, as from 1 October 1995, by section 29(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting joint tenants who are married or in a civil union for married joint tenants.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

61EA Accommodation supplement
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the chief executive may grant to an applicant, from such date and for such period as the chief executive determines, an accommodation supplement to assist in meeting the applicant's accommodation costs.

    (2) No person is eligible for an accommodation supplement whose accommodation costs include—

    • (a) payments, required to be made under a mortgage security to the Housing Corporation of New Zealand or the Crown in right of the Ministry of Maori Development, that in the chief executive's opinion are required to be made at a concessionary rate; or

    • (b) rent paid in respect of premises (whether owned by the Crown, the company, or any other person) let by or on behalf of the company for occupation by any person as a place of residence.

    (2A) In subsection (2), company has the same meaning as in the Housing Restructuring and Tenancy Matters Act 1992.

    (3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, a beneficiary being paid New Zealand superannuation or a veteran's pension shall not be entitled to be paid an accommodation supplement under this section unless the income of that beneficiary or the combined income of that beneficiary and his or her spouse or partner, as the case may be, is less than the appropriate amount in Part 2 of Schedule 31.

    (4) No person shall be granted an accommodation supplement if that person—

    • (a) Is receiving a basic grant or an independent circumstances grant under the Student Allowances Regulations 1991; or

    • (b) Would be eligible to receive a basic grant or an independent circumstances grant under the Student Allowances Regulations 1998, but for the level of that person's income or the level of the income of that person's parent or parents; or

    • (c) is a resident assessed as requiring care (as defined in section 136) in respect of whom a funder (as defined in that section) is paying some or all of the cost of contracted care services (as defined in that section) under section 141 or section 142; or

    • (d) Is the spouse or partner of a person who is already receiving an accommodation supplement under this section, except as provided in section 61EB of this Act; or

    Sections 61E to 61G were inserted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Sections 61E to 61F were substituted by sections 61E to 61EC, as from 1 July 1993, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Section 61EA was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting funder wherever the word purchaser appears.

    Section 61EA was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(4) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting funded wherever the word purchased appears.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, and subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(1) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22). See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

    Subsection (2A) was amended, as from 1 July 2006, by section 5(2)(h) Housing Restructuring and Tenancy Matters (Information Matching) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 34) by inserting the words and Tenancy Matters after the word Restructuring.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section 9(a) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by substituting unless for if. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section 9(b) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by substituting is less than the appropriate amount in Part 2 of Schedule 31 for is such as would prevent payment of an invalid's benefit under this Act. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 15 April 2005, by section 5 Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30) by inserting the words or a veteran's pension after the word superannuation.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (4)(b) was amended, as from October 1998, by regulation 49 Student Allowances Regulations 1998 by substituting a reference to the Student Allowance Regulations 1998 for a reference to the Student Allowance Regulations 1991.

    Subsection (4)(c) was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(3) and (4) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting funder and funded for purchaser and purchased, respectively.

    Subsection (4)(c) was amended, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91) by substituting funded under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 for purchased by or with the assistance of a purchaser.

    Subsection (4)(c) was substituted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 4(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (4)(d) was amended, as from 1 July 1995, by section 14(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the word ; or.

    Subsection (4)(d) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (4)(e) was inserted, as from 1 July 1995, by section 14(1)(b) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (4)(e)(i) and (ii) were substituted, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

61EB Special rules for joint tenants who are married, in civil union, or de facto relationship
  • (1) The rules in subsection (3) apply if—

    • (a) premises are occupied by 2 or more joint tenants; and

    • (b) the joint tenants include 1 or more couples who are married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship.

    (2) The rules in subsection (3) do not apply to the application of the proviso to the definition of accommodation costs in section 61E.

    (3) The rules are—

    • (a) each couple that is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship is treated as 1 joint tenant; and

    • (b) the accommodation costs of that 1 joint tenant are the total of the accommodation costs of each of the parties to the marriage or civil union or de facto relationship; and

    • (c) the cash assets and income of that 1 joint tenant are the total of the cash assets and income respectively of each of the parties to the marriage or civil union or de facto relationship.

    Sections 61E to 61G were inserted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Sections 61E to 61F were substituted by sections 61E to 61EC, as from 1 July 1993, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Section 61EB was substituted, as from 3 June 1998, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60).

    Section 61EB was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Section 61EB was substituted, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

61EC Rates of accommodation supplement
  • (1) The rate of accommodation supplement granted under section 61EA of this Act shall, in each case, be paid at the appropriate rate specified in Schedule 18 to this Act.

    (2) For the purposes of Schedule 18 to this Act,—

    • (a) every $100 of cash assets over $5,400 held by—

      • (i) a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship; or

      • (ii) a single person who has a dependent child or children; and

    • (b) Every $100 of cash assets over $2,700 held by any other person—

    shall be deemed to be $1 a week of income.

    (3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, an accommodation supplement shall not be paid to any person who has cash assets exceeding—

    • (a) $16,200 in the case of—

      • (i) a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship; or

      • (ii) a single person who has a dependent child or children:

    • (b) $8,100 in any other case.

    (3A) If, on or after the date this subsection comes into force, a person receives an impairment lump sum under Schedule 1 of the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 or a lump sum payment of an independence allowance under Part 13 or Part 4 of Schedule 1 of the Accident Insurance Act 1998, then, for the period of 12 months following the receipt of that lump sum payment, the applicable amount in subsection (3) is considered to be increased by the amount of that payment.

    (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or of section 61EA of this Act, the chief executive may, if he or she is satisfied that the applicant or the applicant's spouse or partner has not realised any assets available for the applicant's personal use,—

    • (a) Refuse to grant an accommodation supplement; or

    • (b) Reduce the rate of any accommodation supplement already granted; or

    • (c) Terminate any accommodation supplement already granted.

    (4A) For the period of 12 months referred to in subsection (3A), subsection (4) does not apply to any lump sum payment referred to in subsection (3A) received by the applicant or the applicant's spouse or partner.

    (5) For the purposes of this section and Schedule 18, the income and assets of a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship include the income and assets of that person's spouse or partner, except in the circumstances specified in section 61EA (4)(c).

    Sections 61E to 61G were inserted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Sections 61E to 61F were substituted by sections 61E to 61EC, as from 1 July 1993, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsections (2)(a)(i) and (3)(a)(i) were substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsections (2)(a) and (3)(a) were amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    Subsection (3A) was inserted, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49). See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (4A) was inserted, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49). See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    Subsection (4A) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (5) was substituted, as from 3 June 1998, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60).

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting person who is married or in a civil union for married person.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

61F Rates of accommodation benefit
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 61E to 61G were inserted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 14 October 1981, by section 8(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1981 (1981 No 46) by substituting accommodation benefit for additional benefit.

    Subsection (2) was inserted, as from 14 October 1981, by section 8(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1981 (1981 No 46)

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Sections 61E to 61F were substituted by sections 61E to 61EC, as from 1 July 1993, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

61FA Rent rebate entitlement
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 61FA and 61FB were inserted, as from 26 October 1992, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1992 (1992 No 80).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Sections 61FA to 61FD were repealed, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(2) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22). See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

61FB Rate of rebate
61FC Tenure protection allowance
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 61FC and 61FD were inserted, as from 1 July 1993, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    The proviso to subsection (1) was repealed, as from 3 June 1998, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60).

    Subsection (6) was inserted, as from 3 June 1998, by section 5(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Sections 61FA to 61FD were repealed, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(2) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22). See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

61FD Rate of tenure protection allowance

Temporary additional support

  • The heading Special Benefit was substituted, as from 2 October 1994, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

  • This heading was substituted, as from 1 April 2006, by section 10 Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). It previously read Special benefit. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

61G Temporary additional support
  • (1) The purpose of temporary additional support is to provide temporary financial assistance within the prescribed limits as a last resort to alleviate the financial hardship of people whose essential costs cannot be met from their chargeable income and other resources, while ensuring that people seeking or granted that assistance take reasonable steps to reduce their costs or increase their chargeable incomes.

    (2) An applicant is eligible for temporary additional support if—

    • (a) his or her chargeable income is less than his or her essential costs; and

    • (b) he or she has cash assets of not more than the prescribed amount; and

    • (c) he or she meets any prescribed criteria and any other requirements set out in regulations made under section 132AB.

    (3) Temporary additional support granted to an applicant in accordance with this section and regulations made under section 132AB must be granted—

    • (a) in the prescribed amount; and

    • (b) for the prescribed period.

    (4) Despite subsection (2), temporary additional support must not be granted in respect of the costs of residential care services supplied to a person who has a psychiatric, intellectual, physical, or sensory disability if—

    (5) Subsection (6) applies in respect of an applicant for temporary additional support if the chief executive is satisfied, at any time after that applicant has applied for temporary additional support or while he or she is receiving that support, that—

    • (a) the applicant or the applicant's spouse has arranged, or rearranged, his or her financial affairs in order to qualify for temporary additional support; or

    • (b) the applicant or the applicant's spouse has failed to take reasonable steps to reduce his or her costs or increase his or her chargeable income; or

    • (c) the applicant or the applicant's spouse has failed to take all necessary steps to obtain any assistance towards his or her essential costs from any other source from which he or she may be entitled to assistance.

    (6) If this subsection applies, the chief executive may—

    • (a) refuse to grant temporary additional support; or

    • (b) grant temporary additional support at a reduced rate; or

    • (c) reduce the rate of temporary additional support already granted; or

    • (d) terminate any temporary additional support already granted.

    (7) In this section and section 132AB

    allowable costs has the meaning prescribed in regulations made under section 132AB; but does not include standard costs

    applicant includes a recipient of temporary additional support

    cash assets has the meaning prescribed in regulations made under section 132AB

    chargeable income has the meaning prescribed in regulations made under section 132AB

    essential costs means the sum of a person's allowable costs and standard costs

    standard costs has the same meaning as in section 132AB(1)(b)

    tax credit means a credit of tax or amount received under subparts MA to MF and MZ of the Income Tax Act 2007 or subpart KD of the Income Tax Act 2004 or subpart KD of the Income Tax Act 1994.

    Sections 61E to 61G were inserted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Section 61G was substituted, as from 14 October 1981, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1981 (1981 No 46).

    Section 61G was amended, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting Director-General for Commission.

    Section 61G was amended, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting in the Director-General's discretion for in its discretion.

    Section 61G was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by inserting the words or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Section 61G was substituted, as from 2 October 1994, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Section 61G was amended, as from 3 June 1998, by section 6 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60) by inserting the word allowance.

    Section 61G was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting funder wherever the word purchaser appears.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 122(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 in both places where it appears, the words or the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsection (2) was inserted, as from 1 July 1995, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Section 61G was substituted, as from 1 April 2006, by section 10 Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Section 61G(7) tax credit: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

Childcare assistance

  • This heading was inserted, as from 4 October 2004, by section 11(1) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

61GA Childcare assistance
  • (1) The purpose of childcare assistance is to provide targeted financial assistance to help certain people meet the costs of childcare.

    (2) The principal caregiver of a dependent child is eligible for financial assistance (childcare assistance) if he or she satisfies any prescribed criteria and any other requirements set out in regulations made under section 132AC.

    (3) Childcare assistance granted to an applicant, in accordance with this section and regulations made under section 132AC, must be granted—

    • (a) in the prescribed amount; and

    • (b) for the prescribed period.

    Section 61GA was inserted, as from 4 October 2004, by section 11(1) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

Alteration of rates of benefits

61H Rates of benefits, etc, may be increased by Order in Council
  • (1) The Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council,—

    • (b) Amend the definitions, in section 3(1) of this Act, of the terms Income Test 1, Income Test 2, Income Test 3, Income Test 4, and Income Test 5; and

    by increasing the amount of any benefit, allowance, lump sum payment, subsidy rate, maximum amount of supplements, asset limit, income limit, income exemption, maximum amount of advance, cash assets test, benefit stand down income test, or annual or weekly income test (but not the rate of diminution of any benefit or allowance) set out in those sections and those Schedules, and by decreasing the amount of any average regional rental.

    (1A) An Order in Council made under subsection (1) of this section may not increase the period of a benefit stand down for a given income.

    (2) Every Order in Council made under subsection (1) of this section shall state the date from which it is to have effect (which may be a date before the date on which it was made) and shall apply to benefits, allowances, lump sum payments, subsidy rates, maximum amounts of supplements, asset limits, income exemptions, advances, cash assets tests, benefit stand down income test, and annual and weekly income tests payable or applicable in respect of the period commencing on the date from which it is to have effect and ending with the day before the date of its revocation by a subsequent Order in Council. In respect of lump sum payments on death, the Order in Council shall state that it applies in respect of persons who die on or after such date as may be specified in the Order in Council. Nothing in this subsection shall authorise any payment to be made before the order is made.

    (3) Every Order in Council made under this section and laid before the House of Representatives pursuant to the Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989 shall expire on the close of the period of 12 months commencing with the date on which it was so laid, except so far as it is expressly validated and confirmed by an Act of Parliament passed before that date.

    (4) Every such Order in Council which is laid before the House of Representatives pursuant to the Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989, and which has been revoked by a subsequent Order in Council before the close of the 31st day of December in the calendar year following the calendar year during which it was so laid, shall be deemed to be invalid in respect of the period it purported to have effect except so far as it is expressly validated and confirmed in respect of that period by an Act of Parliament passed before that date.

    (5) Every Order in Council made under this section shall have the force of law as if it was enacted by this Act.

    (6) The validity of any Order in Council made under this section shall not be affected by reason only of the repeal of an Act of Parliament validating and confirming it.

    (7) In this section, subsidy rate means the first percentage figure set out in any particular clause of Part 2 of Schedule 18.

    Section 61H was inserted, as from 16 December 1983, by section 10 Social Security Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 138).

    Section 61H was substituted, as from 19 March 1990, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 1990 (1990 No 5).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1993, by section 12(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) by inserting the words maximum amount of supplements, average regional rental, asset limit, income exemption.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 12(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) by substituting 61DB, 61DC, 61DD for 61DC, 61DD, 61DE.

    Subsection (1)(aa) was inserted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(7)(a) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(7)(b) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26) by omitting the expression Twenty-fourth.

    Subsection (1)(b) was substituted, as from 1 April 1991, by section 24(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 5(3)(c) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) by substituting Sixth, Eighth, Ninth for Sixth to Ninth.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 1993, by section 12(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) by substituting Twenty-sixth, and Twenty-seventh for and Twenty-sixth.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 1993, by section 12(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) by substituting those Schedules, and by decreasing the amount of any average regional rental for those Schedules.

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1996 (1996 No 49) by substituting and 61EC for 61EC, and 125.

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 30(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1997, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 21) by inserting the words subsidy rate,.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(1) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22) by omitting average regional rental,. See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 4 June 2004, by section 12(b) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by inserting the words income limit, after the words asset limit,. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1)(aa) was inserted, as from 1 April 2001, by section 11 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (1)(c) was substituted, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18).

    Subsection (1)(ca) was inserted, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84).

    Subsection (1)(ca) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsection (1)(d) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 9(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by omitting the expression 8,.

    Subsection (1)(d) was substituted, as from 1 February 1999, by section 74 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (1)(d) was amended, as from 4 June 2004, by section 12(a) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by substituting Schedules 3, 16, and 31 for Schedules 3 and 16. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 30(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1993, by section 12(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) by inserting the words maximum amounts of supplements, average regional rentals, asset limits, income exemptions,.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1997, by section 30(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20) by inserting the words benefit stand down income test,.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1997, by section 3(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 21) by inserting the words subsidy rates,.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(1) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22) by omitting average regional rental,. See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189). The amending authority proposed to omitting the words average retail rentals,. In view of the change to subsection (1), it is suggested that the intention was to omit the words average regional rentals,.

    Subsection (7) was inserted, as from 1 July 1997, by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 21).

61I Areas for accommodation supplement purposes may be altered by Order in Council
  • (1) The Governor-General may by Order in Council, amend the definitions of the terms Area 1, Area 2, and Area 3

    • (a) by adding to any 1 of those definitions any urban area, urban zone, or area unit of New Zealand (as those terms are from time to time defined by the Government Statistician) that is in Area 4 ; or

    • (b) by omitting any urban area, urban zone, or area unit of New Zealand from the definition of Area 2 or Area 3 and adding it to the definition of Area 1; or

    • (c) by omitting any urban area, urban zone, or area unit of New Zealand from the definition of Area 3 and adding it to the definition of Area 2 ; or

    • (d) by making any adjustments that are required to maintain a part of New Zealand within the same accommodation supplement area as a result of any new or altered definition of any urban area, urban zone, or area unit of New Zealand adopted by the Government Statistician.

    (2) The provisions of section 61H(2) to (6) of this Act shall apply, with any necessary modifications, to any Order in Council made under subsection (1) of this section as if that order had been made under section 61H(1) of this Act.

    (3) In this section Area 1, Area 2, Area 3, and Area 4 refer to the terms defined in clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule 18.

    Section 61I was inserted, as from 1 October 1996, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 5) 1996 (1996 No 155).

    Subsection (1)(a) and (b) were substituted, as from 15 November 2000, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 April 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 1 April 2005, by section 13(2) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

Miscellaneous provisions as to monetary benefits

62 Grant or renewal of benefit after death of applicant
  • Where any applicant for a benefit or for the renewal of a benefit dies before the completion of the investigation of his application, the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, grant or renew the benefit as if the applicant had not died, and in such a case the provisions of sections 61D and 61DA to 61DF of this Act shall apply as if the applicant had been in receipt of the benefit at the time of his death.

    Section 62 was amended, as from 12 December 1985, by section 14 Social Security Amendment (No 2) Act 1985 (1985 No 159) by substituting sections 61D and 61DA to 61DF for section 85.

    Section 62 was amended, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(3)(b) and (d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting Director-General for Commission, and the words in the Director-General's discretion for in its discretion.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

63 Conjugal status for benefit purposes
  • For the purposes of determining any application for any benefit, or of reviewing any benefit already granted, or of determining the rate of any benefit, or of the granting of any payment of a funeral grant under section 61DB of this Act or of any welfare programme approved by the Minister under section 124(1)(d) of this Act, or of assessing the financial means of any person under section 69FA or Part 4 the chief executive may in the chief executive's discretion—

    • (a) regard as single any applicant or beneficiary who is married or in a civil union but is living apart from his or her spouse or partner:

    • (b) Regard as husband and wife any man and woman who, not being legally married or in a civil union, have entered into a relationship in the nature of marriage—

    and may determine a date on which they shall be regarded as having commenced to live apart or a date on which they shall be regarded as having entered into such a relationship, as the case may be, and may then in the chief executive's discretion grant a benefit, refuse to grant a benefit, or terminate, reduce, or increase any benefit already granted, from that date accordingly.

    Section 63 was substituted, as from 11 October 1978, by section 17(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Section 63 was amended, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting Director-General for Commission.

    Section 63 was amended, as from 23 June 1987, by section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting in the Director-General's discretion for in its discretion.

    Section 63 was amended, as from 1 August 1991, by section 17 Social Security Amendment (No 2) Act 1991 (1991 No 78) by inserting or of the granting of any payment of a funeral grant under section 61DB of this Act or of any welfare programme approved by the Minister under section 124(1)(d) of this Act,.

    Section 63 was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 16 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the words , or of assessing the financial means of any person under section 69F or section 69FA.

    Section 63 was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by omitting section 69F or. See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Section 63 was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by inserting the words or Part 4 after the expression section 69FA. See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Paragraph (a) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Paragraph (b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or in a civil union after the word married.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

63A Provisions relating to children who continue education
  • Where a child aged 18 years or over is not financially independent and is attending school or a tertiary educational establishment, the chief executive may, in his or her discretion, as if the child had not attained the age of 18 years, grant or continue to pay an orphan's benefit or an unsupported child's benefit in respect of the child, or pay any other benefit at the appropriate rate that includes that child as a dependent child of the beneficiary, for such period or periods as the chief executive determines, expiring not later than the pay day immediately after the 31st day of December in the year in which the child attains the age of 18 years.

    Section 63A was inserted, as from 1 April 1991, by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

64 Mode of ascertaining income for benefit purposes
  • (1) Where in relation to the rate of any benefit reference is made in this Act or in any Schedule to this Act or in the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 and the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 to the annual income of the beneficiary or of any other person, that reference shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be deemed to be a reference to the estimated income of the person concerned for the period of 52 weeks commencing on the date on which the benefit, if granted or renewed, as the case may be, will commence.

    (2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, the estimated annual income for the period of 52 weeks specified in subsection (1) of this section shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the income received by the person concerned for a period of 52 weeks ending on such day preceding the date on which the benefit, if granted or renewed, will commence as the chief executive determines.

    (2A) Where, in relation to the rate of any benefit or additional benefit, reference is made in this Act or in any Schedule to this Act or in the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 or in the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 to the weekly income of a person, such income shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be determined by dividing the person's total income over the appropriate number of weeks specified in regulations made under this Act (not exceeding 52 weeks) by the number of weeks in that period.

    (2B) For the purposes of determining a person's weekly income under subsection (2A), the chief executive may determine the period or periods to which any income relates, having regard to—

    • (a) the extent to which it was earned in that period or those periods; or

    • (b) the extent to which any other entitlement to it arose in, or in respect of, that period or those periods; or

    • (c) the period or periods for which it was otherwise received, acquired, paid, provided, or supplied.

    (3) From the income computed in accordance with subsection (2) or subsection (2A) of this section there may be deducted any items by which the chief executive is satisfied the income is likely to be reduced, and there may be added to the income so computed any items by which the chief executive is satisfied the income is likely to be increased, and the amount so ascertained shall be deemed to be the estimated income for the period in respect of which the computation is made.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 61; 1958 No 46 s 26(1); 1960 No 13 s 16(1)

    Section 64 heading was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 13(1) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by omitting annual. See section 33 of that Act for a transitional provision relating to mode of ascertaining annual income for benefit purposes.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by inserting the words or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting and the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 after Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 11 October 1978, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58) by substituting the estimated annual income for the period of 52 weeks specified in subsection (1) of this section for the estimated income for the said period.

    Subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 11 October 1978, by section 18(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Subsection (2A) was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by inserting the words or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (2A) was amended, as from 1 July 1996, by section 31 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20) by substituting the appropriate number of weeks specified in regulations made under this Act for a number of weeks specified by the Director-General.

    Subsection (2A) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2A) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting, after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990, the words or in the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (2A) was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 13(2)(a) Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by substituting a person for the beneficiary. See section 33 of that Act for a transitional provision relating to mode of ascertaining annual income for benefit purposes.

    Subsection (2A) was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 13(2)(b) Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by substituting person's for beneficiary's. See section 33 of that Act for a transitional provision relating to mode of ascertaining annual income for benefit purposes.

    Subsection (2A) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (2A) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsection (2B) was inserted, as from 26 October 2002, by section 13(3) Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28). See section 33 of that Act for a transitional provision relating to mode of ascertaining annual income for benefit purposes.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 11 October 1978, by section 18(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58) by inserting the words or subsection (2A).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 11 October 1978, by section 18(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58) by inserting the words or subsection (2A).

    As from 23 June 1987, references in section 64 to Commission were replaced by references to Director-General, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references in section 64 to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

65
  • [Repealed]

    Section 65 was repealed, as from 9 June 1971, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1971 (1971 No 8).

66 Exemption of income from friendly or like society
  • (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, where an applicant for New Zealand superannuation, a widow's benefit, a domestic purposes benefit, an invalid's benefit, or sickness benefit, or the husband or the wife or the partner of any such applicant, is in receipt of a sick benefit from a friendly society or a like benefit from any other source, the chief executive, in computing pursuant to this Act the rate of any such benefit, shall take no account of any income up to, in the aggregate, the amount specified in Schedule 10 to this Act received by way of sick benefit from a friendly society or by way of like benefit from any other source.

    (2) If any question arises as to whether any income received or receivable is of a like nature to a sick benefit payable by a friendly society, it shall be determined by the chief executive.

    Compare: 1961 No 6 s 6(1), (2)

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 14 November 1973, by section 10 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34) by inserting the words a domestic purposes benefit.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 9 February 1977, by section 16 Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40) by substituting national superannuation under section 16 of this Act for the original words,

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 43 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting a community wage on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability for a sickness benefit.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(1)(c) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting sickness benefit for community wage on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by omitting under section 16 of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or the partner after the word wife.

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

66A Special exemption for severe disablement
  • For the purposes of computing any benefit payable, the chief executive may in the chief executive's discretion, as an incentive to personal effort, disregard all or part of the income of any severely disabled person derived from such effort.

    Section 66A was inserted by section 22 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 66A was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by omitting under this Part of this Act.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

66B Redundancy and retirement payments not to be taken into account in determining rates of benefits
  • In computing the income of any person for the purpose of determining the rate of any benefit, no account shall be taken of any redundancy payment or retirement payment (as those terms are defined in section 80B(3) of this Act) received by that person, except to the extent that the payment may constitute cash assets that are required to be taken into account in determining the rate of an accommodation supplement or a rent rebate under section 61F(1A) or section 61FB of this Act.

    Section 66B was inserted, as from 30 November 1992, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) (1992 No 99).

    Section 66B was amended, as from 1 July 1993, by section 13 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) by substituting accommodation supplement for accommodation benefit.

    Section 66B was substituted, as from 1 January 1994, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 14).

    Section 66B was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by omitting payable under this Part of this Act.

67
  • [Repealed]

    Section 67 was repealed, as from 29 September 1969, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46).

68 Exemption of income from former home property
  • Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, where any person has let his home or sold it on terms providing for the payment of the purchase money or any part thereof by instalments or by which the purchase money or any part thereof is secured by mortgage thereon, the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, in computing the income of that person, set off against the rent or interest derived or received by him in respect of that letting or sale the whole or any part of—

    • (a) Any rent payable by him in respect of the tenancy of another home:

    • (b) Any interest payable by him or unpaid purchase money owing by him in respect of the purchase of another home:

    • (c) Any interest payable by him on money advanced to him for the purchase of another home:

    • (d) Any money payable by him in respect of his board, lodging, or maintenance, whether in a private home or in any public or private institution.

    Compare: 1961 No 6 s 7

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 68 was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by omitting for the purposes of this Part of this Act.

    Section 68 was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

68A Special provisions applying to insurance payments
  • (1) Where a debt insurance payment in relation to a mortgage security is made to a person or to some other person on his or her behalf or for his or her benefit, for the purposes of section 61E of this Act (which relates to accommodation costs), the payments required to be made by that person under that mortgage security shall be deemed to be reduced by the amount of the debt insurance payment.

    (2) Where a debt insurance payment or a health or disability insurance payment is made to a person or to some other person on behalf of or for the benefit of the person or a member of his or her family, for the purposes of section 61G (which relates to temporary additional support) or a special benefit continued under section 23 of the Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004, the commitments of the person shall be deemed to be reduced to such an extent, if any, as the chief executive considers appropriate having regard to the nature of the payment and those commitments.

    (3) Where a health or disability insurance payment is made to a person or to some other person on behalf of or for the benefit of the person or a member of his or her family, for the purposes of section 69C of this Act (which relates to disability allowances), any additional expenses of the person arising from his or her disability, or expenses arising from the hospitalisation of his or her spouse or partner, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be reduced to such an extent, if any, as the chief executive considers appropriate having regard to the nature of the payment and those additional expenses or expenses.

    (4) Where a debt insurance payment or a health or disability insurance payment is made to a person or to some other person on behalf of or for the benefit of the person or a member of his or her family, for the purposes of any welfare programme approved by the Minister under and for the purposes of section 124(1)(d) of this Act, the costs, expenses, and commitments of the person shall be deemed to be reduced to such an extent, if any, as the chief executive considers appropriate having regard to the nature of the payment and those costs, expenses, and commitments.

    (5) Where an applicant for—

    • (a) A benefit is, or may be, entitled or eligible to receive, or receive the benefit of, an income-related insurance payment; or

    • (b) A benefit of a kind referred to in any of sections 61EA, 61G, 69C, and 124(1)(d) of this Act, is, or may be, entitled or eligible to receive, or receive the benefit of, a debt insurance payment or a health or disability insurance payment,—

    the chief executive may grant a benefit or a rate of benefit subject to the condition that the whole or such part of the benefit as the chief executive may require shall be repaid to the chief executive in the event that the payment is made to the applicant or to some other person on behalf of or for the benefit of the applicant or a member of his or her family; and, in any such case, the amount of the benefit or the part thereof shall constitute a charge on the amount payable to the applicant or person and may be recovered as a debt due to the Crown from the applicant or person or the person liable to make the payment.

    (6) Where a person has been granted—

    • (a) A benefit, or granted a benefit at a rate, that does not take into account any income-related insurance payment; or

    being a payment made to the person or to some other person on behalf of or for the benefit of the person or a member of his or her family and that relates to a contingency that occurred before or during the period in which the benefit is payable, the chief executive may suspend, terminate, or vary the rate of the benefit from such date as the chief executive determines.

    (7) For the purposes of this Act, the amount of any income-related insurance payment or any debt insurance payment or any health or disability insurance payment shall, to the extent the chief executive so determines, be reduced by the amount of any costs incurred by an applicant for a benefit or a beneficiary in obtaining receipt of that payment.

    (8) For the purposes of this section,—

    Benefit includes the granting of special assistance under any welfare programme approved under section 124(1)(d)

    Debt insurance payment, in relation to any person, includes any payment made or provided on the occurrence of a contingency under a contract of insurance or by reason of the person's membership of any society, organisation, or body whether corporate or unincorporate—

    • (a) For the purpose of enabling the person to make payments that he or she is liable to make on account of any debt or liability; and

    • (b) That is not for any reason treated as being the income of the person under this Act.

    Section 68A was inserted by section 6 Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Section (2) was amended, as from 1 April 2006, by section 21 Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by substituting section 61G (which relates to temporary additional support) or a special benefit continued under section 23 of the Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 for section 61G of this Act (which relates to special benefits). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 17(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by substituting disability for disablement.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting the hospitalisation of his or her spouse or partner for his or her spouse's hospitalisation.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting Minister for Minister of Social Welfare.

    Section (6)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 2006, by section 21 Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by substituting or a special benefit that continues under section 23 of the Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 for of this Act. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (8) was substituted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 17(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

69 Power to increase rates of benefits payable to parents of deceased members of the forces or mercantile marine
  • (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, increase by an amount not exceeding the amount specified in Schedule 12 to this Act the rate of any benefit payable to any beneficiary where the chief executive is satisfied that he or she was one of the parents of—

    • (a) A deceased member of any of Her Majesty's forces established in New Zealand whose death was attributable to his service as a member of any such force:

    • (b) A deceased member of the New Zealand mercantile marine whose death was directly attributable to the Second World War:

    • (c) A deceased member of any forces established in any Commonwealth country (other than New Zealand) who was domiciled in New Zealand at the commencement of any war in which Her Majesty's forces established in New Zealand were engaged and whose death was attributable to his service as a member of those first-mentioned forces:

    • (d) A deceased member of the mercantile marine of any Commonwealth country (other than New Zealand) who was domiciled in New Zealand at the commencement of the Second World War and whose death was directly attributable to that war.

    (2) For the purposes of this section, a beneficiary shall be deemed to have been one of the parents of any such deceased member if he was at the death of the member a parent or step-parent or adoptive parent of the member, or if in any other case the member was maintained by the beneficiary or by the spouse or partner of the beneficiary and the chief executive is satisfied that the beneficiary should be regarded as being a parent of that member.

    Compare: 1949 No 38 s 21

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 69 was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for wife or husband.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

69A Telephone-rental concessions
  • [Repealed]

    Section 69A was inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34)

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 69A was substituted, as from 1 July 1989, by section 34(1) Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 13).

    Section 69A was repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 24(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

69B
  • [Repealed]

    Section 69B was inserted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Section 69B was repealed, as from 1 October 1982, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

69C Disability allowance
  • (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4) of this section, the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, grant a disability allowance at a rate not exceeding the amount specified in Schedule 19 to this Act, to or on account of—

    • (a) Any person who is in receipt of a an invalid's benefit, a widow's benefit, a domestic purposes benefit, an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit, or an independent youth benefit , or a related emergency benefit payable under section 61 of this Act; or

    • (b) [Repealed]

    • (c) Any person whose income, including the income of the person's spouse or partner and any New Zealand superannuation or veteran's pension payable to the person or the person's spouse or partner, is less than the appropriate amount in Part 3 of Schedule 31; or

    • (d) The dependent spouse or partner or dependent child of any person referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) of this subsection.

    (2) A disability allowance is not payable to or on account of any such person unless the chief executive is satisfied that the disability of the person—

    • (a) Is likely to continue for not less than 6 months; and

    • (b) Has resulted in a reduction of the person's independent function to the extent that the person requires—

      • (i) Ongoing support to undertake the normal functions of life; or

      • (ii) ongoing supervision or treatment by a health practitioner.

    (2A) A disability allowance is not payable to or on account of any person except to the extent that—

    • (a) The person has additional expenses of an ongoing kind arising from the person's disability (subject to section 68A); and

    • (b) The assistance towards those expenses available under this Act or any other enactment is insufficient to meet them.

    (2B) A disability allowance is not payable under this section in respect of—

    • (a) expenses arising from the disability of a person who is a resident assessed as requiring care (as defined in section 136) in respect of whom a funder (as defined in that section) is paying some or all of the cost of contracted care services (as defined in that section) under section 141 or section 142; or

    • (b) expenses arising from the disability of a person that are costs of residential care services supplied to the person if—

      • (i) the person has a psychiatric, intellectual, physical, or sensory disability; and

    (2C) For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in paragraph (b) of subsection (2B) prevents the payment of a disability allowance to a person to whom that paragraph applies for expenses that are not costs of residential care services supplied to that person.

    (3) Before a disability allowance is granted under this section, the chief executive may require the applicant, or the spouse or partner or child of the applicant, as the case may require, to be examined by a medical practitioner nominated by the chief executive for the purpose.

    (4) Despite anything to the contrary in this section, the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, refuse to grant a disability allowance or may terminate a disability allowance already granted or may grant a disability allowance at a reduced rate, if the applicant is in receipt of a war disablement pension under the War Pensions Act 1954, or an entitlement under the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001, or an overseas pension or periodical allowance which the chief executive deems to be analogous to such war disablement pension or entitlement, in respect of a disability which gives rise to an application for a disability allowance under this section.

    (5) Notwithstanding anything in this section but subject to section 68A of this Act, if—

    • (a) A person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship (the recipient) is in receipt of New Zealand superannuation or a veteran's pension, or of an invalid's benefit, or an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit, or a related emergency benefit; and

    • (b) The spouse or partner of the recipient is either—

      • (i) A patient in a hospital as defined in section 75(1) of this Act; or

      • (ii) a resident assessed as requiring care (as defined in section 136) in respect of whom a funder (as defined in that section) is paying some or all of the cost of contracted care services (as defined in that section) under section 141 or section 142; and

    • (c) That spouse or partner is in receipt of a reduced benefit under section 75(3) or (4) of this Act—

    the chief executive shall grant a special disability allowance at the rate specified in Schedule 19 to this Act to the recipient for the purpose of defraying expenses arising from the hospitalisation of the spouse or partner.

    (6) Despite subsection (2)(a), the chief executive may grant a disability allowance under this section to any person who would otherwise qualify for it and—

    • (a) Whose life expectancy is less than 6 months; or

    • (b) It is not possible to determine whether the disability is likely to continue for not less than 6 months but that is a reasonably possible prognosis.

    (7) Where any person, whose application for a disability allowance has been declined only on the grounds that the disability is likely to last less than 6 months, subsequently shows to the satisfaction of the chief executive that the disability in respect of which that application was made—

    • (a) Is likely to last for 6 months or more; or

    • (b) Has continued for 6 months or more,—

    and that the person would otherwise have been entitled to receive a disability allowance since the date of the original application, the chief executive must grant a disability allowance to that person commencing on the date of the original application.

    (8) In this section,—

    Disability has the meaning ascribed to it by section 21(1)(h) of the Human Rights Act 1993

    health practitioner

    • (b) includes—

      • (i) a former health practitioner within the meaning of that section; and

      • (ii) a person who is receiving training or gaining experience under the supervision of a health practitioner.

    health practitioner: this definition was inserted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Registered health professional

    [Repealed]

    Registered health professional: this definition was repealed, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Section 69C was inserted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 12(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Section 69C was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting funder for purchaser wherever it appears.

    Section 69C was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(4) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting funded for purchased.

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 12 December 1985, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment (No 2) Act 1985 (1985 No 159).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 April 1989, by section 35(2) Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 13) by inserting training.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by inserting or a transitional retirement benefit.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting or a young job seeker's allowance, or an independent youth benefit on the ground specified in section 60F(1)(c)(i),.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by substituting section 60F(6) for section 60F(1)(c)(i).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 44(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting an invalid's benefit, a widow's benefit, a domestic purposes benefit, a community wage, for sickness, invalid's, widow's, domestic purposes, training, or unemployment benefit, or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(3)(c) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit for a community wage.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 15 April 2005, by section 6(1) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30) by omitting on the ground specified in section 60F(6), or a transitional retirement benefit.

    Subsection (1)(b) was repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(9) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 1 July 1995, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting and any New Zealand superannuation or veteran's pension payable to the person or the person's spouse.

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 1 April 2001, by section 12(a) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting the income less 4.25% of that income for it.

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 1 April 2001, by section 12(b) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an invalid's benefit for any one of the benefits referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, by clause 4 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2002 (SR 2002/53) by substituting 4.95% for 4.25%.

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 1 April 2003, by clause 4 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2003 (SR 2003/44) by substituting 6.47% for 4.95%.

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 1 April 2004, by clause 4 Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2004 (SR 2004/52) by substituting 7.47% for 6.47%.

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section 14 Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by substituting is less than the appropriate amount in Part 3 of Schedule 31 for is such that the income less 7.47% of that income would not prevent the payment of an invalid's benefit. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1)(c) and (d) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse wherever it appears.

    Subsection (2) was substituted by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 1 July 1995, by section 18(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (2)(b)(ii) was substituted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsections (2A) and (2B) were inserted, as from 1 July 1995, by section 18(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (2B) was substituted, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).

    Subsection (2B) was substituted, as from 22 November 2006, by section 4(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 67). See section 4(2) and (3) of that Act relating to the payment of disability allowances under subsection (2B)(b).

    Subsection (2C) was inserted, as from 22 November 2006, by section 4(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 67).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for wife.

    Subsection (4) was substituted, as from 1 July 1999, by section 415(1) Accident Insurance Act 1998 (1998 No 114).

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49) by substituting or an entitlement under the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 for or an entitlement under the Accident Insurance Act 1998. See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    Subsection (5) was inserted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 11(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 12 December 1985, by section 15(2) Social Security Amendment (No 2) Act 1985 (1985 No 159) by substituting at the rate specified in Schedule 19 to this Act for of $10 a week.

    Subsection (5) was amended by section 7(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 86) by inserting but subject to section 68A of this Act, with application only in respect of: (a) applications for benefits lodged as from 2 October 1994; and (b) applications for benefits lodged, but which have not been granted, before 2 October 1994. See sections 8 and 9 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 6 November 1985, by section 15(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 159) by substituting at the rate specified in Schedule 19 to this Act for of $10 a week.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting the recipient for that married person in both places they appear.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting hospitalisation of the spouse or partner for spouse's hospitalisation.

    Subsection (5)(a) was substituted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(10)(a) and (b) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Subsection (5)(a) was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 5(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) (1993 No 57) by omitting miner's.

    Subsection (5)(a) was substituted, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149).

    Subsection (5)(a) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting , or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (5)(a) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 44(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting an invalid's benefit, or a community wage for an invalid's, sickness, or unemployment benefit, or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (5)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(3)(c) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit for a community wage.

    Subsection (5)(a) was amended, as from 15 April 2005, by section 6(2) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30) by omitting or a transitional retirement benefit.

    Subsection (5)(a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting person who is married or in a civil union (the recipient) for married person.

    Subsection (5)(a) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    Subsection (5)(b) was substituted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (5)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (5)(b)(ii) was amended, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91) by substituting that are wholly or partly funded under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 for purchased by or with the assistance of a purchaser.

    Subsection (5)(b)(ii) was substituted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 4(2) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (5)(c) was substituted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(10)(a) and (b) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Subsection (5)(c) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsections (6) to (8) were inserted, as from 1 July 1995, by section 18(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

69D Transition to work allowance
  • [Repealed]

    Section 69D was inserted, as from 1 October 1986, by section 15 Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 20).

    Paragraph (da) was inserted, as from 1 April 1989, by section 35(3) Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 13).

    Section 69D was repealed, as from 1 July 1996, by section 32(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20). See subsection (4) of that section as to the transitional provisions.

69E Interpretation
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 69E and 69F were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) (1993 No 57).

    Section 69E was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting funder wherever the word purchaser appears.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Assets: this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in both places it appears.

    Income: paragraph (c)(i) of this definition was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by section YB 1 Income Tax Act 1994 (1994 No 164) by substituting paragraph (a) of the definition of life insurer in section OB 1 of the Income Tax Act 1994 for section 204 of the Income Tax Act 1976.

    Income: paragraph (c)(i) of this definition was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section YA 2 Income Tax Act 2004 (2004 No 35) by substituting Income Tax Act 2004 for Income Tax Act 1994.

    Income paragraph (c)(ii) of this definition was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by section YB 1 Income Tax Act 1994 (1994 No 164) by substituting section OE 1 or section OE 2(1) of that Act for section 241 of that Act.

    Income: paragraphs (d) and (e) of this definition were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Income paragraph (f) of this definition was amended, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91) by substituting under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 for by a purchaser. The word purchaser had already been replaced by the word funder by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81).

    Income: paragraph (g) of this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Income: paragraph (h) of this definition was amended, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91) by substituting the Director-General of Health or any district health board for any purchaser. The word purchaser had already been replaced by the word funder by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81).

    Income: paragraph (i) of this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Income: paragraph (j) of this definition was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words , other than any pension or payment payable under Part 6 of that Act after the words under that Act.

    Section 69E and 69F were repealed, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

69F Financial means assessments
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 69E and 69F were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) (1993 No 57)

    Section 69F was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting funder wherever purchaser appears.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91) by substituting district health board for purchaser in both places where it occurs.

    Subsection (1)(b)(ii) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting single for unmarried.

    Subsections (2) and (3) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91) by substituting applicable district health board for applicable purchaser. The word purchaser had already been replaced by the word funder by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81).

    Subsections (5)(b), (5)(c), and (6) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse wherever it appears.

    Subsection (6A) was inserted, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49). See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    Subsection (7) was repealed, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).

    Subsection (8) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in both places it appears.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Section 69E and 69F were repealed, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

69FA Financial means assessments for home-based disability support services
  • (1) In this section and in Schedule 30,—

    Cash assets has the same meaning as in section 61E; but does not include any assets or any amount of cash assets excluded by regulations made under section 132D

    health practitioner

    • (b) includes—

      • (i) a former health practitioner within the meaning of that section; and

      • (ii) a person who is receiving training or gaining experience under the supervision of a health practitioner

    health practitioner: this definition was inserted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Home-based disability support services means disability services supplied to a person, being services in relation to the person's domestic affairs (other than medical services, personal care services, attendant care services, and relief care services) that support and allow the person to remain in his or her home and are of a kind that are funded under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000

    Home-based disability support services: this definition in subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91) by substituting under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 for by a purchaser. The word purchaser had already been replaced by the word funder by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81).

    Income has the same meaning as in section 3(1); but includes—

    • (b) The gross amount of any payment received in consideration of providing board and lodgings to any person in excess of 2—

    but does not include any amount specified in regulations made under section 132D

    Income: paragraph (a)(i) of this definition was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting or the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 after Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Income: this definition was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    medical services means services supplied to a person by a health practitioner relating to the treatment or relief of the person's disability condition or the rehabilitation of the person from that condition.

    medical services: this definition was substituted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    (2) This section applies to any person who has been assessed by a district health board as requiring home-based disability support services and who—

    • (a) Is not a child; and

    (3) The chief executive may, from time to time, on application by or on behalf of any person to whom this section applies, assess in accordance with Schedule 30 the weekly amount that person is required to pay toward the cost of the home-based disability support services supplied to that person, and that person is required to pay the amount so assessed in accordance with the assessment.

    (4) For the purposes of Schedule 30,—

    • (a) the following is to be treated as $1 per week of income:

      • (i) every $100 of cash assets over $5,400 held by a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship:

      • (ii) every $100 of cash assets over $5,400 held by a single person who has a dependent child or children:

      • (iii) every $100 of cash assets over $2,700 held by any other person; and

    • (b) the income of a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship includes the income of his or her spouse or partner.

    (5) In any case where the chief executive is satisfied that a person to whom this section applies, or that person's spouse or partner, has not realised any assets available for that person's personal use, the chief executive may treat any such assets as being cash assets for the purposes of subsection (4).

    (6) Every assessment made by the chief executive under subsection (3) must state—

    • (a) The date of the assessment; and

    • (b) The amount that the person has been assessed as being required to pay toward the cost of the home-based disability support services supplied to that person—

    and the chief executive must supply a copy of that assessment to that person, and may supply the details specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) to the applicable district health board.

    (7) The chief executive must from time to time review any assessment under this section, and may revise that assessment if—

    • (a) The chief executive is satisfied the assessment is in error; or

    • (b) The person to whom the assessment relates or his or her spouse or partner fails to provide any relevant information requested or to answer any relevant question; or

    • (c) After reviewing the assessment, the chief executive is satisfied that, owing to a change in circumstances of that person or his or her spouse or partner, the assessment is no longer an accurate reflection of that person's ability to pay for his or her home-based disability support services, to take effect from such date as the chief executive determines, being a date on or after the date on which the change may reasonably be held to have occurred.

    (8) In any case where the chief executive is satisfied that any person—

    • (a) Who has applied for an assessment under this section; or

    • (b) Whose ability to pay for home-based disability support services has been assessed under this section—

    or that person's spouse or partner has directly or indirectly deprived himself or herself of any income or assets, the chief executive, in the chief executive's discretion, may assess or, as the case may be, revise the assessment of the person's ability to pay for that person's home-based disability support services as if that deprivation had not occurred.

    (9) Every person whose ability to pay for home-based disability support services has been assessed under this section must forthwith advise the Department of any change in the circumstances of that person or his or her spouse or partner that affects that person's ability to pay for his or her home-based disability support services.

    Section 69FA was inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 19 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Section 69FA was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting funder wherever purchaser appears.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91) by substituting district health board for purchaser. The word purchaser had already been replaced by the word funder by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81).

    Subsection (4) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union in both places it appears.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91) by substituting applicable district health board for applicable purchaser. The word purchaser had already been replaced by the word funder by section 3(3)Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81).

    Subsections (7)(b) and (c), (8), and (9) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

Overseas pensions

  • The heading Overseas Pensions was inserted, as from 2 October 1996, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 6) 1996 (1996 No 157).

69G Reasonable steps to be taken to obtain overseas pension
  • (1) Every applicant for a benefit under this Act or under the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or under Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 or under the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 shall provide to the chief executive information establishing, to the satisfaction of the chief executive,—

    • (a) That the applicant and the spouse or partner of the applicant have taken all reasonable steps to obtain any overseas pension to which either or both of them may be entitled or that may be granted to either or both of them; and

    • (b) That the applicant has taken all reasonable steps to obtain any overseas pension to which any dependant of the applicant may be entitled or that may be granted to any dependant of the applicant.

    (2) The chief executive may give to—

    a written notice requiring that person to take all reasonable steps, within a period specified by the chief executive, to obtain any overseas pension to which that person may be entitled or that may be granted to that person.

    (3) The chief executive may give to—

    a written notice requiring that person to take all reasonable steps, within a period specified by the chief executive, to obtain any overseas pension to which any dependant of that person may be entitled or that may be granted to any dependant of that person.

    (4) Where a person does not comply with a notice given by the chief executive under subsection (2) or subsection (3) of this section, the chief executive may—

    • (a) Refuse to grant the benefit applied for by the applicant:

    • (b) Suspend, from such date as the chief executive determines, the benefit granted to the beneficiary until either—

      • (i) The beneficiary provides information establishing, to the satisfaction of the chief executive, that the beneficiary and the spouse or partner of the beneficiary have taken all reasonable steps to obtain any overseas pension to which either or both of them may be entitled or that may be granted to either or both of them or, as the case requires, that the beneficiary has taken all reasonable steps to obtain any overseas pension to which any dependant of the beneficiary may be entitled or that may be granted to any dependant of the beneficiary; or

      • (ii) The benefit is terminated under subsection (5) of this section,—

      whichever occurs first.

    (5) Where a benefit has been suspended under subsection (4) of this section, the chief executive may, not less than 40 working days after the suspension, terminate the benefit from such date as the chief executive determines.

    Sections 69G to 69I were inserted, as from 2 October 1996, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 6) 1996 (1996 No 157).

    Subsections (1) to (3) were amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting the words or under the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 after the words or under Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (2)(a) to (d) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting the words or under the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (2)(a) to (d) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsection (2)(c) and (d) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (3)(a) and (b) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting the words or under the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (3)(a) and (b) were amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 after the words or under Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954.

    Subsection (3)(a) and (b) were amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsection (4)(b)(i) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

69H Information on rate of overseas pension to be provided
  • (1) Every applicant for a benefit under this Act or under the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 or under the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 shall provide to the chief executive information establishing, to the satisfaction of the chief executive, the rate of any overseas pension granted to any of the following persons:

    • (a) The applicant:

    • (b) The applicant's spouse or partner:

    • (c) Any dependant of the applicant.

    (2) Where an applicant does not comply with subsection (1) of this section within 10 working days after applying for the benefit, the chief executive may refuse to grant the benefit applied for.

    (3) Every beneficiary under this Act or under the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 or under the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 shall provide to the chief executive, as requested from time to time in a written notice given to that person by the chief executive, information establishing, to the satisfaction of the chief executive, the rate of any overseas pension granted to any of the following persons:

    • (a) The beneficiary:

    • (b) The beneficiary's spouse or partner:

    • (c) Any dependant of the beneficiary.

    (4) Where a beneficiary does not comply with subsection (3) of this section within 10 working days after the notice has been given, the chief executive may suspend, from such date as the chief executive determines, the benefit granted to the beneficiary until either—

    • (a) The beneficiary provides information establishing, to the satisfaction of the chief executive, the rate of any overseas pension granted to the beneficiary or the beneficiary's spouse or partner or any dependant of the beneficiary; or

    • (b) The benefit is terminated under subsection (5) of this section,—

    whichever occurs first.

    (5) Where a benefit has been suspended under subsection (4) of this section, the chief executive may, not less than 40 working days after the suspension, terminate the benefit from such date as the chief executive determines.

    (6) In this section, the term rate, in relation to an overseas pension, means the rate of that pension in the currency of the country paying that pension.

    Sections 69G to 69I were inserted, as from 2 October 1996, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 6) 1996 (1996 No 157).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or under Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or under Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 in both places they appear.

    Subsections (3)(b) and (4)(a) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

69I Duty of chief executive to assist
  • It is the duty of the chief executive to take all reasonable steps to assist any person to comply with any obligation imposed on that person by or under section 69G(1) to (3) or section 69H(1) or (3) of this Act.

    Sections 69G to 69I were inserted, as from 2 October 1996, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 6) 1996 (1996 No 157).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

70 Rate of benefits if overseas pension payable
  • (1) For the purposes of this Act, if—

    • (b) The benefit, pension, or periodical allowance, or any part of it, is in the nature of a payment which, in the opinion of the chief executive, forms part of a programme providing benefits, pensions, or periodical allowances for any of the contingencies for which benefits, pensions, or allowances may be paid under this Act or under the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or under the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 or under the War Pensions Act 1954 which is administered by or on behalf of the Government of the country from which the benefit, pension, or periodical allowance is received—

    the rate of the benefit or benefits that would otherwise be payable under this Act or under the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 or under the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 shall, subject to subsection (3) of this section, be reduced by the amount of such overseas benefit, pension, or periodical allowance, or part thereof, as the case may be, being an amount determined by the chief executive in accordance with regulations made under this Act:

    Provided that if the chief executive determines that the overseas benefit, pension, or periodical allowance, or any part of it, is in the nature of, and is paid for similar purposes as,—

    • (b) A war pension or allowance granted under the War Pensions Act 1954 of a type which would not affect any recipients entitlement to a benefit in accordance with section 72 of this Act unless the pension or allowance is a pension or payment granted under Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954; or

    • (c) A disability allowance granted under this Act—

    such overseas benefit, pension, or periodical allowance, or part of it, as the case may be, shall be treated as if it were in fact such compensation, war pension or allowance, or disability allowance.

    (1A) Subsection (1) does not apply to New Zealand superannuation payable overseas under section 26 of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001.

    (1B) Subsection (1) does not apply to a veteran's pension payable overseas under section 74J of the War Pensions Act 1954.

    (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall preclude the chief executive from deciding the date on which its determination under paragraph (b) of, or the proviso to, the said subsection (1) shall take effect, which date may be a date before, on, or after the date of such determination.

    (3) In any case where paragraph (a) and paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section apply and the proviso to subsection (1) of this section does not apply, the chief executive may—

    • (a) Make an arrangement with an overseas pensioner, in accordance with any regulations made under section 132C of this Act, to pay to the overseas pensioner the rate of the benefit or benefits that is payable under this Act or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 or under the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 and to receive from the overseas pensioner an amount equivalent to the amount of the overseas pension that the overseas pensioner receives, if—

      • (i) The overseas pensioner agrees to make such an arrangement; and

      • (ii) The overseas pensioner has not previously made such an arrangement and voluntarily terminated it; and

      • (iii) The chief executive has not previously ceased to make payments under paragraph (b) of this subsection because of the overseas pensioner's failure to comply with such an arrangement; and

    (3A) The chief executive may from time to time, on behalf of the Crown, enter into contracts with 1 or more registered banks for the purpose of implementing arrangements under subsection (3)(a).

    (3B) No money in a bank account maintained, in accordance with regulations made under section 132C, to implement an arrangement under subsection (3)(a) can—

    • (a) Be attached or taken in execution under any order or process of any court:

    • (b) Be made the subject of any set-off, charge, or assignment:

    • (c) Be claimed or deducted under any notice or other instrument issued under any enactment (other than under regulations made under section 132C).

    (3C) If the benefit referred to in an arrangement made under subsection (3)(a) is New Zealand superannuation, the chief executive must pay any amount received from the overseas pensioner under the arrangement into the New Zealand Superannuation Fund established under the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, in accordance with arrangements made from time to time by the chief executive with the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation.

    (4) For the purposes of this Act and section CW 28 of the Income Tax Act 2007, a payment under subsection (3)(b) of this section shall, in respect of the period to which the payment relates, be deemed to be payment of—

    • (b) The amount of the overseas pension that that overseas pensioner is entitled to receive or has received in that period.

    (5) Subsections (3) and (4) of this section shall come into force on a date to be appointed by the Governor-General by Order in Council.

    Section 70 was substituted by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133) and section 13(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Subsection (1)(a) was substituted, as from 12 December 1985, by section 16(1) Social Security Amendment (No 2) Act 1985 (1985 No 159).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by inserting the words or under the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 2 October 1996, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 6) 1996 (1996 No 157) by substituting the rate of the benefit or benefits that would otherwise be payable under this Part of this Act or under the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 shall, subject to subsection (3) of this section, be reduced by the amount of such overseas benefit, pension, or periodical allowance, or part thereof, as the case may be, being an amount determined by the Director-General in accordance with regulations made under this Act for the rate of the benefit or benefits that would otherwise be payable under this Part of this Act or under the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 shall be reduced by the amount of such overseas benefit, pension, or periodical allowance, or part thereof, as the case may be.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting the words or under the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words unless the pension or allowance is a pension or payment granted under Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words section 72 of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 wherever they appear.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in both places it appears.

    Subsection (1) proviso was substituted, as from 12 December 1985, by section 16(2) Social Security Amendment (No 2) Act 1985 (1985 No 159).

    Subsection (1) proviso was amended by section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting Director-General for Commission.

    Subsection (1) proviso paragraph (a) was substituted, as from 1 July 1999, by section 415(1) Accident Insurance Act 1998 (1998 No 114).

    Subsection (1) proviso paragraph (a) was amended, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49) by substituting the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 for the Accident Insurance Act 1998. See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    Section 70(1A): inserted, on 5 January 2010, by section 9 of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 40).

    Section 70(1B): inserted, on 5 January 2010, by section 8 of the War Pensions Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 41).

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 7 November 1996, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 6) 1996 (1996 No 157). See clause 2 Social Security (Alternative Arrangements for Overseas Pensions) Commencement Order 1996 (SR 1996/316).

    Subsection (3)(a) and (b) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (3)(a) and (b) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting the words or under the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (3)(a) and (b) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (3)(a) and (b) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (3A) was inserted, as from 7 November 1996, by section 2(1) Social Security (Overseas Pensions) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 10).

    Subsection (3B) was inserted, as from 28 March 1998, by section 2(2) Social Security (Overseas Pensions) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 10).

    Subsection (3C) was inserted, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84).

    Subsection (3C) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (4) was inserted, as from 7 November 1996, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 6) 1996 (1996 No 157). See clause 2 Social Security (Alternative Arrangements for Overseas Pensions) Commencement Order 1996 (SR 1996/316).

    Section 70(4): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section YA 2 Income Tax Act 2004 (2004 No 35) by substituting section CW 23 of the Income Tax Act 2004 for section CB 5(1)(a) and (f) and Subpart JB of the Income Tax Act 1994.

    Subsection (4)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (4)(a) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting the words or under the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (4)(a) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (4)(a) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (5) was inserted, as from 2 October 1996, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 6) 1996 (1996 No 157).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

70A Rates of benefits for sole parents may be reduced
  • (1) This section applies to any beneficiary—

    • (a) Who is a sole parent; and

    • (b) Who is in receipt of one of the following benefits:

      • (i) A domestic purposes benefit granted under section 27B of this Act; or

      • (ii) A widow's benefit granted, on an application made after the 24th day of July 1990, under section 21 of this Act; or

      • (iii) An invalid's benefit granted, on an application made after the 24th day of July 1990, under section 40 of this Act; or

      • (iiia) [Repealed]

      • (iv) a sickness benefit; or

      • (v) an unemployment benefit; or

      • (va) [Repealed]

      • (vi) An emergency benefit granted, on an application made after the 31st day of July 1991, under section 61 of this Act; and

    • (c) who, in respect of any dependent child in the care of the beneficiary, fails or refuses—

      • (i) to identify who is in law the other parent of that child; or

      • (iii) to attend and give in evidence all information that is required of the beneficiary during a hearing of a proceeding under the Child Support Act 1991, as required under section 122 of that Act.

    (2) The rate of benefit payable to any beneficiary to whom this section applies shall be reduced in respect of each dependent child in the care of the beneficiary—

    • (a) Whose other parent has not been identified in law; or

    • (b) Whose other parent has not been named in an application for formula assessment of child support under the Child Support Act 1991 as a liable parent from whom child support is sought; or

    by an amount equal to $22.

    (3) Subsection (2) of this section shall not apply if the chief executive is satisfied that—

    • (a) There is insufficient evidence available to establish who is in law the other parent; or

    • (b) The beneficiary is taking active steps to identify who is in law the other parent; or

    • (ba) the beneficiary or any of the beneficiary's children would be at risk of violence if the beneficiary carried out or took steps to carry out any of the actions referred to in subparagraphs (i) to (iii) of subsection (1)(c); or

    • (bb) there is a compelling circumstance, other than a circumstance mentioned elsewhere in this subsection, for the beneficiary's failure or refusal to carry out any of the actions set out in subparagraphs (i) to (iii) of subsection (1)(c), and, even if the beneficiary carried out the action, there is no real likelihood of child support being collected in the foreseeable future from the other parent, or, as the case may be, the other parent's estate; or

    • (c) The child was conceived as a result of incest or sexual violation.

    (4) A reduction of the rate of benefit under subsection (2) in respect of a dependent child in the care of the beneficiary ceases to apply to a beneficiary who subsequently carries out the action referred to in subparagraph (i), (ii), or (iii) of subsection (1)(c) that the beneficiary failed or refused to carry out in respect of that child.

    (5) If a beneficiary's rate of benefit has been reduced under subsection (2), it must be reduced by a further $6 if the circumstances in subsection (6) exist.

    (6) The circumstances are that—

    • (a) a period of not less than 13 weeks has elapsed after the date on which the beneficiary's rate of benefit was reduced under subsection (2); and

    • (b) during the period referred to in paragraph (a), the chief executive has given the beneficiary a reasonable opportunity to reconsider his or her decision not to carry out the action referred to in subparagraphs (i) to (iii) of subsection (1)(c) that led to that reduction.

    (7) A further reduction made under subsection (5) to a beneficiary's rate of benefit must not exceed $6, regardless of the number of the beneficiary's dependent children to whom subsection (1)(c) applies.

    (8) A reduction of the rate of benefit under subsection (5) ceases to apply where the rate of benefit has ceased to be reduced under subsection (2).

    (9) For the purposes of this section—

    violence has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Domestic Violence Act 1995.

    Section 70A was inserted, as from 25 July 1990, by section 18 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) Act 1990 (1990 No 74).

    Section 70A was substituted, as from 1 July 1992, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143).

    Subsection (1)(b)(iiia) was inserted, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149).

    Subsection (1)(b)(iiia) was repealed, as from 15 April 2005, by section 7(1) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Subsection (1)(b)(iv) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 45 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (1)(b)(iv) was substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(8) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (1)(b)(v) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or payable pursuant to section 58(3).

    Subsection (1)(b)(va) was inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23).

    Subsection (1)(b)(v) and (va) were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 45 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    A new subsection (1)(b)(v) was inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(8) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (1)(c) was substituted, as from 15 April 2005, by section 7(2) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 October 1993, by section 92(5) Income Tax Amendment (No 3) Act 1993 (1993 No 130) by substituting the figure $22 for the second of the amount in dollar terms expressed in section 374D of the Income Tax Act 1976.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by section YB 1 Income Tax Act 1994 (1994 No 164) by substituting section KD 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 1994 for section 374D(2) of the Income Tax Act 1976. That amendment was in error as the section did not read section 374D(2) of the Income Tax Act 1976 at that time.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 10 April 1995, by section 55(a) Income Tax Act 1994 Amendment (No 2) Act 1995 (1995 No 21) by repealing the provision of the Income Tax Act 1994 relating to s 70A(2) of this Act, and treating those items as though they had never been enacted.

    Subsection (3)(ba) and (bb) was inserted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 7(3) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Subsection (4) was substituted, as from 15 April 2005, by section 7(4) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Subsections (5) to (9) were inserted, as from 15 April 2005, by section 7(4) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30). See section 7(5) of that Act as to reductions made under the new section 70A(5).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

70B Entitlement to benefits in cases of shared custody
  • (1) If the parents of a dependent child—

    • (a) Are living apart; and

    • (b) Are both beneficiaries; and

    • (c) Each has the primary responsibility for the care of that child for at least 40 percent of the time—

    only the parent whom the chief executive is satisfied has the greater responsibility for the child shall be entitled to have that child taken into account by the chief executive in assessing that parent's entitlement to a benefit and the rate of benefit payable at any one time.

    (2) In deciding which parent has the greater responsibility for the child, the chief executive shall have regard primarily to the periods the child is in the care of each parent and then to the following factors:

    • (a) How the responsibility for decisions about the daily activities of the child is shared; and

    • (b) Who is responsible for taking the child to and from school and supervising that child's leisure activities; and

    • (c) How decisions about the education or health care of the child are made; and

    • (d) The financial arrangements for the child's material support; and

    • (e) Which parent pays for which expenses of the child.

    (3) If the chief executive is unable to ascertain that one parent has the greater responsibility for the child than the other, only the parent whom the chief executive ascertains was the principal caregiver in respect of the child immediately before the parents began living apart shall be entitled to have that child taken into account by the chief executive in assessing that parent's entitlement to a benefit and the rate of benefit payable.

    (4) If the chief executive is unable to ascertain which of the parents has the greater responsibility for the child or which of them was the principal caregiver before the parents began living apart, the parents shall agree between themselves as to which of them shall be entitled to have that child taken into account by the chief executive in assessing entitlement to a benefit and the rate of benefit payable; and until the parents reach agreement the child shall not be taken into account in assessing the entitlement to a benefit of, or the rate of benefit payable to, either parent.

    Section 70B was inserted, as from 1 October 1991, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment (No 2) Act 1991 (1991 No 78).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

71 Special provisions where compensation or damages recoverable by applicant
  • (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 or the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, where any person who has recovered or is entitled to recover compensation or damages from any other person in respect of any disability caused by accident or disease or in respect of wrongful or unjustifiable dismissal claims any benefit, the following provisions shall apply:

    • (a) Where any compensation or damages have been recovered, the chief executive may refuse to grant a benefit or may grant a reduced benefit for the period of disability or loss of expectation of employment in respect of which the compensation or damages have been paid or are deemed by the chief executive to have been paid; and

    • (b) Where any applicant for a benefit has a claim against any person to recover any compensation or damages, the chief executive may grant a benefit subject to the condition that the whole or such part of the benefit as the chief executive may require shall be repaid to the chief executive out of any compensation or damages that may thereafter be recovered, and in any such case the amount of the benefit or that part thereof, as the case may be, shall constitute a charge on the compensation or damages and may be recovered as a debt due to the Crown from the beneficiary or from any person liable for the payment of the compensation or damages.

    (2) For the purposes of this section the expression compensation or damages includes any ex gratia payment made in settlement of or on account of a claim for compensation or damages; but does not include any impairment lump sum received under Schedule 1 of the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 74; 1949 No 38 s 19

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 March 1991, by section 25 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1) by inserting the words or due to wrongful or unjustifiable dismissal.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 16(a) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1991 (1991 No 1) by substituting disease or in respect of for disease or due to.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 16(b) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1991 (1991 No 1) by inserting the words or loss of expectation of employment.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by inserting the words or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990, the words or the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49) by adding the words ; but does not include any impairment lump sum received under Schedule 1 of the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001. See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

71A Deduction of weekly compensation from income-tested benefits
  • (1) Subject to subsection (4), this section applies to a person who is qualified to receive an income-tested benefit (other than New Zealand superannuation or a veteran's pension unless the veteran's pension would be subject to abatement under section 74D of the War Pensions Act 1954) where—

    • (a) The person is entitled to receive or receives weekly compensation in respect of the person or his or her spouse or partner or a dependent child; or

    • (b) The person's spouse or partner receives weekly compensation.

    (2) Where this section applies, the rate of the benefit payable to the person must be reduced by the amount of weekly compensation payable to the person.

    (3) In this section, weekly compensation means weekly compensation for loss of earnings or loss of potential earning capacity payable to the person by the Corporation under the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001.

    (4) Subsection (2) does not apply where the person—

    • (a) Was receiving the income-tested benefit immediately before 1 July 1999 and continues to receive that benefit; and

    • (b) Was receiving compensation for loss of earnings or loss of potential earning capacity under the Accident Rehabilitation Compensation and Insurance Act 1992 immediately before that date; and

    • (c) Section 71A(2) of this Act (as it was before it was repealed and substituted by the Accident Insurance Act 1998) required the compensation payments to be brought to charge as income in the assessment of the person's benefit.

    Section 71A was inserted, as from 1 November 1976, by section 21(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 23 December 1977, by section 13(1) and (2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133) by inserting the words domestic purposes.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 1992, by section 172(1)(a) Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Act 1992 (1992 No 13) by substituting compensation for loss of earnings or loss of potential earning capacity under the Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Act 1992 for earnings related compensation within the meaning of section 2 of the Accident Compensation Act 1982.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or an independent youth benefit on the ground specified in section 60F(1)(c)(i),.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 46(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting a community wage on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability, or an for a sickness.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 23 December 1977, by section 13(1) and (2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133) by inserting the words domestic purposes.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 1992, by section 172(1)(b) Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Act 1992 (1992 No 13) by substituting compensation for loss of earnings or loss of potential earnings or loss of potential earning capacity for earnings related compensation.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 46(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting a community wage on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability, or an for a sickness.

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 1 July 1992, by section 172(1)(c) Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Act 1992 (1992 No 13) by substituting compensation for loss of earnings and loss of potential earning capacity for earnings related compensation.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 23 December 1977, by section 13(1) and (2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133) by inserting the words domestic purposes.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words independent youth,.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 46(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting an independent youth benefit, or a community wage on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability, or an for a sickness, independent youth,.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, all references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Section 71A was substituted, as from 1 July 1999, section 415(1) Accident Insurance Act 1998 (1998 No 114).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words unless the veteran's pension would be subject to abatement under section 74D of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words veteran's pension.

    Subsection (1)(a) and (b) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49). See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

72 Limitation where applicant receiving another benefit or war pension
  • Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act,—

    • (a) No person is entitled to receive more than 1 benefit in his or her own right, except as provided in sections 39D, 61EA,, 61G, and 69C:

    • (b) No person who is granted a pension or allowance under the War Pensions Act 1954 or in respect of whom such a pension or allowance is payable, other than—

      • (i) A pension or allowance granted to that person by reason of his own disablement; or

      • (ia) a pension or payment granted under Part 6 of that Act; or.

      • (ii) A pension or a mother's allowance granted to that person as the widow of a deceased member of the New Zealand or any other Commonwealth forces or of the Emergency Reserve Corps or of the New Zealand mercantile marine; or

      • (iii) An allowance in respect of services rendered as an attendant on a disabled member of the New Zealand or any other Commonwealth forces or of the Emergency Reserve Corps or of the New Zealand mercantile marine,—

      shall be granted any benefit:

      Provided also that, if a mother's allowance is payable to a widow under the War Pensions Act 1954, the rate of benefit shall not exceed the benefit that could be paid to that widow if she had no dependent child or children:

      Provided further that any person may receive an invalid's benefit or a sickness benefit, or an independent youth benefit on the ground specified in section 60F(1)(c)(i), or a child disability allowance, in addition to a child's pension under section 36, section 62, or section 65 of the War Pensions Act 1954:

    • (c) Where any part of a benefit is payable in respect of the spouse or partner of an applicant, that part shall not be paid for any period when a personal benefit is payable in respect of the spouse or partner.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 ss 60, 62(b), (c), 63; 1945 No 11 ss 12, 29(c), (d); 1951 No 54 s 17

    Section 72 was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Paragraph (a) was substituted, as from 11 October 1978, by section 21(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 1 October 1986, by section 14(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39) by omitting the expression 61A.

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 1 April 1991, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1) by omitting the proviso.

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 26 October 1992, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1992 (1992 No 80) by inserting the expression 61FA. See regulation 2 Social Security Amendment Act Commencement Order 1992 (SR 1992/295) as to that section coming into force on 26 October 1992.

    Paragraph (a) was substituted, as from 3 June 1998, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60).

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 17 November 2000, by section 7(1) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22) by omitting the expression 61FA, 61FC. See clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

    Paragraph (b)(i) was amended, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(11)(a) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26) by omitting (as amended by s 16(a) War Pensions Amendment Act (No 2) 1970) (not being an economic pension or a war service pension or a war veteran's allowance).

    Paragraph (b)(ia) was inserted, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18).

    Paragraph (b)(ii) was amended, as from 20 October 1972, by section 24(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133) by substituting or a mother's allowance for not being a mother's allowance

    Paragraph (b)(iii) was amended, as from 7 June 1967, by section 2(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1967 (1967 No 4) by inserting the word or.

    Paragraph (b) first proviso was repealed, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(11)(b) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Paragraph (b) second proviso was inserted, as from 20 October 1972, by section 24(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Paragraph (b) the second proviso was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words , or an independent youth benefit on the ground specified in section 60F(1)(c)(i),.

    Paragraph (b) second proviso was amended, as from 1 September 1998, by section 12(4)(c) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting child's disability allowance for handicapped child's allowance.

    Paragraph (b) the second proviso was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 47 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting a community wage on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability, for a sickness benefit.

    Paragraph (b) second proviso was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(1)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting sickness benefit for community wage on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability.

    Paragraph (b) third proviso was inserted, as from 20 October 1972, by section 24(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Paragraph (b) third proviso was amended, as from 11 October 1978, by section 21(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58) by inserting the words or a handicapped child's allowance,.

    Paragraph (c) was substituted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(11)(c) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Paragraph (c) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in both places where it appears.

73 Limitation where applicant entitled to claim under Family Protection Act 1955 or Maori Affairs Act 1953
  • (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, refuse to grant any benefit (other than New Zealand superannuation, or a veteran's pension not subject to an income test) or may grant any such benefit at a reduced rate or may cancel any such benefit already granted, in any case where any person, being a relative of the applicant, has died without, in the opinion of the chief executive, making adequate provision under his will for the proper maintenance and support of the applicant, and the applicant has, in the opinion of the chief executive, failed without good and sufficient reason to institute proceedings under the Family Protection Act 1955 or under Part 11 of the Maori Affairs Act 1953 for a share in or further provision out of the estate of the relative, and to prosecute with all due diligence any proceedings so instituted by him or any such proceedings on an application under the Family Protection Act 1955 or under Part 11 of the Maori Affairs Act 1953 made or deemed to have been made on his behalf.

    (2) In any such proceedings the chief executive shall be entitled to appear and show cause why provision or further provision, as the case may be, should be made for the applicant out of the relative's estate.

    (3) In this section the term relative means a person out of whose estate the applicant is entitled to make a claim for provision under the Family Protection Act 1955 or Part 11 of the Maori Affairs Act 1953.

    Compare: 1950 No 49 s 18

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(13) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26) by substituting or a veteran's pension for national superannuation.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1991, by section 27 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1) by substituting or a miner's widow's benefit for a miner's widow's benefit, or a family benefit.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 5(3)(e) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) by omitting a miner's benefit, or a miner's widow's benefit.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

74 Limitation in certain other cases
  • (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 or the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, refuse to grant any benefit or may terminate or reduce any benefit already granted or may grant a benefit at a reduced rate in any case where the chief executive is satisfied—

    • (a) That the applicant, or the spouse or partner of the applicant or any person in respect of whom the benefit or any part of the benefit is or would be payable, is not ordinarily resident in New Zealand; or

    • (b) [Repealed]

    • (c) [Repealed]

    • (d) That the applicant has directly or indirectly deprived himself of any income or property which results in his qualifying for that or any other benefit or an increased rate of benefit:

    • (e) That the applicant has failed to take reasonable steps to obtain any maintenance or has foregone her rights to any maintenance to which she may be entitled in respect of herself under the Family Proceedings Act 1980 or any other Act.

    (1A) Subsection (1)(d) is subject to any rules prescribed by rules under section 132I.

    (2) In this section,—

    income does not include any amount that a person might be considered to derive from any impairment lump sum under Schedule 1 of the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001, or from any lump sum payment of an independence allowance under Part 13 or Part 4 of Schedule 1 of the Accident Insurance Act 1998, received by the person on or after the date on which this subsection comes into force for the period of 12 months following the receipt of that payment

    property does not include any such impairment lump sum or lump sum payment of an independence allowance received by a person for the period of 12 months following the receipt of that payment.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 ss 15(1)(e), 22(7), 33(2)(d), 40(d), 62(d), 62A; 1963 No 47 s 54

    Paragraphs (b) and (c) were repealed by section 25 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Section 74 was amended, as from 23 December 1977, by section 15 Social Security Amendment (No 2) Act 1977 (1977 No 133) by inserting the words or reduce.

    Section 74 was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by inserting the words or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Section 74 was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Section 74 was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting the words or the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Section 74 was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 9 Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 April 1991, by section 28 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1) by omitting (or, in the case of a family benefit, the father or the mother of the child).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for wife or husband.

    Subsection (1)(b) and (c) were repealed, as from 20 October 1972, by section 25 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Subsection (1)(e) was inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 12 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (1)(e) was amended, as from 31 August 1974, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act 1974 (1974 No 46) by inserting the words or has foregone her rights to any maintenance.

    Subsection (1)(e) was amended, as from 1 July 1992, by section 10 Social Security Amendment Act (No 5) 1991 (1991 No 143) by omitting or her children.

    The reference in subsection (1)(e) to the Family Proceedings Act 1980 replaced an earlier reference to the Domestic Proceedings Act 1968.

    Subsection (2) was inserted, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49). See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words in its discretion pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

74AA Residential requirements for certain benefits
  • (1) A person who applies for a benefit of a kind stated in subsection (2) after 27 May 2007 is not eligible for it unless he or she—

    • (a) is a New Zealand citizen, or is a person who—

      • (ii) is exempt from holding a residence permit under section 12 of that Act; and

    • (b) is ordinarily resident in New Zealand when he or she first applies for the benefit; and

    • (c) except in the case of a person who has refugee status under the Immigration Act 1987, has resided continuously in New Zealand for a period of at least 2 years at any one time after the day on which paragraph (a) first applied to him or her.

    (2) The benefits referred to in subsection (1) are a domestic purposes benefit, an independent youth benefit, an invalid's benefit, a sickness benefit, an unemployment benefit, and a widow's benefit.

    Section 74AA was inserted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

74A Persons unlawfully resident or present in New Zealand
  • (1) A person who is—

    • (a) Unlawfully resident or present in New Zealand; or

    • (b) Lawfully resident or present in New Zealand but only by virtue of—

      • (i) A visitor's permit; or

      • (ia) A limited purpose permit; or

      • (ii) A temporary work permit; or

      • (iii) A permit to be in New Zealand for the purposes of study at a New Zealand school or university or other tertiary educational establishment—

    shall not be entitled to receive a benefit, but the chief executive may grant an emergency benefit under section 61 of this Act or temporary additional support under section 61G, or may continue, under section 23 of the Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004, a special benefit already granted to any such person if the chief executive is satisfied that the person is either—

    • (c) A person lawfully present in New Zealand who is awaiting the outcome of his or her application for refugee status in New Zealand; or

    • (d) A person who has refugee status in New Zealand; or

    • (e) A person applying for a residence permit under the Immigration Act 1987 who is compelled to remain in New Zealand through some unforeseen circumstances.

    (2) If subsection (3) applies to a person,—

    • (a) the rate of benefit payable to the person is the appropriate rate for a single person (and not the rate for a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship); and

    • (b) the income and assets of both the person and the person's spouse or partner must be taken into account as the person's income and assets in determining the rate of benefit payable to the person.

    (3) Subsection (2) applies to—

    • (a) a person who applies for a benefit before the commencement of this subsection, and who is married to, or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship with, a person who is unlawfully resident or present in New Zealand; and

    • (b) a person, other than a person who is already in receipt of a benefit applied for before the commencement of this subsection that is being paid at the rate for a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship, who applies for a benefit on or after that date, and who is married to, or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship with, a person who is—

      • (i) unlawfully resident or present in New Zealand; or

      • (ii) lawfully resident or present in New Zealand, but only by virtue of one of the permits listed in paragraph (b) of subsection (1).

    (4) Despite subsection (3)(b)(ii), subsection (2) does not apply to a person described in any of paragraphs (c), (d), or (e) of subsection (1).

    Section 74A was inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 29 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1)

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 17(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) by omitting is in the process of applying for a residence permit under section 17(2) of the Immigration Act 1987, and.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 2006, by section 21 Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by substituting temporary additional support under section 61G, or may continue, under section 23 of the Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004, a special benefit already granted for a special benefit under section 61G of this Act. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1)(b)(ia) was inserted, as from 1 October 1999, by section 61 Immigration Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 16).

    Subsection (1)(c) was substituted, as from 1 April 1994, by section 17(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by omitting under this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1)(d) was substituted and subsection (1)(e) was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 17(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by substituting the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 for any Schedule to this Act.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 8 August 2001, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 2001 (2001 No 44).

    Subsection (2)(a) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsection (2)(a) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsections (3) to (5) were inserted, as from 8 August 2001, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 2001 (2001 No 44).

    Subsection (3)(a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting , or in a civil union with, after married to.

    Subsection (3)(a) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting person who is married or in a civil union for married person.

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting married to, or in a civil union with, a person for Married to a person.

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union in both places it appears.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting or the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

75 Beneficiaries in hospital
  • (1) For the purposes of this section, hospital means a hospital operated by a district health board within the meaning of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000.

    (2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act or in the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954, if a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship and who has no dependent children, or a single person, who is in receipt of a benefit (other than an unsupported child's benefit or an orphan's benefit), or who becomes entitled to receive such a benefit, is a patient in a hospital for a period of 13 weeks or less, the rate of the benefit shall not be affected.

    (3) If a person to whom subsection (2) of this section applies (other than a person in receipt of, or entitled to receive, a veteran's pension or a person who is a resident assessed as requiring care (as defined in section 136) in respect of whom a funder (as defined in that section) is paying some or all of the cost of contracted care services (as defined in that section) under section 141 or section 142) is a patient in a hospital for more than 13 weeks, the rate of benefit payable on and after the commencement of the 14th week of hospitalisation, subject to subsection (4) of this section, shall be the rate specified in Schedule 22 to this Act.

    (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, the chief executive may in the chief executive's discretion—

    • (a) Pay to any patient to whom that subsection applies a higher rate than the rate specified in the Twenty-second Schedule to this Act after having regard to the patient's personal financial circumstances.

    • (b) [Repealed]

    (5) If, after 13 weeks' hospitalisation, the benefit of a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship is reduced under subsection (3) or subsection (4), and that person's spouse or partner either is not in hospital or has been in hospital for less than 13 weeks, any benefit payable to or in respect of the spouse or partner must be increased, on the same date as the effective date of that reduction, by an amount equal to the difference between—

    • (a) the maximum rate of benefit payable to a single person; and

    • (b) the maximum rate of benefit payable in respect of a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship and whose spouse or partner is receiving a benefit.

    (6) In any case where the rate of a benefit has been reduced in accordance with this section and the beneficiary in hospital is absent from the hospital for not more than 28 days, the rate of benefit payable on return to hospital shall be determined as if that absence has not occurred.

    (7) Nothing in this section shall be construed to entitle a single person or a couple who are married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship to receive a greater amount of benefit, as a result of hospitalisation, than would otherwise have been payable.

    (8) Nothing in this section applies to New Zealand superannuation under the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001.

    Section 75 was substituted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 12(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    Section 75 was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting funder wherever purchaser appears.

    Section 75 was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(4) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting funded wherever purchased appears.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 3(4) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting operated by a hospital and health service within the meaning of the Health and Disability Services Act 1993 for maintained by a Hospital Board under the Hospitals Act 1957.

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 October 2002 by section 58(1) Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 (2001 No 93). See section 11 of that Act for transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by omitting care institution (within the meaning of section 58(4) of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1991, by section 30 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1) by substituting an unsupported child's benefit for a family benefit.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by inserting or in the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 and omitting under this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting person who is married or in a civil union and who has for married person with.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting a single for an unmarried.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 6 November 1985, by section 17(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 159).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(14) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26) by inserting (other than a person in receipt of, or entitled to receive, a veteran's pension).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 18 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) by inserting or a person who is a patient in a hospital receiving residential care disability services which have been purchased by or with the assistance of a purchaser, and whose financial means to pay for those services have been assessed under section 69F of this Act.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 January 2001, by section 111(1) New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91) by substituting that are wholly or partly funded under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 for which have been purchased by or with the assistance of a purchaser. The words purchased and purchaser had already been replaced by the words funded and funder, respectively, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 4(3) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101) by substituting a person who is a resident assessed as requiring care (as defined in section 136) in respect of whom a funder (as defined in that section) is paying some or all of the cost of contracted care services (as defined in that section) under section 141 or section 142 for a person who is a patient in a hospital receiving residential care disability services that are wholly or partly funded under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000, and whose financial means to pay for those services have been assessed under section 69F of this Act. See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Section 75(4)(a): amended, on 10 September 2008, by section 18(2) of the Disability (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) Act 2008 (2008 No 64).

    Subsection (4)(a) was amended, as from 6 November 1985, by section 17(2)(a) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 159) by substituting the rate specified in Schedule 22 to this Act for $10 a week

    Section 75(4)(b): repealed, on 10 September 2008, by section 18(3) of the Disability (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) Act 2008 (2008 No 64).

    Subsection (5) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union in both places it appears.

    Subsection (7) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting a single person or a couple who are married or in a civil union for an unmarried person or a married couple.

    Subsection (7) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    Subsection (8) was inserted, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84).

    Subsection (8) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted for the words in its discretion, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

75A Beneficiaries in institutions under Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966
  • Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, where a beneficiary, or any other person in respect of whom a benefit is payable, is a resident of an institution certified under the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966 (not being a psychiatric security institution within the meaning of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992) or of any institution which is fulfilling a similar purpose to an institution certified under that Act, the rate of any benefit payable in respect of the period of residence in such institution shall be determined by the chief executive after taking into account all of the beneficiary's financial circumstances and commitments.

    Section 75A was inserted, as from 14 October 1981, by section 12 Social Security Amendment Act 1981 (1981 No 46).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words a psychiatric security institution within the meaning of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 were substituted, as from 1 November 1992, for a psychiatric hospital within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1969 pursuant to section 137(1) Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 (1992 No 46).

    Section 75A was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

76 Forfeiture of benefit during detention in a prison
  • (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) or subsection (3) of this section, a benefit shall not be payable in respect of any period during which the beneficiary is imprisoned or detained in, or is an escapee from, a prison, pursuant to a sentence of imprisonment, preventive detention, or corrective training.

    (2) If a person in receipt of New Zealand superannuation or a veteran's pension is so imprisoned or detained, the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, continue payment of New Zealand superannuation or a veteran's pension for 2 pay days after the date of imprisonment or detention.

    (3) The chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, pay all or any part of the benefit to the spouse or partner of a beneficiary who has been so imprisoned or detained, or who has escaped from such imprisonment or detention, or to any responsible person for the benefit of the spouse or partner or of any dependent child or children of such a beneficiary.

    (4) If a beneficiary is remanded in custody by a Court pending a further appearance before a Court, his benefit shall not be payable in respect of any period during which he is so in custody, but the chief executive may in the chief executive's discretion pay all or any part of the benefit in respect of that period after having regard to the beneficiary's financial circumstances and commitments.

    (5) For the purposes of this section, the chief executive may in the chief executive's discretion regard as a period of imprisonment or detention in a prison, or a period of remand in custody, any period during which a person is a patient in a hospital within the meaning of section 75(1) of this Act while serving a sentence of imprisonment, preventive detention, or corrective training, or while remanded in custody.

    (6) For the purposes of this section, a person shall still be considered to be imprisoned or detained if he or she has been released from a prison, for any purpose authorised by the Corrections Act 2004, for a period not exceeding 24 hours.

    Section 76 was substituted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 13(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    The heading to section 76 was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting prison for penal institution. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted for the words in its discretion, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 19(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 57) by inserting the words , or is an escapee from,.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting prison for penal institution, as defined in the Penal Institutions Act 1954. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(15) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26) by substituting or a veteran's pension for national superannuation.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 19(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 57) by inserting the words or who has escaped from such imprisonment or detention,.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in both places it appears.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting prison for penal institution. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Subsection (6) was inserted, as from 1 September 1993, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 45).

    Subsection (6) was repealed, as from 30 June 2002, by section 125 Parole Act 2002 (2002 No 10). See clause 2 Parole Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/177).

    A second subsection (6) was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 19(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting prison for penal institution. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting Corrections Act 2004 for Penal Institutions Act 1954. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

77 Effect of absence of beneficiary from New Zealand
  • (1) Except as provided in this section or in any agreement or convention adopted under section 19 of the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or in sections 21 to 35 of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 or in sections 74E to 74T of the War Pensions Act 1954, a benefit is not payable while a beneficiary is absent from New Zealand.

    (2) A benefit (other than an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit, an emergency benefit, or an invalid's benefit, for a work-tested beneficiary, or an independent youth benefit) that would otherwise be payable to a beneficiary shall be payable in respect of the first 4 weeks of any absence from New Zealand if the chief executive is satisfied that the absence does not affect the beneficiary's eligibility for the benefit.

    (3) The chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, pay an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit, an emergency benefit, or an invalid's benefit, for a work-tested beneficiary, or an independent youth benefit that would otherwise be payable to a beneficiary in respect of the first 4 weeks of any absence from New Zealand if the chief executive is satisfied—

    • (a) That the requirements set out in subsection (2) have been met; or

    • (b) That for humanitarian reasons the beneficiary is required to be absent from New Zealand.

    (3A) The chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, pay an invalid's benefit for a period (not exceeding 6 weeks) in which a beneficiary (not being a work-tested spouse or partner of an invalid's beneficiary) is absent from New Zealand, where the chief executive is satisfied that the beneficiary would, but for his or her absence from New Zealand, continue to be eligible for the invalid's benefit.

    (4) The chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, pay a benefit to any person who would otherwise be entitled to receive it, but who is absent from New Zealand for any period or periods not exceeding 2 years in total because—

    • (a) That person or his or her spouse or partner, dependent child, or sibling is receiving medical treatment overseas for which the Ministry of Health is granting assistance; or

    • (b) the person is in receipt of an invalid's benefit granted on the grounds of his or her sickness, injury, disability, or total blindness, and is absent from New Zealand in order to receive vocational training or disability assistance-dog training; and the chief executive is satisfied that—

      • (i) the training is an activity, or is linked to a goal, included in the person's personal development and employment plan; and

      • (ii) the person could not obtain the training in New Zealand during the period or periods of absence.

    (5) For the purposes of this section, if a person who is absent from New Zealand would have become entitled to a benefit during his or her absence but for subsection (1) of this section, the person's absence shall be regarded as having commenced on the day he or she would have become so entitled.

    The words chief executive were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the chief executive's discretion were substituted for the words in its discretion, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words Ministry of Health were substituted, as from 1 July 1993, for Department of Health pursuant to section 38(3)(a) Health Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 24).

    Section 77 was substituted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 19(1) Social Security Amendment (No 2) Act 1991 (1991 No 78).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting after Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990, or in sections 21 to 29 of the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 1 July 1993, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1996 (1996 No 42). See section 2(2) of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Section 77(2): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 28(3) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1997, by section 33(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20) by inserting , or a widow's benefit or a domestic purposes benefit for a work-tested beneficiary,.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by substituting young job seeker's allowance for job search allowance.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 48(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting a community wage, an emergency benefit, an independent youth benefit, or a widow's benefit or domestic purposes benefit for a work-tested beneficiary for a sickness, training, unemployment, independent youth, or emergency benefit, or a widow's benefit or a domestic purposes benefit for a work-tested beneficiary, or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 February 1999, by section 75(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by inserting the words or invalid's benefit,.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit for a community wage.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 10 March 2003, by section 14 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by omitting or a widow's benefit or domestic purposes benefit.

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 1 July 1993, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1996 (1996 No 42). See section 2(2) of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 33(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Section 77(3): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 28(3) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by substituting young job seeker's allowance for job search allowance.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 48(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting a community wage, an emergency benefit, an independent youth benefit, or a widow's benefit or domestic purposes benefit for a work-tested beneficiary for a sickness, training, unemployment, independent youth, or an emergency benefit, or a widow's benefit or a domestic purposes benefit for a work-tested beneficiary, or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 February 1999, by section 75(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by inserting the words or invalid's benefit,.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit for a community wage.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 10 March 2003, by section 14 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by omitting or a widow's benefit or domestic purposes benefit.

    Subsection (3)(a) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting subsection (2) for subsection (2)(a) and (b) of this section.

    Subsection (3A) was inserted, as from 1 July 1996, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1996 (1996 No 42).

    Subsection (3A) was amended, as from 1 February 1999, by section 75(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by inserting (not being a work-tested spouse of an invalid's beneficiary).

    Subsection (3A) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (4)(a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Section 77(4)(b): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 35 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

78 Effect of absence of beneficiary from New Zealand on residential qualification
  • (1) If any person leaves New Zealand while in receipt of a benefit and returns to take up ordinary residence in New Zealand at any time within 5 years, he shall not, on a subsequent application for a benefit of the same class, be required to comply with the residential qualifications applicable in the case of an original application for a benefit of that class.

    (2) If, before the commencement of this subsection, a person left New Zealand while in receipt of an age benefit or a superannuation benefit, such benefit shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to be New Zealand superannuation.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 70(4)

    Subsection (2) was substituted by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    In subsection (2) the words New Zealand superannuation were substituted for national superannuation, as from 1 April 1994, pursuant to section 2(1) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149).

79 Persons liable for income tax on earnings while employed overseas deemed to be resident in New Zealand
  • (1) Where any person has been employed outside New Zealand and while so employed was liable for the payment of income tax on earnings from that employment, then, for the purposes of satisfying the residential qualification for any benefit after the return to New Zealand of that person or the spouse or partner or any child of that person,—

    • (a) That person shall be deemed to have been resident in New Zealand during the period of such employment outside New Zealand:

    • (b) If the spouse or partner or any child of that person was with the person during that period or any part of it, the spouse or partner or child shall be deemed to have been resident in New Zealand during that period or that part of it, as the case may be:

    • (c) Any child of that person born out of New Zealand during that period shall be deemed to have been born in New Zealand.

    (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall be construed to derogate from the provisions of section 77 of this Act.

    Section 79 was substituted, as from 12 December 1985, by section 18 Social Security Amendment Act 1985 (1985 No 159).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse wherever it appears.

80 Commencement of benefits
  • (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section or the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 or the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, a benefit shall commence on the later of—

    • (a) The date the applicant became entitled to receive it; or

    • (b) The date the application for it was received.

    (2) A benefit is subject to a stand down, and commences on a date calculated in accordance with section 80BA, if—

    • (a) the benefit is a work-tested benefit or an independent youth benefit (other than an independent youth benefit granted to a person undertaking employment-related training or who is enrolled in a course of secondary instruction) and the applicant is not subject to a non-entitlement period; or

    • (b) the benefit is a widow's benefit, a domestic purposes benefit, a sickness benefit, or an invalid's benefit.

    (3) Subsection (2) of this section is subject to subsections (5) to (10) of this section (which relate to exemptions from the benefit stand down).

    (4) If the applicant is subject to a non-entitlement period,—

    • (a) a work-tested benefit granted conditionally under section 123B is subject to a stand down and commences on a date calculated in accordance with section 80BA if—

      • (i) the applicant is subject to the non-entitlement period because of the application of section 60H; and

      • (ii) that section applies to the applicant because he or she is a person described in section 60H(2)(a):

    • (b) any other work-tested benefit commences on the later of—

      • (i) the date the applicant became entitled to receive it; or

      • (ii) the date the application for it was received.

    (5) A benefit shall commence on the latest of the date the person became entitled to receive it, or the day after the date the person's employment ceased, or the date the application for it was received, if—

    • (a) The benefit is an unemployment benefit and the person is participating in a training course approved by the chief executive; or

    • (b) the benefit is a domestic purposes benefit, an independent youth benefit, an invalid's benefit, a sickness benefit, or an unemployment benefit applied for by a person who has entered a refuge following the breakdown of the person's marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship; or

    • (c) The benefit is a sickness benefit, and the applicant—

      • (i) Is suffering from a chronic illness; and

      • (ii) Has applied for a sickness benefit, or a community wage on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability, for that illness on a prior occasion; or

    • (ca) the benefit is an invalid's benefit, and the applicant—

      • (i) is sick or is suffering from an injury or disability from accident or congenital defect; and

      • (ii) has applied for an invalid's benefit on the grounds of that sickness, injury, or disability on a prior occasion; or

    • (d) The applicant for the benefit—

      • (i) Previously received a benefit which was cancelled because he or she was imprisoned or detained for less than 31 days in a prison (as defined in the Corrections Act 2004); and

      • (ii) Applied for the benefit immediately following his or her release from the prison.

    (6) [Repealed]

    (7) [Repealed]

    (8) A benefit shall commence on the later of the day after the date a person's employment ceased or the date of the application for the benefit, if—

    • (a) The person received a benefit before accepting the offer of the employment; and

    • (b) The benefit was cancelled or suspended because of the employment; and

    • (c) The employment was temporary employment, whether or not the person was aware it would be temporary employment when accepting the offer; and

    • (d) The person applies for a benefit following the termination of the employment.

    (9) [Repealed]

    (10) If a person is required to pay all or a part of a benefit towards the cost of the person's treatment or care in a residential programme, the chief executive may commence the benefit on any date but not earlier than the later of—

    • (a) The date the person became entitled to the benefit; or

    • (b) The date the person entered into residence under the programme.

    (11) [Repealed]

    (12) [Repealed]

    (13) A benefit shall commence on the day on which it was granted if—

    • (a) The person has become eligible for the benefit while receiving another benefit; and

    • (b) The benefit is granted instead of that other benefit.

    (14) A disability allowance shall commence on the same day that a benefit commences if that allowance was applied for at the same time as the benefit and the benefit is—

    • (a) A widow's benefit, a domestic purposes benefit, or a sickness benefit; or

    • (b)  an invalid's benefit.

    Section 80 was substituted, as from 20 October 1972, by section 26(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by inserting transitional retirement benefit,.

    Section 80(2)(a): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 36 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (2B) was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by inserting or a transitional retirement benefit.

    Subsection (5A) was inserted, as from 9 December 1994, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1994 (1994 No 142).

    Subsection (8) proviso (a) and (b) were amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by inserting or of a transitional retirement benefit.

    Section 80 was substituted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 34 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting or the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 after Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 49(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by omitting a sickness benefit,.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 2001 (2001 No 44) by inserting a sickness benefit.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 10 March 2003, by section 15(1) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by substituting a widow's benefit, a domestic purposes benefit for a domestic purposes benefit under section 27G of this Act.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 15 April 2005, by section 8(1) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30) by omitting a transitional retirement benefit,.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 11(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people. See section 21 of that Act for the commencement of benefits.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 2 July 2007, by section 11(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20) by omitting unless subsection (11) applies. See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people. See section 21 of that Act for the commencement of benefits.

    Subsection (4)(a) and (b) were substituted, as from 3 June 1998, by section 8(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60).

    Subsection (4) was substituted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 15(2) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 3 June 1998, by section 8(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60) by inserting day after the.

    Subsection (5)(a) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 49(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (5)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 43(2)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit for a community wage.

    Subsection (5)(b) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsection (5)(b) was substituted, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21).

    Subsection (5)(b) was amended, as from 2 July 2007, by section 11(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20) by inserting , an independent youth benefit, an invalid's benefit, a sickness benefit, or an unemployment benefit after purposes benefit. See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people. See section 21 of that Act for the commencement of benefits.

    Subsection (5)(c) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 49(1)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting is a community wage granted on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability for is a sickness benefit.

    Subsection (5)(c)(ii) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 49(1)(c) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by inserting , or a community wage on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability,.

    Subsection (5)(c) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(10)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting sickness benefit for community wage granted on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability.

    Subsection (5)(ca) was inserted, as from 1 July 2004, by section 15 Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (5)(d)(i) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting prison for penal institution. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Subsection (5)(d)(i) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting Corrections Act 2004 for Penal Institutions Act 1954. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Subsection (5)(d)(ii) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting prison for institution. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Subsections (6) and (7) were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 43(2)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (8) was amended, as from 3 June 1998, by section 8(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60) by substituting or the date of the application for the benefit, for , or the day after the date of application for the benefit,.

    Subsection (8)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 43(2)(c) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by inserting or suspended after was cancelled.

    Subsections (9), (11), and (12) were repealed, as from 2 July 2007, by section 11(4) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people. See section 21 of that Act for the commencement of benefits.

    Subsection (14)(a) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 49(1)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting a community wage granted on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability for a sickness benefit.

    Subsection (14)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(10)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting sickness benefit for community wage granted on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability.

    Subsection (14)(b) was amended, as from 15 April 2005, by section 8(2) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30) by omitting A transitional retirement benefit or.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

80AA Minister may allow back-dating of benefit where earlier failure to grant it based on error
  • (1) With the consent of the Minister (given in relation to a particular applicant or applicants of a stated kind or description) a benefit (or a benefit of a stated kind) may commence at a time earlier than the time an application for it was made.

    (2) The Minister must not give consent unless satisfied that—

    • (a) in the case of a particular applicant, the particular applicant—

      • (i) could not reasonably have been expected to apply at the earlier time because of some erroneous action or inaction on the part of the department; or

      • (ii) at or before the earlier time, tried to apply or applied incompletely, and did not proceed because of some erroneous action or inaction on the part of the department; or

    • (b) in the case of applicants of a stated kind or description,—

      • (i) applicants of that kind or description could not reasonably have been expected to apply at earlier times because of some erroneous action or inaction on the part of the department in relation to applicants of that kind or description; or

      • (ii) at earlier times, some applicants of that kind or description tried to apply or applied incompletely, and did not proceed because of some erroneous action or inaction on the part of the department.

    (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), examples of erroneous action or inaction are—

    • (a) giving wrong advice:

    • (b) erroneously failing or refusing to provide information, help, or some document or form.

    (4) Consent given under subsection (1) in relation to applicants of a stated kind or description does not necessarily allow all the benefits concerned to commence at the same time.

    (5) Subsection (1) does not enable the commencement of a benefit at a time at which the person to whom it is granted was not eligible for it.

    (6) If the Minister delegates to the chief executive the exercise of the power to consent conferred by subsection (1), its exercise by the chief executive (or a refusal by the chief executive to exercise it) is a decision under this Part for the purposes of section 12J.

    Section 80AA was inserted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 12(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

80A Duty to advise change of circumstances affecting entitlement to benefit
  • (1) Every beneficiary shall forthwith advise an officer of the Department of any change in circumstances which affects the right of the beneficiary to receive the benefit received by him or which affects the rate of any such benefit.

    (2) [Repealed]

    Section 80A was inserted, as from 21 November 1984, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1984 (1984 No 8).

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 1 April 1991. by section 33 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

80B Interpretation
  • In this section and in sections 80BA to 80BC of this Act and in Schedule 28 to this Act—

    average income, in relation to a person, means the person's specified income divided by the number of weeks in the average income calculation period

    Average Income: paragraph (b) of this definition was substituted, as from 1 January 1994, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 14).

    Average Income: paragraph (b) of the definition was proposed to be amended, as from 1 April 1995, by section YB 1 Income Tax Act 1994 (1994 No 164) by substituting clause 8 of Schedule 19 to the Income Tax Act 1994 for clause 9 of Schedule 2 to the Income Tax Act 1976.

    Average Income: this definition was substituted, as from 1 May 2005, by section 9(1) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    average income calculation period, in relation to a person, means—

    • (a) if the person has made an election under section 80BA(1A), the period of 52 weeks immediately before the later of—

      • (i) the date the person became entitled to receive the benefit; or

      • (ii) if the person's employment terminated or the person is given notice of termination of employment before he or she applied for the benefit, the date the person's employment ceased; or

    • (b) in any other case, the period of 26 weeks immediately before the later of the dates referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (a)

    average income calculation period: this definition was substituted, as from 1 May 2005, by section 9(1) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Average wage means the average wage (as defined in section 3(1) of this Act) at the later of—

    • (a) The date the person became entitled to receive the benefit; or

    • (b) If the person's employment terminated or the person is given notice of termination of employment before he or she applied for the benefit, the date the person's employment ceased:

    Income includes—

    • (a) The amount of any of the following benefits or allowances received by the person:

      • (i) A widow's benefit;

      • (ii) A domestic purposes benefit;

      • (iii) An invalid's benefit;

      • (iv) A community wage paid before 1 July 2001:

      • (v) a sickness benefit:

      • (vi) an unemployment benefit:

      • (vii) [Repealed]

      • (viii) An independent youth benefit;

      • (ix) An emergency benefit;

      • (x) [Repealed]

      • (xi) An accommodation supplement under section 61EA of this Act;

      • (xii) [Repealed]

      • (xiii) [Repealed]

    • (b) The amount of any tax withheld or deducted for any of those benefits under section RD 11(3) of the Income Tax Act 2007:

    Redundancy payment means a payment (before the deduction of income tax) made in relation to the termination of a person's employment if—

    • (a) The main reason for the termination is that the person's position is or will be superfluous to the employer's needs, and the person is not a seasonal worker; or

    • (b) The person's usual seasonal employment is not made available by the employer mainly because the person's position, or usual position, is or will be superfluous to the employer's needs;

    but does not include—

    • (c) A payment solely because of a seasonal lay-off; or

    • (d) A payment that depends on the completion of—

      • (i) A fixed-term engagement; or

      • (ii) An engagement to complete work specified in a contract; or

    • (e) A payment instead of notice terminating the employment; or

    • (f) Any payment (including holiday pay) if the chief executive considers that, but for the termination of the employment, it would have been paid as monetary remuneration of the person; or

    • (g) Any payment made by a company to a director of the company under—

      • (i) Its articles of association, for a company registered under the Companies Act 1955; or

    • (h) Any retirement payment:

    Retirement payment means a payment (before the deduction of income tax) made because of the termination of a person's employment on his or her retirement paid in one or more lump sums or on a periodical basis; but does not include—

    • (a) A payment solely because of a seasonal lay-off; or

    • (b) A payment that depends on the completion of—

      • (i) A fixed-term engagement; or

      • (ii) An engagement to complete work specified in a contract; or

    • (c) A payment instead of notice terminating the employment; or

    • (d) Any payment (including holiday pay) if the chief executive considers that, but for the termination of the employment, it would have been paid as monetary remuneration of the person; or

    • (e) Any payment made by a company to a director of the company under—

      • (i) Its articles of association, for a company registered under the Companies Act 1955; or

    • (f) Any payment from a superannuation fund or other similar payment.

    specified income, in relation to a person, means—

    • (a) the person's income in the average income calculation period; and

    • (b) the amount of any redundancy payment or retirement payment, before the deduction of income tax, not included in the person's income under paragraph (a) and made to the person—

      • (i) before the person's employment ceased; or

      • (ii) in the 52 weeks after the date on which the employment ceased.

    specified income: this definition was inserted, as from 1 May 2005, by section 9(3) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Sections 80B and 80C were inserted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 21 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    Section 80B was substituted, as from 30 November 1992, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1992 (1992 No 99).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by inserting the words a transitional retirement benefit.

    Section 80B was substituted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 35 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Income: this definition was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by adding the words ; and also includes transitional retirement benefits paid under the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990..

    Income: paragraph (a)(vii) was substituted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23).

    Income: paragraph (a)(iv) was substituted, and paragraph (a)(v) to (vii) was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 50 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Income: paragraph (a)(iv) was substituted, and new paragraph (a)(v) and (a)(vi) were inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(9) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Income: paragraph (a)(x) was repealed, as from 15 April 2005, by section 9(2) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Income: paragraph (a)(xii) and (xiii) were repealed, as from 17 May 2001, by section 7(3) Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 22). See section 2(2) of that Act and clause 2 Housing Restructuring (Income-Related Rents) Amendment Act Commencement Order 2000 (SR 2000/189).

    Section 80B income paragraph (b): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Income: paragraph (b) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section YA 2 Income Tax Act 2004 (2004 No 35) by substituting Income Tax Act 2004 for Income Tax Act 1994.

80BA Calculation of stand down
  • (1) This section applies to a benefit if section 80 of this Act requires the benefit to commence on a date calculated in accordance with this section.

    (1A) A person who is entitled to a benefit to which this section applies may elect to have his or her average income calculated by reference to a period of 52 weeks instead of 26 weeks.

    (2) Every benefit to which this section applies shall be subject to a stand down period calculated in accordance with Schedule 28 to this Act.

    (3) A stand down period under this section commences on the later of—

    • (a) The date the person became entitled to the benefit; or

    • (b) If the person's employment terminated or the person is given notice of termination of employment before he or she applied for the benefit, the day after the date the person's employment ceased.

    (4) If a stand down period applies under this section, benefits commence as follows:

    • (a) Benefits except those described in paragraph (b) commence on the later of—

      • (i) The day on which the stand down period ends; or

      • (ii) The day on which the application for the benefit is received:

    • (b) A benefit—

      • (i) That is a widow's benefit, a domestic purposes benefit, an invalid's benefit, or a sickness benefit; and

      • (ii) For which the application is received within 28 days after the date on which the person becomes entitled to the benefit—

      commences on the day on which the stand down period ends.

    (5) This section is subject to section 80BB of this Act (which relates to delayed redundancy and retirement payments) and section 80BC of this Act (which relates to seasonal workers made redundant after a seasonal lay-off).

    Sections 80BA to 80BD were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 35 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 1 May 2005, by section 10(1) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 3 June 1998, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60) by inserting the words day after the.

    Subsection (4) was substituted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 20(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (4)(a)(i) and (ii) were amended, as from 3 June 1998, by section 9(2)(a) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60) by omitting after the date.

    Subsection (4)(b) was amended, as from 3 June 1998, by section 9(2)(b) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 60) by substituting commences on the day for commences on the day after the date.

    Subsection (4)(b)(i) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 51 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting a community wage granted on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability for a sickness benefit.

    Subsection (4)(b)(i) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(10)(c) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting sickness benefit for community wage granted on the grounds of sickness, injury, or disability.

    Subsection (4)(b)(i) was amended, as from 15 April 2005, by section 10(2) Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30) by substituting or a sickness benefit for a sickness benefit, or a transitional retirement benefit.

80BB Delayed redundancy and retirement payments
  • (1) This section applies to a person who has applied for a benefit to which section 80(2) or (12) of this Act applies if—

    • (a) The person is entitled to receive a redundancy payment or a retirement payment; and

    • (b) The person has not received the whole or a part of that payment.

    (2) A person referred to in subsection (1) of this section is entitled to receive the benefit applied for on a provisional basis and to have the stand down period calculated as if his or her average income did not include the amount not yet received.

    (3) Subsection (4) of this section applies if the person subsequently receives the whole or any part of the redundancy payment or retirement payment within 52 weeks after the date the person's employment ceased.

    (4) The chief executive may recover from the person, under section 86(1) of this Act, any payment of the benefit—

    • (a) Which the person has received; and

    • (b) To which the person would not be entitled but for subsection (2) of this section.

    Sections 80BA to 80BD were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 35 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting chief executive for Director-General.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 16 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28), by substituting 86(1) for 86(1A).

80BC Seasonal workers made redundant after benefit commences
  • (1) This section applies to a person who is a seasonal worker if—

    • (a) The person applies for a benefit to which section 80(2) or (12) of this Act applies following a seasonal layoff; and

    • (b) The person becomes entitled to receive a redundancy payment because his or her usual seasonal employment is made unavailable by the employer after the benefit commences; and

    • (c) The person receives the whole or any part of the redundancy payment within 52 weeks after the date the person's seasonal employment ceased.

    (2) The chief executive may, under section 86(1) of this Act, recover from a person referred to in subsection (1) of this section any payment of the benefit—

    • (a) Which the person has received; and

    • (b) Which is a payment to which the person would not have been entitled if the redundancy payment received had been taken into account in calculating the stand down period under section 80BA of this Act.

    Sections 80BA to 80BD were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 35 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting chief executive for Director-General.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 17 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by substituting 86(1) for 86(1A).

80BD Ending of benefits
  • (1) Every benefit shall end on a date the chief executive sets, to be—

    • (a) A date no earlier than the pay day before the date on which entitlement to the benefit ceased; and

    • (b) A date no later than the pay day after that date.

    (2) The general provision in subsection (1) of this section is subject to subsections (3) to (7) of this section.

    (3) Subsection (4) of this section applies to a person receiving New Zealand superannuation, a veteran's pension, a widow's, domestic purposes, invalid's, or independent youth benefit, or an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit, or a related emergency benefit.

    (4) If a person referred to in subsection (3) of this section dies, the benefit ends 4 weeks following the death if—

    • (a) The person leaves a spouse or partner or a child; and

    (5) In all other cases—

    • (a) [Repealed]

    • (b) Every benefit ends—

      • (i) On the date of the beneficiary's death; or

      • (ii) On a date set by the chief executive (being a date no later than 4 weeks after the date of the beneficiary's death).

    (6) A benefit or a rate of benefit payable to a sole parent ends 8 weeks after the beneficiary stops caring for the dependent child concerned if the beneficiary stops caring for the child because of a sudden change of circumstances beyond the beneficiary's control.

    (6A) A domestic purposes benefit under section 27G or a rate of that benefit ends 8 weeks after the beneficiary stops caring for the sick or infirm person concerned if the beneficiary stops caring for the sick or infirm person because the person dies, or is admitted to hospital, or enters residential care.

    (7) An orphan's benefit or unsupported child's benefit ends—

    • (a) On the date the child ceases to be entitled to the benefit; or

    • (b) On a date set by the chief executive (being a date no later than 4 weeks after the date the child ceases to be entitled to the benefit).

    Sections 80BA to 80BD were inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 35 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 10(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1997 (1997 No 23) by inserting the words or a young job seeker's allowance,.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 52 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting or independent youth benefit, or a community wage for sickness, independent youth, training or unemployment benefit, or a young job seeker's allowance.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 15(3)(e) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit for a community wage.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 15 April 2005, by section 11 Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30) by omitting a transitional retirement benefit,.

    Subsection (4)(a) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (4)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49) by adding the words or section 444 of the Accident Insurance Act 1998 or section 382 of the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001. See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    Subsection (4)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (5)(a) was repealed, as from 26 September 2002, by section 18(a) Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Subsection (5)(b) was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 18(b) Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by omitting other.

    As from 1 October 1998, references in this section to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Section 80BD(6): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 37 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 80BD(6A): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 37 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

80C Effect of sections 60H to 60M and section 80BA on entitlement to supplementary benefits and on spouses or partners
  • (1) A person is not entitled to receive an emergency benefit under section 61 of this Act, or an accommodation supplement under section 61EA of this Act, or temporary additional support under section 61G or a special benefit continued under section 23 of the Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004, while—

    • (a) The person is subject to a non-entitlement period; or

    • (b) The person is subject to a stand down under section 80BA of this Act; or

    • (c) the person is subject to a sanction of suspension of 100% of a benefit under section 117.

    (1A) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(b) of this section, if the applicant was receiving an accommodation supplement pursuant to section 61EA of this Act immediately before applying for a benefit, the accommodation supplement shall continue at the same rate for the period of non-entitlement.

    (2) The spouse or partner of a person who is not entitled to a benefit due to the application of section 80BA of this Act shall not be entitled to receive any benefit to which his or her spouse or partner is not entitled.

    Sections 80B and 80C were inserted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 21 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    The heading to section 80C was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partners.

    Subsection (1)(b) was substituted, as from 1 July 1993, by section 22(2) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 July 1997, by section 36(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 2006, by section 21 Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by substituting temporary additional support under section 61G or a special benefit continued under section 23 of the Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 for a special benefit under section 61G of this Act. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1)(c) was substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 6 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Subsection (1)(c) was substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 43(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 1 July 1993, by section 22(2) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1994, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by omitting under this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 1997, by section 36(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20) by substituting section 80BA for section 80B.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in both places it appears.

80D Benefit applications by claimants under Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001
  • If—

    • (b) The claimant subsequently fails to establish his or her claim; and

    • (c) The claimant would otherwise have been entitled to a benefit during all or any part of the period in respect of which the compensation would have been paid if the claim had been accepted—

    the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, treat an application for a benefit made by the claimant as having been made on the date—

    • (d) That the incapacity in respect of which the claim was made occurred; or

    • (e) That the applicant would have become entitled to that benefit—

    whichever is the later date.

    Section 80D was inserted, as from 1 July 1992, by section 172(2) Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Act 1992 (1992 No 13).

    Paragraph (a) was substituted, as from 1 July 1999, by section 415(1) Accident Insurance Act 1998 (1998 No 114).

    Paragraph (a) was substituted, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49). See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

81 Review of benefits
  • (1) The chief executive may from time to time review any benefit in order to ascertain—

    • (a) Whether the beneficiary remains entitled to receive it; or

    • (b) Whether the beneficiary may not be, or may not have been, entitled to receive that benefit or the rate of benefit that is or was payable to the beneficiary—

    and for that purpose may require the beneficiary or his or her spouse or partner to provide any information or to answer any relevant question orally or in writing, and in the manner specified by the chief executive. If the beneficiary or his or her spouse or partner fails to comply with such a requirement within such reasonable period as the chief executive specifies, the chief executive may suspend, terminate, or vary the rate of benefit from such date as the chief executive determines.

    (2) If, after reviewing a benefit under subsection (1) of this section, the chief executive is satisfied that the beneficiary is no longer or was not entitled to receive the benefit or is or was entitled to receive the benefit at a different rate, the chief executive may suspend, terminate, or vary the rate of the benefit from such date as the chief executive reasonably determines.

    (3) If, after reviewing a benefit under subsection (1) of this section, the chief executive considers the beneficiary is more appropriately entitled to receive some other benefit, the chief executive may, in his or her discretion, cancel the benefit the beneficiary was receiving and grant that other benefit commencing from the date of cancellation.

    Subsections (2) and (3) were repealed, as from 21 November 1984, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act 1984 (1984 No 8).

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted for the words in its discretion, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 81 was substituted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 37(8) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in both places it appears.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 1 March 1991, by section 34 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

82 Payment of benefits
  • (1) Every benefit shall be payable by instalments of such number of weeks' benefit on such day or date or such days or dates in the month as the chief executive from time to time determines.

    (2) The amount of a weekly instalment of a benefit that is payable at an annual rate shall be ascertained by dividing the annual rate by 52.

    (2A) The following benefits are paid in respect of a 7-day week: a domestic purposes benefit, an independent youth benefit, an invalid's benefit, a sickness benefit, an emergency benefit, an unemployment benefit, and a widow's benefit.

    (3) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, every instalment of a benefit shall be paid to or on account of the beneficiary personally:

    Provided that for good cause the chief executive may, in the chief executive's discretion, direct that payment of the whole or any part of an instalment, or any number of instalments, be paid—

    • (a) To or on account of some other person authorised by the beneficiary or, in the case of a beneficiary who lacks sufficient capacity in law, to any person appointed by the chief executive for the purpose of receiving it; or

    • (b) With or without the consent of the beneficiary—

      • (i) To any person in payment of the beneficiary's lawful debts or other liabilities:

      • (ii) To, or for the benefit of, the spouse or partner of the beneficiary or any dependent child or children of the beneficiary.

    (4) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, every instalment of benefit shall be paid in a manner and at the place determined by the chief executive from time to time, and no appeal under this Act shall lie against that determination.

    (5) If any instalment of any benefit, or any part of any instalment, is not collected within such time as the chief executive may specify, the authority to collect such instalment, or part, shall lapse and the amount of benefit so unpaid shall be forfeited unless the chief executive is satisfied in any particular case that there was good cause for not collecting that instalment or that part of the instalment.

    (6) If it is satisfied that an advance payment of a benefit would best meet the immediate needs of a beneficiary, the chief executive may in the chief executive's discretion, on application by the beneficiary, make payment in advance of any number of instalments of the benefit, or part of it, not yet due, and the amount so paid in advance may be recovered under section 86(1).

    (7) Unless the chief executive in any particular case otherwise determines, it shall be a condition of every benefit that the applicant or beneficiary shall—

    • (a) Supply the Department with particulars of an existing account held by the applicant or beneficiary with—

      • (i) The Post Office Bank Limited, a private savings bank, a trustee savings bank, or the Public Service Investment Society Limited; or

      • (ii) A registered bank which, on the 31st day of March 1987, was a trading bank; or

      • (iii) Any other registered bank or a building society (being a registered bank or a building society approved for the purposes of this subsection by the Minister after consultation with the Minister of Finance); or

    • (b) Open such an account, if one is not held, and supply the Department with particulars of the account; or

    • (c) Supply the Department with particulars of a current membership held by the applicant or beneficiary with a credit union registered under Part 3 of the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Act 1982 (being a credit union approved for the purposes of this subsection by the Minister after consultation with the Minister of Finance)—

    and every instalment of the benefit may be paid by the chief executive into such account or in respect of such membership, as the case may be.

    Section 82 was substituted, as from 11 October 1978, by section 23(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 21(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the words or such days or dates.

    Subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 13(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsections (3) and (4) were amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (3)(b)(ii) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for wife or husband.

    Subsection (6) was inserted, as from 24 August 1979, by section 11 Social Security Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 14).

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 21(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by substituting the amount so paid in advance may be recovered under section 86(1D) for recover the amount so paid in advance from subsequent instalments of the benefit at such rate as the Director-General determines from time to time.

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 19 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by substituting 86(1) for 86(1D).

    Subsection (7) was inserted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 14(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16)

    Subsection (7) was substituted, as from 26 October 1988, by section 21(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

    Subsection (7) was amended, as from 1 April 1990, by section 14(16) Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26) by substituting Unless the Director-General in any particular case otherwise determines, it shall be a condition of every benefit that the applicant or beneficiary shall— for It shall be a condition of every benefit payable under this Part of this Act that the applicant or beneficiary shall—.

    Subsection (7)(a)(iii) and (c) were amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting Minister for Minister of Social Welfare.

    The words Director-General were substituted, as from 23 June 1987, for the words Commission pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words in the Director-General's discretion were substituted for the words in its discretion, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

82A Duty to supply tax file number and consequence of failure to do so
  • (1) The chief executive of the department for the time being responsible for the administration of the Social Security Act 1964 may in writing request an applicant for a benefit or a beneficiary to provide evidence, to the satisfaction of the chief executive, of the tax file number of the applicant or beneficiary.

    (2) The chief executive may refuse to grant a benefit and must suspend payment of a benefit if satisfactory evidence of the tax file number of the applicant or the beneficiary is not received within 10 working days after the date on which the chief executive requests the evidence.

    (3) The chief executive may extend to a date to be specified in writing the time for delivery of the evidence referred to in subsection (1) if an applicant or a beneficiary provides a reasonable explanation for not providing the evidence within the time prescribed in subsection (2).

    (4) This section does not apply to a beneficiary who is unable to provide satisfactory evidence of the beneficiary's tax file number within the time specified because of sickness, injury, or disability.

    (5) In this section, tax file number has the same meaning as in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007.

    Section 82A was inserted, as from 1 October 1993, by section 24(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by section YB 1 Income Tax Act 1994 (1994 No 164) by substituting section OB 1 of the Income Tax Act 1994 for section 2 of the Income Tax Act 1976.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Section 82A was substituted, as from 7 October 1998, by section 2(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1998 (1998 No 104).

    Section 82A(5): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section YA 2 Income Tax Act 2004 (2004 No 35) by substituting Income Tax Act 2004 for Income Tax Act 1994.

83 Apportionment of benefit between spouses or partners
  • (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, where any person is entitled to a benefit at a rate prescribed in respect of a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship, 50 percent of that benefit and any other benefit payable under this Act shall be paid to the person so entitled and 50 percent shall be paid to the spouse or partner or other person who qualifies the beneficiary to be paid at that rate.

    (2) Subject to section 12(2) of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, in any case where the chief executive determines that it would not be appropriate for any benefit to be paid as provided in subsection (1) of this section, the whole of the benefit may be paid to the person entitled to the benefit or the benefit may be allocated in such proportions as the chief executive determines between the beneficiary and the spouse or partner or other person who qualifies the beneficiary to be paid at the rate referred to in subsection (1).

    (3) In any case where a benefit is apportioned under subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section, the proportion of the benefit paid to each person shall be deemed for the purposes of the Income Tax Act 2007 to be the income of the person to whom it is paid.

    Section 83 was substituted, as from 23 December 1977, by section 17 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133).

    Section 83 was substituted, as from 1 October 1986, by section 16(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39).

    The heading to section 83 was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partners.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting person who is married or in a civil union for married person.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting that rate for the married rate.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 20 Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by substituting section 12(2) of the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 for section 15(2) of this Act.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting rate referred to in subsection (1) for married rate.

    Section 83(3): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by section YB 1 Income Tax Act 1994 (1994 No 164) by substituting Income Tax Act 1994 for Income Tax Act 1976.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section YA 2 Income Tax Act 2004 (2004 No 35) by substituting Income Tax Act 2004 for Income Tax Act 1994.

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

83A Tax on benefits
  • (1) This section applies where any instalment or a payment of an income-tested benefit is a source deduction payment.

    (2) Where this section applies, the chief executive may, instead of making a tax deduction from the source deduction payment, pay to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, at such time as the Commissioner determines in consultation with the chief executive, an amount for income tax payable on that payment, calculated in accordance with subsection (3).

    (3) The amount for income tax payable on a source deduction payment is the amount of the tax deduction that would be made, at the rate determined under the appropriate specified provision, if the payment were increased by an amount that, after the tax deduction were made, would result in an amount equal to the source deduction payment.

    (4) An amount for income tax paid to the Commissioner under subsection (2) must,—

    • (a) for the purposes of this Act, be considered to be a payment of a benefit, within the meaning of that term in section 3(1), made on account of, and received by, the person; and

    • (b) for the purposes of—

      • (i) the Income Tax Act 1976, be considered to be assessable income of the person; or

      • (ii) the Income Tax Act 1994, be considered to be gross income of the person; or

      • (iv) the Income Tax Act 2007, be considered to be income of the person.

    (5) If, as a result of the review, suspension, cancellation, or termination of an income-tested benefit, the chief executive determines that an amount for tax on the benefit has been paid in accordance with this section to the Commissioner in excess of the amount that is properly payable under this section, the chief executive may not recover the excess amount as a debt due to the Crown within the meaning of section 85A, but may recover that amount by—

    • (a) making an adjustment to any amount subsequently payable to the Commissioner under subsection (2) in respect of the source deduction payments for that or any other benefit payable to that beneficiary; or

    • (b) making such other arrangements for its refund as are agreed with the Commissioner.

    (6) In this section,—

    income-tested benefit has the meaning given to that term by section 2 of the Income Tax Act 1976 or section OB 1 of the Income Tax Act 1994 or section OB 1 of the Income Tax Act 2004 or section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007 (whichever is applicable) and not the meaning in section 3(1) of this Act

    source deduction payment has the meaning given to that term by section 2 of the Income Tax Act 1976 or section OB 1 of the Income Tax Act 1994 or section OB 1 of the Income Tax Act 2004 (whichever is applicable) and includes a PAYE income payment, as that term is defined in section RD 3 of the Income Tax Act 2007 (if applicable)

    specified provision, in relation to a source deduction payment, means (as the case requires)—

    • (a) the fourth proviso to section 343(1) of the Income Tax Act 1976; or

    • (b) the fourth proviso to section NC 6(1) of the Income Tax Act 1994; or

    • (c) section NC 6(1D) of the Income Tax Act 1994; or

    • (e) section RD 11(3) of the Income Tax Act 2007.

    Section 83A was inserted, as from 15 April 2005, by section 12 Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30). See section 18 of that Act for the savings provision.

    Section 83A(4)(b)(iii): substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 83A(4)(b)(iv): added, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 83A(6) income-tested benefit: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 83A(6) source deduction payment: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 83A(6) specified provision paragraph (d): substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 83A(6) specified provision paragraph (e): added, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

84 Benefits to be inalienable
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of the Family Benefits (Home Ownership) Act 1964, or the Child Support Act 1991 or the Student Loan Scheme Act 1992 and of section 82 of this Act, no benefit shall be capable of being assigned or charged or of passing to any other person by operation of law.

    (2) Every person commits an offence, and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $100, who demands or accepts from any beneficiary any benefit order or any acknowledgment or undertaking where that demand, acceptance, acknowledgment, or undertaking would constitute a legal or an equitable assignment of or a charge upon any benefit if the benefit were capable of being legally assigned or charged.

    (3) [Repealed]

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 69, 1945 No 11 s 30; 1958 No 46 s 27

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 11 October 1978, by section 24(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58) by inserting the words and of section 82 of this Act.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 11 October 1978, by section 24(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58) by repealing the proviso.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1992, by section 89 Student Loan Scheme Act 1992 (1992 No 141) by inserting the words or the Student Loan Scheme Act 1992.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1992, by section 11 Social Security Amendment (No 5) Act 1991 (1991 No 143) by inserting the words or the Child Support Act 1991.

    Subsection (2) was amended by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 1967 (1967 No 4) by substituting where that demand, acceptance, acknowledgment, or undertaking would constitute for that would constitute.

    Subsection (3) was repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 35 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).

84A Payment of benefit not to restrict right to maintenance
  • The payment of a benefit under this Act shall not operate—

    • (c) To affect the power of the Commissioner of Inland Revenue to make an assessment of child support or domestic maintenance, or accept a voluntary agreement, under the Child Support Act 1991; or

    Section 84A was inserted, as from 23 December 1977, by section 18 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133)

    Section 84A was amended by substituting the reference to the Family Proceedings Act 1980 for the repealed Domestic Proceedings Act 1968.

    Section 84A was substituted, as from 1 July 1992, by section 12(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 5) 1991 (1991 No 143).

    Section 84A was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Paragraph (c) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting domestic for spousal.

85
  • [Repealed]

    Section 85 was repealed, as from 28 September 1982, by section 15(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

85A Payments that are debts due to the Crown
  • The following payments or other sums are debts due to the Crown:

    • (a) any penalty payable under this Act:

    • (b) any benefit paid conditionally or provisionally under this Act that a person has become liable to repay (by direction of the chief executive or otherwise):

    • (c) any advance payment of a benefit made to a person under section 82(6):

    • (d) any money paid to or for the credit of a person as a grant of special assistance under a welfare programme approved under section 124(1)(d) that is—

      • (i) paid as a recoverable grant of assistance; or

      • (ii) otherwise recoverable from that person under the terms and conditions of the programme:

    • (e) any amount described by this Act as a debt due to the Crown from the person:

    Section 85A was inserted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 21 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Paragraph (f) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Paragraph (f) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

86 Recovery of payments made in excess of authorised rates
  • (1) The chief executive, in order to recover a debt referred to in section 85A, may—

    • (a) bring proceedings in the name of the chief executive; or

    • (b) deduct all or part of that debt from any amount payable to that person by the department as a benefit or a student allowance; or

    • (c) in the case of a debt referred to in section 85A(d), deduct all or part of that debt from any payment of a grant of special assistance under a welfare programme approved under section 124(1)(d).

    (1A) Subsection (1) is subject to subsections (9A) and (9B), and to any regulations made under section 132G.

    (1B) Nothing in section 94B of the Judicature Act 1908 or any rule of law relating to payment by or under mistake prevents recovery of a debt under subsection (1).

    (1C) [Repealed]

    (1D) [Repealed]

    (1E) [Repealed]

    (1F) [Repealed]

    (2) Subject to subsections (2A) and (2B) of this section, if any person has obtained any payment or received any credit or advance referred to in section 85A in excess of the amount to which he or she was entitled and, in the opinion of the chief executive, that payment or credit or advance in excess was obtained by fraud, the chief executive may, in his or her discretion, which discretion may be exercised in respect of any particular case or class or classes of case, recover from that person, by way of penalty, an amount not exceeding three times the amount in excess. Nothing in this subsection shall relieve that person from any other liability in respect of any fraud committed by him or her. Any penalty under this subsection may be recovered by way of deduction from any instalments of the same or any other benefit or student allowance or payment thereafter becoming payable to that person under this Act or under section 124(1)(d) of this Act or under the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 or under the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 ; and may be recovered as a debt due to the Crown at the suit of the chief executive.

    (2A) The chief executive shall not impose any penalty on any person under subsection (2) of this section—

    • (a) Unless the chief executive has given to the person written notice—

      • (i) Specifying the intention to impose a penalty under that subsection and the amount proposed to be imposed by way of penalty; and

      • (ii) Specifying the particulars of fact on which the intention is based; and

      • (iii) Stating the person has 5 working days from the receipt of the notice to show cause why the action should not be taken; and

    • (b) If that person has been prosecuted and dealt with for any offence arising out of the same circumstances that gave rise to liability under that subsection; and

    • (c) Until the expiration of those 5 working days.

    (2B) Where the chief executive imposes any penalty under subsection (2) of this section, no action to recover that penalty shall be taken until any review of that decision under section 10A of this Act or any appeal under section 12J of this Act has been completed.

    (2C) In subsection (2) of this section, a person shall be considered to have obtained a payment or credit or advance by fraud if that person has made any statement knowing it to be false in any material particular, or has knowingly said or done anything or omitted to do or say anything for the purpose of misleading any officer concerned in the administration of this Act, for the purpose of obtaining a payment or credit or advance under this Act, as a result of which that person received that payment or credit or advance.

    (3) If, in the opinion of the chief executive, the spouse or partner of any beneficiary makes any false statement to or otherwise misleads any officer engaged in the administration of this Act, in relation to his or her income or other personal circumstances, as a result of which the benefit or an instalment of benefit is paid in excess of the amount to which the beneficiary is by law entitled, the amount so paid in excess may be recovered from that spouse or partner as a debt due to the Crown at the suit of any member of the chief executive, or the excess payment may be recovered by way of deduction from any instalments of any benefit or student allowance thereafter becoming payable to that spouse or partner.

    (4) If on the death of any beneficiary he is found to have been disqualified for any reason, including the receipt of any income or the possession of any property, from obtaining the benefit granted to him or from obtaining a benefit of the amount granted to him, an amount, to be assessed by the chief executive, equal to the total amount paid to the beneficiary in excess of the amount (if any) to which he was by law entitled shall constitute a debt owing to the Crown by the estate of the beneficiary, and may be recovered accordingly at the suit of any member of the chief executive.

    (5) If on the death of the spouse or partner of any beneficiary it is found that for any reason, including the receipt of any income or the possession of any property by the deceased during her or his lifetime, the beneficiary has been granted a benefit to which he or she was not by law entitled or has been granted a benefit of an amount to which he or she was not by law entitled, an amount, to be assessed by the chief executive, equal to the total amount paid to the beneficiary in excess of the amount (if any) to which he or she was by law entitled shall constitute a debt owing to the Crown by the estate of the spouse or partner, and may be recovered accordingly at the suit of any member of the chief executive.

    (6) For the purpose of determining for the purposes of subsection (4) or subsection (5) of this section the total amount paid to a beneficiary by way of benefit in excess of the amount (if any) to which he or she was by law entitled, any property that was in the possession of the beneficiary or of the spouse or partner of the beneficiary at his or her death shall, unless in proceedings for the recovery of that excess (but subject to any decision by a District Court in any application under subsection (7) of this section) the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been in his or her possession on such date as the chief executive determines, being not earlier than the date on which the benefit was first granted.

    (7) Notice in writing of every assessment by the chief executive under subsection (4) or subsection (5) of this section shall be served on the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased beneficiary or, as the case may be, of the deceased spouse or partner of the beneficiary, and the executor or administrator may, within one month after the service of the notice, apply to a District Court to review the assessment and any decision of the chief executive under subsection (6) of this section in relation to that assessment.

    (8) The following provisions shall apply with respect to every such application:

    • (a) The Court shall have jurisdiction with respect to the application irrespective of the amount of the assessment:

    • (b) The application shall not be heard in open Court:

    • (c) The Court may receive as evidence any statement, document, information, or matter that may in its opinion assist the Court to deal effectively with the application, whether or not the same would be otherwise admissible in a Court of law:

    • (d) In determining the application, the Court shall accept any date determined by the chief executive for the purposes of subsection (6) of this section as the date on which any property was in the possession of the deceased, unless the Court is satisfied from the evidence produced that some other date should be fixed.

    (9) In determining any such application, the Court may either confirm or cancel the assessment or increase or reduce the amount thereof or make such order as it considers just and equitable in the circumstances.

    (9A) The chief executive may not recover any sum comprising that part of a debt that was caused wholly or partly by an error to which the debtor did not intentionally contribute if—

    • (a) the debtor—

      • (i) received that sum in good faith; and

      • (ii) changed his or her position in the belief that he or she was entitled to that sum and would not have to pay or repay that sum to the chief executive; and

    • (b) it would be inequitable in all the circumstances, including the debtor's financial circumstances, to permit recovery.

    (9B) In subsection (9A), error

    • (a) means—

      • (i) the provision of incorrect information by an officer of the department:

      • (ii) any erroneous act or omission of an officer of the department that occurs during an investigation under section 12:

      • (iii) any other erroneous act or omission of an officer of the department; but

    • (b) does not include the simple act of making a payment to which the recipient is not entitled if that act is not caused, wholly or partly, by any erroneous act or omission of an officer of the department.

    (10) [Repealed]

    Compare: 1938 No 7 ss 71, 75(1)(b), (2)

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by inserting the words or student allowance.

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 22(1) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28). See section 34 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to reviewing of payments made in excess of authorised rates. See section 35 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to recovery of debt.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 11 October 1978, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act 1978 (1978 No 58).

    Subsection (1A) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by inserting the words or student allowance.

    Subsection (1A) was substituted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 22(1) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28). See section 34 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to reviewing of payments made in excess of authorised rates. See section 35 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to recovery of debt.

    Subsection (1B) was inserted, as from 28 September 1982, by section 16 Social Security Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 16).

    Subsection (1B) was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) by substituting section 61DB, section 61DC, or section 61DD for section 61DC, section 61DD, or section 61DE.

    Subsection (1B) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by inserting the words or student allowance.

    Subsection (1B) was substituted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 22(1) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28). See section 34 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to reviewing of payments made in excess of authorised rates. See section 35 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to recovery of debt.

    Subsection (1C) was inserted, as from 12 December 1985, by section 20 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 159).

    Subsection (1C) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 22(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the words or payable to that person by way of a recoverable grant of special assistance under any such programme, or that is otherwise recoverable from the person under the terms and conditions of any such programme,.

    Subsection (1C) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by inserting the words or student allowance.

    Subsection (1C) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting Minister for Minister of Social Welfare.

    Subsection (1C) was repealed, as from 26 September 2002, by section 22(1) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28). See section 34 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to reviewing of payments made in excess of authorised rates. See section 35 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to recovery of debt.

    Subsection (1D) was inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 22(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (1D) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by inserting the words or student allowance.

    Subsection (1D) was repealed, as from 26 September 2002, by section 22(1) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28). See section 34 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to reviewing of payments made in excess of authorised rates. See section 35 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to recovery of debt.

    Subsection (1E) was inserted, as from 1 February 1999, by section 76 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (1E) was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 22(2) Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by substituting subsection (1) for any of subsections (1) to (1D). See section 34 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to reviewing of payments made in excess of authorised rates. See section 35 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to recovery of debt.

    Subsection (1E) was repealed, as from 30 April 2007, by section 23(2) Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28). See clause 2 Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 Commencement Order 2007 (SR 2007/85).

    Subsection (1F) was inserted, as from 1 February 1999, by section 76 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Subsection (1F) was repealed, as from 30 April 2007, by section 23(2) Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28). See clause 2 Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 Commencement Order 2007 (SR 2007/85).

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 25(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57)

    Subsections (2) and (3) were amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsections (2) and (3) were amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by inserting the words or student allowance.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting, after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990, the words or under the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 22(3) Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28), by substituting section 85A for any of subsections (1) to (1C) of this section. See section 34 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to reviewing of payments made in excess of authorised rates. See section 35 of that Act for the transitional provision relating to recovery of debt.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsections (2A) to (2C) were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 25(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57)

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by inserting or student allowance.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or wife where they first appear.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or wife, as the case may be,.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or that wife.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or wife in both places they appear.

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or wife.

    Subsection (7) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or wife.

    Subsection (9A) was inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (9A) was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 25(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) by inserting the words , made by an officer or employee of the Department,.

    Subsection (9A) was substituted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 22(4) Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28). See section 34 of that Act for a transitional provision relating to reviewing of payments made in excess of authorised rates. See section 35 of that Act for a transitional provision relating to recovery of debt.

    Subsection (9B) was inserted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 22(4) Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28). See section 34 of that Act for a transitional provision relating to reviewing of payments made in excess of authorised rates. See section 35 of that Act for a transitional provision relating to recovery of debt.

    Subsection (10) was repealed, as from 1 April 1991, by section 36 Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1)

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words the Director-General were substituted for any member of the commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(c) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106)

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

86A Deduction of benefit debts
  • (1) Where any amount of money may be recovered from any person as a debt due to the Crown under this Act (including, subject to section 86(2B) of this Act, any penalty under section 86(2) of this Act) is not paid by the expiration of the tenth day after the day on which notice of the debt is delivered or posted to that person (whether or not the notice is received by that person), the chief executive may issue, in writing, a deduction notice requiring any other person to deduct the amount due from any sum that is payable or becomes payable, until the deduction notice is revoked, by that other person whether—

    • (a) On his or her or its own account; or

    • (b) As an agent; or

    • (c) As a trustee; or

    • (d) For any other reason—

    to the person from whom that money may be recovered as a debt due to the Crown (in this section and in sections 86C to 86I of this Act referred to as the debtor).

    (1A) For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared that a deduction notice may be issued under subsection (1), despite the fact that the debt to the Crown under this Act may not be recovered by civil action in a court of law because of the Limitation Act 1950.

    (1B) A deduction notice may be issued under subsection (1) to the Accident Compensation Corporation requiring the Corporation to deduct the amount due from any weekly compensation in respect of loss of earnings or loss of potential earning capacity that is payable, or becomes payable, to the debtor by the Corporation under the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001.

    (1C) A deduction notice under subsection (1) may be issued to recover—

    • (b) Any amount of maintenance debt (within the meaning of section 61CA).

    (2) The chief executive shall not issue a deduction notice under subsection (1) of this section unless the chief executive has taken all reasonable steps to recover the debt, but nothing in this subsection shall require the chief executive to take proceedings in any Court to recover the debt before issuing a deduction notice.

    (3) The chief executive shall specify in the deduction notice—

    • (a) Whether the deduction is to be made as a lump sum or by instalments; and

    • (b) The time or times by which the person to whom the deduction notice is issued must pay the amounts deducted to the Department; and

    • (c) The date on which the deduction notice shall take effect, being a date not earlier than the date on which it was issued.

    (4) The chief executive may revoke a deduction notice at any time by giving notice in writing to the person to whom the deduction notice was issued, or by issuing a new deduction notice, and, at the request of the debtor, the chief executive shall revoke the deduction notice if he or she is satisfied that the amount due has been paid.

    (5) The chief executive shall issue a copy of the deduction notice to the debtor at his or her last known place of residence or business.

    (6) Every person to whom a deduction notice is issued shall, on request, issue to the debtor a statement in writing of any amount deducted, and of the purpose for which it was made.

    (7) Every deduction notice shall be subject to sections 86G to 86I of this Act.

    Sections 86A to 86I were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 23(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by omitting section 86 of.

    Subsections (1A) to (1C) were inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 23(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63). See section 26(3) of that Act as to the application of subsection (1A) to all debts to the Crown recoverable under this Act.

    Subsection (1B) was substituted, as from 1 July 1999, by section 415(1) Accident Insurance Act 1998 (1998 No 114).

    Subsection (1B) was substituted, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49). See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

86B Issue of deduction notice to State sector employer
  • Where a debtor is employed within a department (within the meaning of the State Sector Act 1988), a deduction notice may be issued under section 86A (1) of this Act to the chief executive of that department in respect of any salary or wages payable to the debtor.

    Sections 86A to 86I were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

86C Discharge of debt
  • Where a person to whom a deduction notice has been issued deducts, pursuant to the notice, any money payable to a debtor, the debtor is, to the extent of the amount deducted, discharged from his or her debt due to the Crown under section 86 of this Act.

    Sections 86A to 86I were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

86D Deduction notices issued on banks
  • (1) Where the person to whom the deduction notice is issued is a bank, any money held by the bank to the credit of the debtor shall be subject to the provisions of section 86A (1) of this Act; and, during the subsistence of the deduction notice, the amount recoverable from the debtor shall be deemed to be held in trust for the Crown and, without prejudice to any other remedies against the debtor or any other person, any such amount shall be held in trust for the Crown and shall be recoverable from the bank under section 86 of this Act as if it were money payable under a benefit to which the debtor was not entitled.

    (2) For the purposes of this section, bank means a bank within the meaning of the Banking Act 1982, a credit union within the meaning of the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Act 1982, and a building society within the meaning of the Building Societies Act 1965; but does not include the Reserve Bank of New Zealand established under the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989 (except in relation to an account maintained by that bank for an employee of the bank).

    (3) For the purposes of this section, money held by the bank to the credit of the debtor includes interest on any money that is on deposit or deposited with a bank to the credit of the debtor, whether or not—

    • (a) The deposit or depositing is on current account:

    • (b) The money is to be at interest at a fixed term or without limitation of time:

    • (c) The debtor has made any application to withdraw or uplift the money.

    (4) For the purposes of this section, money—

    • (a) That is held in a joint bank account in the name of the debtor and one or more other persons; and

    • (b) That can be withdrawn from the account by or on behalf of the debtor without a signature being required at the time of that withdrawal from, or on behalf of, the other person or persons—

    is deemed to be money that is on deposit with a bank to the credit of the debtor.

    Sections 86A to 86I were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

86E Deductions held in trust
  • Any person who makes a deduction pursuant to a deduction notice shall be deemed to be acting—

    • (a) On the authority of the debtor and any other person concerned; and neither the debtor nor that person shall have any claim against the person making the deduction, or the Crown, in respect of that deduction; and

    • (b) On behalf of the Crown; and, without prejudice to any other remedies against the debtor or any other person, any amounts deducted shall be held in trust for the Crown and shall be recoverable under section 86 of this Act as if it were money payable under a benefit to which the person who made the deduction was not entitled.

    Sections 86A to 86I were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

86F Offences in relation to deduction notices
  • Every person commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 who—

    • (a) Fails to make any deduction required by a deduction notice; or

    • (b) Fails, after making a deduction, to pay the amount deducted to the Department within the time specified in the notice; or

    • (c) Permits payment to or on behalf of any person, other than the Department, of any amount held in trust for the Crown under section 86D or section 86E of this Act.

    Sections 86A to 86I were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

86G Protected earnings
  • (1) Notwithstanding anything in sections 86A to 86F and 86H and 86I of this Act, where a deduction notice is issued to an employer of a debtor, the employer shall not, in making deductions under the deduction notice, reduce the amount paid to the debtor by way of salary or wages in respect of any week to an amount that is less than 60 percent of the amount calculated as being the debtor's net ordinary weekly pay for a week.

    (2) For the purposes of this section, the debtor's ordinary weekly pay for a week is the balance left after deducting from the debtor's ordinary weekly pay (as defined in section 8 of the Holidays Act 2003) the amount of tax required to be withheld or deducted in accordance with the PAYE rules of the Income Tax Act 2007 if that ordinary weekly pay were the only salary or wages paid to the debtor by the employer in respect of a week.

    Sections 86A to 86I were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 2004, by section 91(2) Holidays Act 2003 (2003 No 129) by substituting ordinary weekly pay for ordinary pay.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 1995, by section YB 1 Income Tax Act 1994 (1994 No 164) by substituting the PAYE rules of the Income Tax Act 1994 for Part 11 of the Income Tax Act 1976.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 1 April 2004, by section 91(2) Holidays Act 2003 (2003 No 129).

    Section 86G(2): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section YA 2 Income Tax Act 2004 (2004 No 35) by substituting Income Tax Act 2004 for Income Tax Act 1994.

86H Variation or discharge of deduction notice
  • (1) If a person to whom a deduction notice is issued or a debtor considers that a deduction notice has been issued in error, or contains an error, that person or the debtor may bring the matter to the notice of the office of the Department from which the notice was issued.

    (2) If the matter is not rectified to the satisfaction of that person or the debtor, as the case may require, within 5 working days after the day on which that person or the debtor brings the matter to the notice of that office of the Department, that person or the debtor may apply ex parte to the Registrar of a District Court for the variation or discharge of the notice.

    (3) Where the Registrar is satisfied that an error has been made and the notice ought to be varied or discharged, the Registrar may vary or discharge the notice.

    (4) The variation or discharge shall take effect when notice of it is served on the person in accordance with section 86J of this Act.

    (5) The Registrar shall forthwith send a copy of the variation or discharge of the notice by registered letter to the office of the Department from which the notice was issued.

    Sections 86A to 86I were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

86I Penalty for late deductions
  • (1) Where any person to whom a deduction notice has been issued fails wholly or in part to—

    • (a) Make any deduction required to be made by the notice; or

    • (b) Pay any amount deducted pursuant to the notice to the Department by the time specified in the notice,—

    that person shall be liable to pay to the Department a penalty calculated as follows:

    • (c) On the amount in default, the greater of 10 percent of that amount or $5:

    • (d) For each additional month or part of a month the amount in default or any part thereof that has not been deducted or, as the case may be, has not been paid to the Department, a further penalty of the greater of 2 percent of that amount or part thereof or $1.

    (2) Where any penalty is payable by any person under subsection (1) of this section, the chief executive, in his or her discretion, may remit the whole or part of that penalty where he or she is satisfied that the failure to make the deduction or make the payment was due to circumstances reasonably beyond the person's control, or that in all circumstances, the imposition of that penalty would be inequitable; and, where the debtor has already paid any penalty under this section, the chief executive may refund any excess.

    (3) An amount payable to the Department under subsection (1) of this section may be recovered under section 86 of this Act as if it were money payable under a benefit to which the person was not entitled.

    Sections 86A to 86I were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

86J Notices
  • (1) Every notice given to any person under this Act may be given by delivering it to that person—

    • (a) In the case of a natural person (other than an officer or employee in the service of the Crown in his or her official capacity)—

      • (i) Personally; or

      • (ii) By leaving it at that person's usual or last known place of residence or business or at the address specified by that person in any application or other document received from that person; or

      • (iii) By posting it in a letter addressed to that person at that place of residence or business or at that address:

    • (b) In the case of any other person, including an officer or employee in the service of the Crown in his or her official capacity,—

      • (i) Where applicable, personally; or

      • (ii) By leaving it at that person's place of business; or

      • (iii) By posting it in a letter addressed to that person at that place of business.

    (2) If any such notice is sent to any person by post, then, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, the notice shall be deemed to have been received by that person on the fourth day after the day on which it is posted, and, in proving the delivery, it shall be sufficient to prove the letter was properly addressed and posted.

    Section 86J was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Section 86J was amended, as from 1 July 1998, by section 2(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by substituting this Act for this Part of this Act.

Part 1A
Family care grants

[Repealed]

  • This Part, comprising sections 86A to 86P, was inserted, as from 21 November 1984, by section 9 of 1984 No 8 and repealed, as from 1 October 1986, by section 17(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39).

Part 2
Community wage

  • Part 2 (comprising sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

  • A new Part 2 (comprising sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

87 Purposes of this Part
  • [Repealed]

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    A new Part 2 (comprising sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    Sections 87 and 88 were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 19 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

88 Overview of this Part
  • [Repealed]

    Dentist: inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 20(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Disciplinary Committee: the Medical Practitioners Act 1968 was substituted for the repealed Medical Practitioners Act 1950.

    Drug Tariff: repealed, as from 14 November 1973, by section 20(1)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    General Medical Services: amended, as from 16 December 1977, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act 1977 (1977 No 120) by inserting the words and includes services provided in the form of consultations on contraception.

    General Medical Services: amended by substituting the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Act 1982 for the repealed Friendly Societies Act 1909.

    Hospital patient: amended, as from 7 June 1967, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1967 (1967 No 4) by substituting medical or surgical treatment for hospital treatment.

    Maternity benefits: amended, as from 7 June 1967, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1967 (1967 No 4) by omitting not earlier than seven days after having received any ante-natal advice from any medical practitioner or midwife.

    Maternity benefits: amended, as from 20 October 1972, by section 30 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133) by omitting for a period of fourteen days.

    Medical benefits: repealed, as from 7 June 1967, by section 7(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1967 (1967 No 4).

    Medical practitioner: the Medical Practitioners Act 1968 has been substituted for the repealed Medical Practitioners Act 1950.

    Obstetric specialists: repealed, as from 29 September 1969, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46).

    Pharmaceutical benefits and Pharmaceutical requirement: substituted, as from 21 January 1981, by section 7(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1980 (1980 No 158).

    Specialist: substituted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 20(1)(d) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Specialist medical services: substituted, as from 17 July 1970, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act 1970 (1970 No 9).

    Specialist medical services: amended by substituting the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Act 1982 for the repealed Friendly Societies Act 1909.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    Sections 87 and 88 were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 19 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

88A Interpretation
  • In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    activity in the community

    [Repealed]

    activity in the community: this definition was repealed, as from 2 July 2007, by section 14(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    job-search activity means an activity undertaken by a work-tested beneficiary for the purpose of seeking or obtaining employment

    job seeker agreement means an agreement of the kind described in section 105A

    job seeker development activity means an activity defined by the chief executive under section 110 as being a job seeker development activity

    recognised community activity means voluntary work

    recognised community activity: this definition was amended, as from 2 July 2007, by section 14(1)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20) by omitting an activity in the community or. See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    voluntary work means work undertaken by a person for no remuneration (other than any reimbursement of direct expenses) for a non-profit community organisation or other person, and that is of benefit to the community; but does not include activities in the community, or work undertaken as part of a work experience or work exploration activity.

    Section 88A was inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 19 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

Unemployment benefit

  • The heading Unemployment benefit was inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 19 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

89 Unemployment benefit: standard eligibility requirements
  • (1) A person is entitled to an unemployment benefit if he or she satisfies the criteria in subsections (2), (3), and (4), and—

    • (a) Is not in full-time employment, but—

      • (i) Is seeking it; and

      • (ii) Is available for it; and

      • (iii) Is willing and able to undertake it; and

      • (iv) Has taken reasonable steps to find it; or

    • (b) [Repealed]

    • (c) [Repealed]

    (2) An applicant for an unemployment benefit must be—

    • (a) Aged 18 years or over; or

    • (b) Aged 16 years or over, be married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship, and have one or more dependent children.

    (3) An applicant for an unemployment benefit must meet the residential requirements in section 74AA.

    (4) An applicant for an unemployment benefit must have—

    • (a) No income; or

    • (b) An income of less than the amount that would fully abate the benefit.

    (5) Nothing in subsection (4) affects the entitlement of a person to receive an unemployment benefit if, during a temporary period, the person has income sufficient to fully abate the benefit but the person otherwise fulfils the conditions of entitlement to the benefit.

    (6) [Repealed]

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    The heading to section 89 was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 20(6) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting Unemployment benefit for Community wage.

    Section 89 was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 20(5) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit for a community wage wherever it occurred.

    Subsection (1)(b) and (c) were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 20(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a civil union after married.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or in a de facto relationship after union.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 2 July 2007, by section 10(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20) by substituting meet the residential requirements in section 74AA for have resided continuously in New Zealand for 2 years at any time. See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsection (4)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 20(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting benefit for community wage under the appropriate income test referred to in Schedule 9.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 20(3)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting the benefit for the community wage.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 20(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting the benefit for the wage.

    Subsection (6) was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 20(6) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

90 Unemployment benefit: grounds of hardship
  • (1) The chief executive may grant an unemployment benefit under section 89 to a person who meets the criteria in section 89(1) and 89(2), but who does not meet the other criteria in that section, if—

    • (a) The person is suffering hardship; and

    • (b) The person is not qualified to receive any other benefit; and

    • (c) The person is unable to earn sufficient income to support the person and his or her spouse or partner and any dependent children.

    (2) Despite section 91, the chief executive may, during the period between the end of one academic year and the start of the next, grant an unemployment benefit under section 89 to a full-time student.

    (3) Despite section 91, the chief executive may, during the period between the end of 1 academic year and the start of the next, grant an unemployment benefit under section 89 to a full-time student who is aged 16 or 17 if the chief executive is satisfied that—

    • (a) section 60FA(1)(b) applies to the student; or

    • (b) the student is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    The heading to section 90 was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 21(4) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting Unemployment benefit for Community wage.

    Section 90 was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 21(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit for a community wage wherever it occurred.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 21(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by inserting, after 89(1), and (2).

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse.

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 21(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by adding or in a civil union.

    Subsection (3)(b) was amended, as from 1 April 2007, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by adding or in a de facto relationship.

91 Unemployment benefit: ineligibility
  • (1) No person is eligible to be granted an unemployment benefit if he or she—

    • (a) Is a full-time student (other than in the situation described in section 90(2) or (3)); or

    • (b) Is unemployed because of a strike undertaken by himself or herself, or by fellow members of the same union at the same place of employment; or

    • (c) Became unemployed or took leave with or without pay from the person's employment for the purpose, in the opinion of the chief executive, of undertaking employment-related training.

    (2) [Repealed]

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 20 October 1966, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 85) by inserting the words , or, being a New Zealand citizen over that age who is ordinarily resident in some other country or territory and who has at some previous time been ordinarily resident in New Zealand, is for the time being in New Zealand,

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 20 October 1966, by section 3(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 85).

    Subsection (5) was inserted, as from 20 October 1966, by section 3(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 85).

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 20 October 1972, by section 31 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133) by inserting the words or any class or classes of visitors to New Zealand,.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    The heading to section 91 was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 22(5) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting Unemployment benefit for Community wage.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 22(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit for a community wage.

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 22(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by inserting, after the expression 90(2), the expression or (3).

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 2 October 2000, by section 240 Employment Relations Act 2000 (2000 No 24) by substituting union for employees organisation.

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 2 October 2000, by section 240 Employment Relations Act 2000 (2000 No 24).

92 Community wage: application on grounds of sickness, injury, or disability
  • [Repealed]

    Subsection (4)(f) was inserted, as from 7 June 1967, by section 8(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1967 (1967 No 4).

    Subsection (6) was amended, as from 7 June 1967, by section 8(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1967 (1967 No 4) by inserting the words or section 80.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    Sections 92 to 96 were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

93 Community wage: determination of application
  • [Repealed]

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 20 October 1972, by section 32(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133) by substituting $1.25 for seventy-five cents.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 20 October 1966, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 85) by inserting the words , together with such travelling fees as may be payable by the Department under subsection (1A) of section 94 of this Act.

    Subsection (1)(b) and (c) was amended, as from 23 December 1977, by section 24(1)(a) and (b) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133) by substituting travelling for mileage.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 29 September 1969, by section 10 Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46).

    Subsection (1A) was substituted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 20(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Subsection (1A)(b) was amended, as from 23 December 1977, by section 24(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133) by inserting the words other than a child in respect of whom a family benefit is being paid.

    Subsection (1A)(c) was amended in two places, as from 23 December 1977, by section 24(2)(b) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133) by substituting or widow for , widow, or child.

    Subsection (1A)(f) was substituted, as from 23 December 1977, by section 24(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133).

    Subsection (1A)(j) was amended, as from 23 December 1977, by section 24(4) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133) by substituting travelling for mileage.

    Subsection (1B) was inserted, as from 23 December 1977, by section 24(5) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133).

    The words Director-General of Social Welfare were substituted for Social Security Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    Sections 92 to 96 were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

93A Additional fees for general medical services on public holidays and at night
  • [Repealed]

    Section 93A was inserted, as from 29 September 1969, by section 21(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46).

    Section 93A was substituted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 21(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Section 93A(1)(ca) was inserted, as from 23 December 1977, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

94 Community wage: job seeker contract
  • [Repealed]

    Subsections (1) and (1A) were amended, as from 23 December 1977, by section 26(1) and (2) respectively Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133) by substituting travelling for mileage.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 20 October 1966, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 85).

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 23 December 1977, by section 26(3) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133)

    Subsection (3) was amended in two places, as from 24 August 1979, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 14) by substituting travelling for mileage.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 24 August 1979, by section 18(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 14) by substituting travelling for mileage.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    Sections 92 to 96 were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

94A Rural practice bonuses
  • [Repealed]

    Section 94A was inserted, as from 29 September 1969, by section 12 Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46).

    Section 94A was amended, as from 17 July 1970, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1970 (1970 No 9) by inserting the words Any such notice may at any time in a like manner be revoked in whole or in part or amended.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 17 July 1970, by section 5(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1970 (1970 No 9).

    Section 94A(3) was amended, as from 17 July 1970, by section 5(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1970 (1970 No 9) by inserting the words , and may at any time determine that the said subsection (2) shall no longer apply to any medical practitioner to whom it has been so applied. Every decision of the Minister under this subsection shall take effect on such date as the Minister determines, which may be a date before or after or the same as the date on which the decision is made.

    Subsections (4) and (5) were inserted, as from 17 July 1970, by section 5(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1970 (1970 No 9).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

95 Job seeker contract for other beneficiaries
  • [Repealed]

    Section 95 was repealed, as from 14 November 1973, by section 21 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 February 1999, by section 77(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19) by inserting the words Except where subsection (5) applies,. It was amended by section 77(1)(b) of that Act by substituting is a work-test married rate for is a married rate.

    Subsection (5) was inserted, as from 1 February 1999, by section 77(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Sections 92 to 96 were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

96 Community wage: not payable until job seeker contract signed
  • [Repealed]

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 29 September 1969, by section 12 Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46) by substituting , section 93A, or section 95 for or section 95.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 29 September 1969, by section 13(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46) by inserting the words Except as provided in section 94A of this Act,.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    Sections 92 to 96 were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

96A Unemployment benefit: pre-benefit activities
  • (1) This section applies to a person who contacts the department requesting financial assistance on or after the commencement of this section.

    (2) If the chief executive considers that the appropriate financial assistance for the person would be an unemployment benefit, the chief executive may (for the purpose stated in section 1A(a)(ii)) require him or her to do any or all of the following:

    • (a) undertake one or more stated pre-benefit activities:

    • (b) at any time before an unemployment benefit commences, attend and participate in any interview for an opportunity of suitable employment to which the person is referred by the chief executive:

    • (c) at any time before an unemployment benefit commences, accept any offer of suitable employment (whether or not the offer results from an interview of the kind described in paragraph (b)).

    (3) A requirement under subsection (2) may be oral or written.

    (4) A pre-benefit activity stated under subsection (2)(a) must be available for the person to undertake not later than 10 working days after the date of first contact.

    (5) The chief executive is not required to investigate the person's claim for an unemployment benefit under section 12 unless satisfied that the person has undertaken any required pre-benefit activities.

    (6) Subsection (5) applies whether or not the person has completed the form of application for an unemployment benefit.

    (7) If the person fails to undertake any required pre-benefit activities within 20 working days after the date of first contact, any application for an unemployment benefit the person has made lapses.

    (8) Subsection (7) overrides section 11D(5).

    (9) This subsection applies to a person if the chief executive considers that he or she has, without a good and sufficient reason, failed to comply with a requirement under paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (2).

    (10) If subsection (9) applies to a person, the chief executive must, as the case requires,—

    • (a) refuse to grant the person an unemployment benefit; or

    • (b) terminate any grant of unemployment benefit already made to the person.

    (11) This subsection applies to a person if—

    • (a) his or her application for an unemployment benefit has lapsed under subsection (7); or

    • (b) he or she has been refused an unemployment benefit under subsection (10)(a); or

    • (c) his or her grant of unemployment benefit has been terminated under subsection (10)(b).

    (12) A person to whom subsection (11) applies cannot become entitled to an unemployment benefit without applying for it again and establishing his or her eligibility to receive it.

    (13) In this section, pre-benefit activity

    • (a) means any of the following:

      • (i) attending and participating in an employment related seminar provided by the department, or by any other person approved by the chief executive for the purpose:

      • (ii) attending and participating in employment related training approved by the chief executive for the purpose:

      • (iii) attending and participating in any interview with an officer of the department:

      • (iv) completing any self-assessment or planning required by the chief executive:

      • (v) any other activity specified in regulations under section 132J; but

    • (b) does not include activity in the community.

    Section 96A: inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 38 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

96B Department must explain obligations in relation to pre-benefit activities
  • The chief executive must take reasonable and appropriate steps to make every person on whom requirements are placed under section 96A(2) aware of—

    • (a) the person's obligations in relation to the requirements; and

    • (b) the consequences of failure to comply with the requirements.

    Section 96B: inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 38 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

97 Unemployment benefit: obligations on beneficiaries
  • (1) A person granted an unemployment benefit is subject to the work test from the time that payment of the unemployment benefit commences.

    (2) From the time that payment of an unemployment benefit commences, the spouse or partner of a person granted an unemployment benefit at a work-tested married rate—

    • (b) if he or she is a work-tested spouse or partner, must comply with the work test.

    Section 97 was substituted, as from 29 September 1969, by section 14 Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46.).

    Subsections (1) and (2) were repealed, as from 14 November 1973, by section 22(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Section 97(2): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 39 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 January 1978, by section 27(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133) by substituting paras (a), (b) and (c) for the former paras (a) and (b).

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 October 1969, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1970 (1970 No 9) by substituting or where any specialist provides any specialist medical services for such a person who has not been referred to him by another medical practitioner, the person by whom the fee in respect of those services is paid to the medical practitioner or specialist for the person by whom the fee in respect of these services is paid to the medical practitioner.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 November 1972, by section 34(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133) by substituting $1.25 for 75 cents.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 November 1972, by section 34(c) Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133) by substituting $1.25 shall be read as a reference to $3 for 75 cents shall be read as a reference to $1.50.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 1 December 1974, by section 22 Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123) by substituting $3 for $2

    Subsection (5A) was inserted, as from 1 January 1978, by section 27(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133)

    Subsection (8) was inserted, as from 1 October 1969, by section 6(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1970 (1970 No 9).

    The words Director-General were substituted for Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    Section 97 was substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 24 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting or partner after spouse in both places it appears.

97A Immunisation benefit
  • [Repealed]

    Section 97A was inserted, as from 20 October 1972, by section 35 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 10 October 1975, by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123) by inserting administered, such fees as may be fixed from time to time by the Governor-General by Order in Council. Any such Order in Council may fix different fees in respect of different circumstances under which vaccine is administered and may apply in respect of vaccine administered on or after such date as may be specified in the Order in Council, which may be a date before or after or the same as the date on which the Order in Council is made.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 September 1981, by section 18(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1981 (1981 No 46) by inserting , or, if in the course of a programme of immunisation against rubella approved by the Department, vaccine supplied by the Department is administered to a female person of child bearing age,.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

98 Unemployment benefit: payment
  • (1) Payment of an unemployment benefit commences in accordance with section 80.

    (2) An unemployment benefit must be paid in weekly instalments, in accordance with section 82.

    (3) [Repealed]

    (4) [Repealed]

    (5) Payment of an unemployment benefit may be suspended or cancelled in accordance with sections 80 to 82. This provision does not limit any other provision in this Act.

    In subsection (1) the words District Court Judge were substituted for Magistrate, as from 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 18(2) District Courts Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 125).

    Subsections (4A) and (4B) were inserted, as from 20 October 1972, by section 36 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    Section 98 was substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 25 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsections (3) and (4) were repealed, as from 2 July 2007, by section 13(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

99 Unemployment benefit: rates
  • (1) An unemployment benefit must be paid to a person granted the benefit at the appropriate rate in Schedule 9.

    (2) [Repealed]

    (3) If no payment is made under this section in respect of the spouse or partner of a person granted an unemployment benefit, the chief executive may increase the rate of unemployment benefit payable to a beneficiary by an amount not exceeding the amount specified in clause 2 of Schedule 9 in respect of any person who for the time being has the care of the home of the beneficiary.

    (4) If an applicant for an unemployment benefit has a spouse or partner who is ineligible for a benefit because of—

    • (a) The application of section 60H (which relates to voluntary unemployment or loss of employment through misconduct etc); or

    • (ab) the application of section 117 (which relates to sanctions that may be imposed for failures to comply with work test or other obligations and work preparation interviews and exercises); or

    • (b) A strike, either by himself or herself, or by fellow members of the same union (as defined in section 91(2)) at the same place of employment,—

    then the rate of unemployment benefit that the applicant is entitled to receive during the period of non-entitlement of the spouse or partner is the appropriate rate in clause 5 of Schedule 9.

    Section 99 was substituted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 23 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 21 January 1981, by section 8(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1981 (1981 No 158).

    Subsection (2)(b) was repealed, as from 21 January 1981, by section 8(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1981 (1981 No 158).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    The heading to section 99 was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 26(6) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting Unemployment benefit for Community wage.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 26(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting An unemployment benefit must be paid to a person granted the benefit for A community wage must be paid to a community wage earner, and by omitting , unless subsection (2) applies.

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 26(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 26(3)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting person granted an unemployment benefit for community wage earner.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 26(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting unemployment benefit for community wage.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 26(3)(c) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting a beneficiary and the beneficiary for an earner and the earner, respectively.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 26(4) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting an unemployment benefit for a community wage, and by substituting unemployment benefit for community wage.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in both places it appears.

    Subsection (4)(ab) was inserted, as from 15 April 2005, by section 13 Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Section 99(4)(ab): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(6) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (4)(b) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 26(5) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting union for employees organisation (as defined in section 91(2).

99A Transfer from community wage to unemployment benefit on 1 July 2001
  • (1) This section applies to a person who, immediately before 1 July 2001, was—

    • (a) in receipt of a community wage on a ground other than the person's sickness, injury, or disability; and

    • (b) either—

      • (i) was fulfilling the conditions of entitlement to the community wage; or

      • (ii) was eligible to be granted a community wage under former section 90.

    (2) On 1 July 2001, in relation to a person to whom this section applies, the community wage becomes an unemployment benefit as if it were granted under section 89.

    (3) For the avoidance of doubt, the operation of subsection (2) does not affect, in relation to a person to whom this section applies and his or her spouse (if any),—

    • (a) the rate of benefit paid; and

    • (c) any requirement to undertake an organised activity under former section 111; and

    • (d) any exemption from the work test under section 105; and

    • (e) a sanction applying under any of former sections 115 to 118.

    (4) In this section, former section means a section of this Act as it was before 1 July 2001.

    Section 99A was inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 27 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

100 Department's obligations in respect of work testing and community wage
  • [Repealed]

    In subsection (1) the Pharmacy Act 1970 has been substituted for the repealed Pharmacy Act 1939.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 14 November 1973, by section 24(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34) by substituting section 99 of this Act for this section.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 24(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 24(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 100) was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 53 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19). See section 54 of that Act as to the transfer of existing beneficiaries to the community wage.

    Section 100 was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 28 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

100A Extension of power of use by Crown of patented invention
  • [Repealed]

    Section 100A was inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 25 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

Work test

101 Purpose of section 60H and sections 102 to 123D
  • [Repealed]

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 1 January 1970, by section 134(1) Domestic Proceedings Act 1968 (1968 No 62).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Section 101 was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 29 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

102 Application and obligations of work test
  • (1) The work test applies to a person while he or she is a work-tested beneficiary, and the person is subject to the obligations of the work test set out in subsection (2) from the date on which the work-tested benefit is first paid.

    (2) The work test obligations are—

    • (a) to be available for, and take reasonable steps to obtain, suitable employment; and

    • (b) to accept any offer of suitable employment, whether full-time employment, part-time work, temporary employment, or employment that is seasonal or subsidised; and

    • (c) to attend and participate in an interview for any opportunity of suitable employment to which the beneficiary is referred by the chief executive; and

    • (d) when required by the chief executive, to attend and participate in any interview with an officer of the department or other person on behalf of the chief executive; and

    • (da) to undertake planning for employment:

    • (e) if required by the chief executive, to co-operate to the satisfaction of the chief executive in developing a job-seeker agreement and then to sign it; and

    • (f) if required to by the chief executive, to include in the beneficiary's job-seeker agreement a job-seeker development activity that the chief executive considers is suitable for the beneficiary; and

    • (g) once the person has signed a job-seeker agreement,—

      • (i) to undertake the job-search activities set out in the agreement; and

      • (ii) to undertake and complete any job-seeker development activity or recognised community activity described in the agreement (subject to the chief executive's taking reasonable steps to arrange for the person to undertake the activity); and

      • (iii) to undertake and complete any other activities set out in the agreement; and

    • (h) in the case of a beneficiary to whom subsection (2B) applies, to undertake, when required by the chief executive, any activity (including rehabilitation but not medical treatment) the chief executive considers suitable for the beneficiary to improve the beneficiary's work-readiness or prospects for employment.

    (2A) A person—

    • (a) cannot be required to include in his or her job seeker agreement provisions relating to his or her undertaking activity in the community; and

    • (b) cannot be required under subsection (1) to undertake activity in the community (whether or not it is included in his or her job seeker agreement).

    (2B) Subsection (2)(h) applies whether or not a beneficiary is subject to a sanction for failing to comply with the work test.

    (2C) This subsection applies to a work-tested beneficiary who—

    • (a) has not been required to co-operate in developing a job-seeker agreement in accordance with subsection (2)(e); or

    • (b) has not signed, or has failed or refused to co-operate in developing or signing, a job-seeker agreement in accordance with subsection (2)(e).

    (3) The failure by a beneficiary to undertake or complete a recognised community activity or activity in the community, as set out in his or her job seeker agreement, is not a failure to comply with a work test obligation for the purpose of section 115(1)(a).

    (4) The employment referred to in subsection (2)(a) is,—

    • (a) for a part-time work-tested beneficiary, part-time work:

    • (b) for any other work-tested beneficiary, full-time employment.

    (5) The work test does not apply to a work-tested beneficiary if the chief executive is satisfied that the beneficiary is undertaking employment of the kind required to satisfy the work test for that beneficiary.

    (6) A work test obligation set out in subsection (2) does not apply on any day unless—

    • (a) the day is a day between Monday and Friday (inclusive); or

    • (b) regulations under this Act provide (in relation to the obligation, obligations that include it, or all obligations) that it applies on that day of the week.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Section 102 was substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 30 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Section 102(2)(da): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 40(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 102(2)(e): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 40(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 102(2)(f): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 40(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 102(2)(g): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 40(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 102(2)(h): added, on 24 September 2007, by section 40(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 102(2A): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 40(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 102(2B): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 40(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 102(2C): inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 40(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 102(3): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 40(3) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 102(6): substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 40(4) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (6)(a) was repealed, as from 2 July 2007, by section 13(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Subsection (6)(aa) was inserted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 24 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Subsection (6)(aa) was repealed, as from 2 July 2007, by section 13(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

102A Accounts for treatment to show gross amount, etc
  • [Repealed]

    Compare: 1963 No 47 s 17

    Section 102A was inserted, as from 24 August 1979, by section 19 Social Security Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 14).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

103 Delayed application of work test: age of dependent child
  • (1) This section applies if a beneficiary has a dependent child and the beneficiary will become subject to the work test when the child attains a particular age.

    (2) A person to whom this section applies is not required to comply with the work test until 4 weeks after the child attains the particular age giving rise to the obligation to comply with the work test.

    A reference to section 9 of the Mental Health Act 1969, in subsection (2) of the original section 103, was substituted for section 45 of the repealed section 9 of the Mental Health Act 1911, as from 1 April 1970.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 29 September 1969, by section 15 Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

104 Delayed application of work test: bereavement or separation
  • [Repealed]

    Section 104 was repealed, by section 129(1) Mental Health Act 1969.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Section 104 was repealed, as from 10 March 2003, by section 25 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

104A Transitional provision dealing with deferrals
  • (1) This section applies to a work-tested beneficiary who, immediately before 1 July 2001, was subject to a deferral of work test obligations granted under section 107 of the principal Act before its repeal on that date.

    (2) On and after 1 July 2001, the deferral becomes an exemption from the work test as if the exemption were granted under section 105 and,—

    • (a) if the deferral was granted for a time, that time applies to the exemption; and

    • (b) if the deferral was granted on conditions, those conditions apply to the exemption; and

    • (c) if, in granting the deferral, the chief executive required the person to participate in 1 or more organised activities, that requirement continues to apply as if the organised activities were job seeker development activities included in a job seeker agreement signed by the beneficiary.

    Section 104A was inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 31 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

105 Exemption from obligations
  • (1) A person of a category specified in regulations made under section 123D may apply to the chief executive for an exemption from the work test or from complying with section 60HA.

    (2) The chief executive may grant the exemption on any ground specified in regulations made for the purpose under section 123D.

    (3) Before determining the application, the chief executive may require verification of matters relevant to the application in such manner as the chief executive specifies, either generally or specifically.

    (4) An exemption under this section may be granted—

    • (a) For a time set by the chief executive; or

    • (b) On conditions set by the chief executive; or

    • (c) For both a time and on conditions set by the chief executive.

    (5) A beneficiary who has been granted an exemption from the work test may be required to attend an interview with an officer of the department or other person on behalf of the chief executive. Failure to attend or participate in the interview may result in sanctions under section 117 being imposed.

    (5A) A person granted an exemption must notify the chief executive as soon as practicable of any change in the person's circumstances that may affect his or her entitlement to the exemption.

    (6) The chief executive may from time to time review an exemption granted under this section, and may extend, vary, or revoke it.

    (7) The chief executive may grant an exemption under this section whether or not a formal application is made by or on behalf of the person to whom it relates.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting person for beneficiary.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 5(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) substituting the word person for beneficiary where it first appears.

    Subsection (5) was substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 32 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (5A) was inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 32 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

Job seeker agreements

  • This heading Job seeker agreements was inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 33 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

105A Description of job seeker agreement and responsibilities arising from it
  • (1) A job seeker agreement is a statutory agreement and plan for obtaining employment in which—

    • (a) the chief executive sets out what the department will do to assist a work-tested beneficiary to obtain employment, improve his or her employment prospects, or both; and

    • (b) the beneficiary acknowledges the responsibilities arising out of receipt of the benefit or (in the case of a work-tested spouse or partner) payment of part of the benefit in respect of the spouse or partner.

    (2) A job seeker agreement—

    • (a) must include an acknowledgment by the beneficiary that he or she is subject to the work test obligations (as set out in section 102); and

    • (b) must specify the job-search activities the beneficiary will undertake; and

    • (c) may include any job seeker development activities, recognised community activities, or other activities that the beneficiary agrees to undertake; and

    • (d) must explain the sanctions that may be imposed if the beneficiary fails to comply with certain parts of the work test (as set out in section 117); and

    • (e) must specify the assistance the department will give to assist the beneficiary obtain employment or improve his or her employment prospects, and any conditions on which the assistance will be provided or to which it is subject.

    (3) A signed job seeker agreement does not create or imply an employment relationship between the chief executive and the beneficiary, nor does it create rights or obligations that are enforceable in any court or tribunal.

    (4) Nothing in subsection (3) affects section 10A, or sections 12J to 12R.

    Sections 105A to 105D were inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 33 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Section 105A(1): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 41 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse in both places it appears.

105B Entering into and reviewing job seeker agreement
  • (1) A job seeker agreement should be developed through a process of negotiation between the beneficiary and the chief executive in which the parties aim to promptly conclude and sign an agreement acceptable to both of them.

    (2) If, despite reasonable efforts by the chief executive, the beneficiary does not co-operate in the prompt development of a job seeker agreement, or does not sign it within a reasonable period once it is satisfactory to the chief executive, the chief executive may conclude that the beneficiary has failed his or her work test obligations under section 102(2)(e).

    (3) At any time after a job seeker agreement is signed, a beneficiary may ask for a review of the agreement; but, until a review is complete, the beneficiary must comply with the job seeker agreement in its current form.

    (4) When a beneficiary asks for a review of his or her job seeker agreement, the chief executive must review it as soon as practicable and may, by agreement with the beneficiary, amend the job seeker agreement.

    (5) The chief executive may at any time review a beneficiary's job seeker agreement, and may then,—

    • (a) by agreement with the beneficiary, amend the agreement; or

    • (b) require the beneficiary to co-operate in the development of a replacement job seeker agreement to the satisfaction of the chief executive, and then to sign the new agreement.

    (6) An agreement entered into under subsection (5)(b) replaces any earlier agreement and is for all purposes to be treated as an agreement entered into under subsection (1).

    Sections 105A to 105D were inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 33 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

105C Department to explain to beneficiaries their rights and obligations
  • The chief executive must take reasonable and appropriate steps to make every work-tested beneficiary aware, before he or she signs a job seeker agreement, of—

    • (a) his or her obligations arising from payment of a work-tested benefit; and

    • (b) the import and consequences of signing a job seeker agreement; and

    • (c) the consequences of failure to comply with the work test and, in particular, the sanctions that may be imposed under section 117; and

    • (d) the beneficiary's right under section 105B(3) to ask for a review of his or her job seeker agreement; and

    • (e) the beneficiary's rights under sections 10A and 12J to review and appeal decisions relating to the job seeker agreement.

    Sections 105A to 105D were inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 33 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

105D Job seeker contracts to have effect as job seeker agreements
  • Every job seeker contract that was in effect under this Act on 30 June 2001 continues in effect, in relation to a work-tested beneficiary, after that date as if it were a job seeker agreement entered into under section 105B, and remains in effect until—

    • (a) the person to whom it applies ceases to be a work-tested beneficiary; or

    • (ba) it is replaced by a new job seeker agreement entered into under section 105B.

    Sections 105A to 105D were inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 33 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

Deferral of work-test obligations

  • This heading was substituted for the heading Maternity Benefits. by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

  • The heading Deferral of Work-Test Obligations was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 34 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

106 Application for deferral of work-test obligations
  • [Repealed]

    Subsections (2) and (3) were repealed, as from 7 June 1967, by section 10 Social Security Amendment Act 1967 (1967 No 4).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Sections 106 to 109 were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 34 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

107 Chief executive may defer work-test obligations
  • [Repealed]

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Sections 106 to 109 were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 34 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

108 Effect of deferral
  • [Repealed]

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 1 January 1970, by section 134(1) Domestic Proceedings Act 1968 (1968 No 62).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Sections 106 to 109 were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 34 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

109 Persons who are to notify change of circumstances affecting exemption or deferral
  • [Repealed]

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Sections 106 to 109 were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 34 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

Job seeker development activities

  • This heading was substituted for the heading Organised Activities, as from 1 July 2001, by section 35 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

110 Defining job seeker development activities
  • (1) A job seeker development activity is an activity defined from time to time by the chief executive under this section as a job seeker development activity.

    (2) The activities that the chief executive may define as job seeker development activities include, but are not limited to,—

    • (a) work assessment:

    • (b) participation in a programme or seminar to increase particular skills or enhance motivation:

    • (c) participation in a work experience or work exploration activity:

    • (d) participation in employment-related training.

    (3) The chief executive may define an activity or category of activity as a job seeker development activity only if the chief executive is satisfied that the activity—

    • (a) is likely to increase the prospect for self-reliance of beneficiaries who participate in it by increasing their awareness of, and participation in, opportunities for employment, and for self-betterment, education, or training; or

    • (b) is likely to strengthen incentives for persons who participate in it to remain in employment or move into unsubsidised employment.

    (4) The chief executive must specify any conditions that apply to an activity that he or she defines as a job seeker development activity.

    (5) The chief executive must define a range of job seeker development activities, and may define different job seeker development activities for different geographical locations.

    (6) The chief executive's discretion to define job seeker development activities is subject to any direction by the Minister.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Subsection (3)(f) was amended, as from 1 April 2001, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by omitting (including community work).

    Subsection (3)(ha) was inserted, as from 1 April 2001, by section 5(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Sections 110 to 112 were substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 35 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

111 Assistance provided by department
  • (1) If, following a requirement under section 102(2)(f), a beneficiary has included 1 or more job seeker development activities from the list in his or her job seeker agreement, then the chief executive must take reasonable steps to arrange for the beneficiary to undertake those activities.

    (2) If a beneficiary's job seeker agreement includes any other job seeker development activity, then the chief executive may take reasonable steps to arrange for the beneficiary to undertake that activity, but only if the chief executive considers the activity—

    • (a) is suitable for the circumstances of the beneficiary; and

    • (b) is likely to improve his or her employment prospects.

    (3) If a beneficiary's job seeker agreement includes a recognised community activity, the chief executive may take reasonable steps to arrange for the beneficiary to undertake the recognised community activity, but only if—

    • (a) the chief executive considers the recognised community activity is suitable for the beneficiary to undertake; and

    • (b) there are no job seeker development activities or other activities specified in the agreement that would be more suitable for the beneficiary to undertake.

    (4) If a beneficiary's job seeker agreement specifies other assistance that the Department will give the beneficiary, then the chief executive must provide that specified assistance, subject to any conditions set out in the job seeker agreement.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 7 June 1967, by section 11 Social Security Amendment Act 1967 (1967 No 4) by substituting Medical Association of New Zealand for New Zealand Branch of British Medical Association.

    The words High Court, in subsection (2) were substituted for Supreme Court, as from 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 2001, by section 6(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by inserting, after the word activities, the words (other than a recognised community activity).

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 1 April 2001, by section 6(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Sections 110 to 112 were substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 35 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

112 Organised activities to have effect as job seeker development activities
  • (1) A work-tested beneficiary who, immediately before 1 July 2001, was required to participate in an organised activity (other than a recognised community activity) is obliged to continue to participate in that activity as if the activity were a job seeker development activity included in the beneficiary's job seeker agreement.

    (2) The obligation to continue participating in the activity continues until the beneficiary enters into a job seeker agreement.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 29 September 1969, pursuant to section 16 Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 124) by omitting obstetric.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Sections 110 to 112 were substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 35 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

Sanctions regime

113 Procedure for imposing sanctions
  • (1) This section applies where a sanction is to be imposed on a beneficiary under section 117.

    (2) Where this section applies, the chief executive must not suspend or cancel a benefit payable to a beneficiary unless the chief executive has given the beneficiary written notice—

    • (a) Stating that the beneficiary has failed to comply with a specified obligation under this Act; and

    • (b) Specifying the nature of that non-compliance; and

    • (c) Stating that, on the basis of that non-compliance, the chief executive is suspending or cancelling the benefit payable to the beneficiary; and

    • (d) Specifying a date on which the suspension or cancellation is to take effect, and, in the case of a suspension, the nature and duration of the suspension ; and

    • (e) Stating that the beneficiary has 5 working days from the giving of the notice to dispute the suspension or cancellation; and

    • (f) Advising the beneficiary to contact the department if the beneficiary wants to dispute or discuss the decision to suspend or cancel the benefit; and

    • (g) Containing a clear statement of the beneficiary's right, under section 10A, to apply for a review of the decision, and of the procedure for applying for a review.

    (3) The suspension or cancellation of the benefit must not take effect before the close of the 5 working days specified in the notice under subsection (2)(e).

    Subsection (1) was repealed, as from 14 November 1973, by section 26(1)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 14 November 1973, by section 26(1)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 29 September 1969, by section 17(2)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46) by omitting obstetric.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 29 September 1969, by section 17(2)(c) Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46) by substituting specialists for the purposes of this section for obstetric specialists.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Section 113 was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 43(4)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by omitting or reduce, or reducing, and or reduction wherever they occur.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 43(4)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting section 117 for sections 115 to 118.

114 Notices
  • A notice may be given under section 113 to a person—

    • (a) By delivering it to that person personally; or

    • (b) By leaving it—

      • (i) At that person's usual or last known place of residence or business; or

      • (ii) At the address given by that person in the most recent application or other document received from that person,—

      in which case the notice is given when it is left for that person; or

    • (c) By posting it in a letter addressed to that person at that place of residence or business or at that address, in which case the notice is given when it is posted.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

115 Failure to comply with work test
  • (1) The sanctions in section 117 may be imposed on a beneficiary if the chief executive considers that the beneficiary has, without a good and sufficient reason,—

    • (a) in the case of a work-tested beneficiary, failed to comply with any of the work test obligations as set out in section 102; or

    • (b) in the case of a beneficiary granted an exemption from the work test, failed to attend an interview as required under section 105(5).

    (2) Before determining that a beneficiary has failed to comply with any work test obligation, the chief executive must review the beneficiary's job seeker agreement (if the beneficiary has one).

    (3) A beneficiary has a good and sufficient reason for not undertaking or completing an activity in the beneficiary's job seeker agreement if—

    • (a) doing so was dependent upon the provision by the department of any assistance specified in the person's job seeker agreement; and

    • (b) that assistance was either not supplied, or not supplied to the extent, or in the manner, specified in the agreement.

    (4) A beneficiary who has 1 or more dependent children has a good and sufficient reason for not participating in or completing any job seeker development activity in his or her job seeker agreement if the activity involves participation during hours when it would be unreasonable to expect any dependent child of the person to be without that person's supervision.

    (5) A full-time work-tested beneficiary who leaves, without good and sufficient reason, or is dismissed for misconduct from, part-time work or employment averaging less than 15 hours a week is treated as someone to whom subsection (1) applies.

    (6) A part-time work-tested beneficiary who leaves, without good and sufficient reason, or is dismissed for misconduct from, employment averaging less than 15 hours a week is treated as someone to whom subsection (1) applies.

    (7) Section 60H(6) and (7) applies to subsections (5) and (6), with all necessary modifications.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Sections 115 to 117 were substituted, and section 118 was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 36 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

115A Failure to comply with obligations under section 60GAB
  • The sanctions stated in section 117 must be imposed on a person who is required to comply with an obligation under section 60GAB if the chief executive considers that the person has, without a good and sufficient reason, failed to comply with it.

    Section 115A: inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

116 Failure to participate in activity under section 60HA
  • [Repealed]

    Section 116: repealed, on 24 September 2007, by section 32(2)(b) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

117 Sanctions that may be imposed for failures
  • (1) The sanctions that the chief executive must apply in respect of failures under section 115 or section 115A are,—

    • (a) for a first failure, suspension of the person's benefit until the person recomplies:

    • (b) for a second failure (being a failure that occurs after the person has recomplied following a first failure), suspension of the person's benefit until the person recomplies:

    • (c) for a third failure (being a failure that occurs after the person has recomplied following a second failure), cancellation of the benefit.

    (2) A person whose benefit is cancelled under subsection (1)(c)

    • (a) is not entitled to receive any benefit for 13 weeks from the date of cancellation; and

    • (b) if the person wishes to again become entitled to a benefit, must apply for the benefit and establish his or her eligibility for it.

    (3) Subsection (2) is subject to sections 120 and 121, and to sections 123 to 123B.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Sections 115 to 117 were substituted, and section 118 was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 36 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Section 117(1): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

118 Penalties for failure to participate in organised activity to satisfaction of chief executive
  • [Repealed]

    Paragraph (f) was inserted, as from 23 December 1977, by section 28 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 1 April 2001, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Sections 115 to 117 were substituted, and section 118 was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 36 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

119 Calculation of failure rate
  • (1) In calculating the number of failures under section 117, the chief executive—

    • (a) may count applicable failures only while the same benefit has been continuously paid in respect of the beneficiary; but

    • (b) May not count any failure if—

      • (i) It is not of a kind to which that particular section applies; or

      • (ii) It occurred more than 12 months before the failure for which the calculation is made if, during that period, that beneficiary has not incurred a failure to which any of those sections applies.

    (2) For the purpose of subsection (1)(b)(ii), a failure under section 115 or section 115A is considered to have occurred on the date the chief executive decides he or she is satisfied the beneficiary has failed, without a good and sufficient reason, to comply with the appropriate work test obligation or other obligation imposed by this Act.

    (3) In determining whether a benefit has been continuously paid in respect of the beneficiary, the chief executive must disregard any period during which the benefit was cancelled or suspended because the beneficiary commenced in employment that continued for less than 10 working days.

    (4) Nothing in subsection (1)(b)(ii) affects the implementation, after the 12-month period, of a sanction based on any prior calculation of the number of failures by a person to comply with the the appropriate work test obligation or other obligation imposed by this Act.

    (5) In this section, working day means a day on which a person was required to work in the employment referred to in subsection (2).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 37(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting section 117 for section 115 or section 116 or section 118.

    Subsection (1)(a) was substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 37(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 37(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting section 115 or section 116 for any of sections 115, 116, and 118.

    Section 119(2): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(3)(a) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 119(2): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(3)(b) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Section 119(4): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(4) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

120 Modified effect in some cases of sanctions on rate of benefit for people married or in civil union or de facto relationship
  • (1) If the suspension or cancellation under section 117 of a benefit payable at a work-test married rate results from the failure of one of the spouses or partners in respect of whom the benefit is paid to comply with a work-test obligation—

    • (a) it applies to only half the applicable rate of the benefit before any abatement on account of income; and

    • (b) the other spouse or partner is entitled to receive half of that rate (and the appropriate Income Test applies to that rate, but at half the abatement rate in that test).

    (2) If the suspension or cancellation under section 117 of a benefit payable at a work-test married rate results from the failure of both work-tested spouses or partners in respect of whom the benefit is paid to comply with work-test obligations, and they have one or more dependent children,—

    • (a) the suspension or cancellation applies to only half the applicable rate of the benefit before any abatement on account of income; and

    • (b) the spouses or partners are entitled to receive half that rate (and the appropriate Income Test applies to that rate).

    (3) Section (2)(b) is subject to section 83.

    Section 120: substituted, on 24 September 2007, by section 43 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

121 Effect of sanctions on benefit of sole parent
  • Where under section 60H or section 117 the payment of a benefit of a person who is a sole parent is to be suspended or cancelled,—

    • (a) The suspension or cancellation applies only to 50% of the applicable rate of the benefit before any abatement on account of income; and

    • (b) The person is entitled during the period of suspension or cancellation to receive 50% of that rate of benefit, and the appropriate Income Test applies to that rate but at half the abatement rate in that Income Test.

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Section 121 was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 43(7) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting section 117 for section 115 or section 116.

General provisions

122 Meaning of recompliance
  • In relation to a failure under section 115 or section 115A, a person recomplies (for the purpose of section 117) if the person remedies the relevant failure or, if it is not possible to remedy the failure, the person undertakes to the satisfaction of the chief executive,—

    • (a) in the case of a work-tested beneficiary, some other activity specified in the person's job seeker agreement or, if there is no other activity specified, a job seeker development activity approved by the chief executive; or

    • (b) in any other case, some other activity of the kind specified in section 60GAB(5) and approved by the chief executive.

    Section 122: amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(5) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 July 1970, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act 1970 (1970 No 9) by inserting or fixed by any regulations for the time being in force under this Act.

    Subsection (8A) was inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 27(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1970 (1970 No 9).

    Subsection (12) was inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 27(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1970 (1970 No 9).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Section 122 was substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 38 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Section 122(b): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(6) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

123 Effect of ceasing to be subject to obligation to comply with section 60HA or obligations under section 60GAB or work test
  • (1) This section applies to a person—

    • (a) Whose benefit has been suspended, or who is not entitled to a benefit for 13 weeks, under section 60H or section 117; and

    • (b) Who either—

      • (i) Ceases to be a work-tested beneficiary (other than because of the imposition of that suspension or 13-week period); or

      • (ia) ceases to be a beneficiary who is required to comply with a request under section 60HA or obligations under section 60GAB (other than because of the imposition of that suspension or 13-week period); or

      • (ii) Obtains, under section 105, an exemption from the work test or an exemption from complying with section 60HA.

    (2) From the date the chief executive decides he or she is satisfied this section applies to a person,—

    • (a) The period of suspension of the benefit ends; or

    • (b) The person is no longer subject to the 13-week period and that period lapses.

    (3) If a person to whom subsection (2)(b) applies wishes to again become entitled to a benefit, the person must apply for the benefit and establish the person's eligibility to receive it.

    (4) In subsection (1), benefit includes part of a benefit.

    Section 123 heading: amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(6) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (1)(ga) was inserted, as from 14 November 1973, by section 28 Social Security Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 34).

    Subsection (1)(h) was amended, as from 17 July 1970, by section 8 Social Security Amendment Act 1970 (1970 No 9) by inserting or not to be specialist medical services.

    Subsection (1)(i) was repealed, as from 7 June 1967, by section 13 Social Security Amendment Act 1967 (1967 No 4).

    Subsection (2) was inserted, as from 3 December 1970, by section 7 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1970 (1970 No 149).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 39(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting section 117 for section 115 or section 116.

    Section 123(1)(b)(ia): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(6) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (1)(b)(ia) was inserted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 39(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (1)(b)(ii) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 39(3) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by inserting or an exemption from complying with section 60HA.

123A Effect of employment on non-entitlement period
  • (1) This section applies to a person who is not entitled to a benefit for 13 weeks because of the operation of section 60H or section 117.

    (2) If a person to whom this section applies completes a period of employment approved by the chief executive for the purposes of this section of not less than 6 weeks, the remainder of the 13-week period lapses.

    (3) [Repealed]

    (4) In subsection (1), benefit includes part of a benefit.

    Section 123A was inserted, as from 1 May 1986, by section 110(1) Commerce Act 1986 (1986 No 5).

    Part 2 (sections 87 to 123A) was repealed, as from 1 July 1993, by section 24(1) Health Reforms (Transitional Provisions) Act 1993 (1993 No 23).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 2001, by section 40(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by substituting section 117 for section 115 or section 116.

    Subsection (3) was repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 40(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

123B Effect of participation in certain activities on non-entitlement period
  • (1) This section applies to a person who—

    • (b) is participating in 1 or more approved activities, which are any of the following approved by the chief executive for the purpose:

      • (i) job seeker development activities:

      • (ii) recognised community activities:

      • (iii) part-time work (in the case of a part-time work-tested beneficiary).

    (2) If a person to whom this section applies participates satisfactorily in the approved activity or activities for a continuous period of 6 weeks,—

    • (a) the remainder of the period of non-entitlement lapses; and

    • (b) if the person wishes to again become entitled to a benefit, the person must apply for the benefit and establish his or her eligibility for it.

    (3) Despite subsection (2)(b), if the person applies for a benefit, the chief executive must grant the person a benefit during the person's satisfactory participation in the approved activity or activities.

    (4) Payment of a benefit granted under subsection (3) is subject to the condition that the person is liable to repay the whole of any amount paid during the non-entitlement period if he or she fails to complete a continuous period of 6 weeks of satisfactory participation in an approved activity or activities, or fails to continue satisfactory participation until the end of the non-entitlement period (whichever is earlier).

    (5) No obligation to repay under subsection (4) arises if the reason for the person's failure is that he or she—

    • (a) ceases to be a work-tested beneficiary or a beneficiary required to comply with a request under section 60HA or obligations under section 60GAB; or

    • (b) obtains, under section 105, an exemption from the work test or an exemption from complying with section 60HA.

    (6) If the person is still entitled to the benefit at the end of the period of satisfactory participation or non-entitlement (as the case may be), payment of the benefit is no longer subject to the condition in subsection (4).

    (7) Any amount the person is liable to repay under this section may be recovered by the chief executive under section 86(1).

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Sections 123B and 123C were substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 41 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Section 123B(5)(a): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(6) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (7) was amended, as from 26 September 2002, by section 26 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28) by substituting 86(1) for 86(1A).

123C Application of Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and Human Rights Act 1993
  • (1) In this section, person A is a person—

    • (a) who, in accordance with his or her job seeker agreement or under section 122 or section 123B, is doing work as part of a job seeker activity; or

    • (b) who is a beneficiary and, in accordance with a personal development and employment plan or a requirement under section 60GAB or otherwise, is doing work as part of an employment-related activity or activity in the community arranged by the department.

    (2) The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and the Human Rights Act 1993 apply to person A and the person providing the work that person A is doing, as if person A were the employee of the person providing the work.

    (3) Except as provided in subsection (2), nothing in this Part creates or implies an employment relationship between person A and the person providing the work.

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 2001, by section 9(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1) by inserting, after the words undertakes any work, the words other than voluntary work.

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 1 April 2001, by section 9(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Sections 123B and 123C were substituted, as from 1 July 2001, by section 41 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 27 Social Security (Personal Development and Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 2 July 2007, by section 14(2)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20) by omitting or an activity in the community. See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Section 123C(1)(b): amended, on 24 September 2007, by section 42(6) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 2 July 2007, by section 14(2)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20) by inserting or activity in the community after activity. See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

123D Regulations
  • Without limiting the general power to make regulations conferred by section 132, the Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:

    • (a) Specifying the categories of persons who may be exempted under section 105 from the work test or the obligation to comply with section 60HA and specifying the grounds on which exemptions may be granted for each of those categories:

    • (b) [Repealed]

    • (c) [Repealed]

    Sections 101 to 123D were inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 7 Social Security (Work Test) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 94).

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 15 November 2000, by section 5(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 81) by substituting persons for beneficiaries.

    Paragraphs (b) and (c) were repealed, as from 1 July 2001, by section 42 Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

Part 3
General provisions

124 Money payable out of Crown Bank Account
  • (1) There shall from time to time be paid out of the Crown Bank Account, from money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose,—

    • (a) All money required to be expended in providing benefits and making other payments under this Act:

    • (aa) [Repealed]

    • (b) All other expenditure incurred in the administration of this Act:

    • (c) Any money that may be appropriated by Parliament for educational or research purposes in relation to public health or income support or employment:

    • (d) Any money that may be appropriated by Parliament for the purpose of granting special assistance under any welfare programme established and approved by the Minister under the authority of, and for the purposes of, this paragraph:

    • (da) [Repealed]

    • (dd) [Repealed]

    • (e) All other money that may be appropriated by Parliament for the purposes of this Act, or that may be appropriated for any purpose incidental or related to the purposes of this Act.

    (1A) Every welfare programme approved by the Minister under subsection (1)(d) of this section—

    • (a) Shall be administered by the chief executive:

    • (b) May provide for any specified provision of this Act to apply to and in respect of—

      • (i) The programme; and

      • (ii) Any applicant for assistance under the programme; and

      • (iii) Any other specified class or classes of person—

      as if the special assistance authorised by the programme were a benefit under this Act.

    (1B) As soon as practicable after approving a welfare programme pursuant to subsection (1)(d), the Minister must publish in the Gazette and lay before the House of Representatives a copy of the programme.

    (1C) There must from time to time be paid out of the Crown Bank Account, without further appropriation than this subsection, all money necessary for granting special assistance under section 61CF.

    (2) This subsection applies to a payment made to a person out of the Crown Bank Account by way of special assistance pursuant to subsection (1)(d) or subsection (1C) if—

    • (a) either—

      • (i) it was obtained by fraud; or

      • (ii) the spouse or partner of the person made a false statement to or otherwise misled an officer engaged in the administration of Part 1, in relation to his or her income or other personal circumstances; and

    • (b) as a result, it exceeded the amount (if any) that, in the chief executive's opinion, would otherwise have been paid.

    (2A) Sections 81 and 86, as far as they are applicable and with any necessary modifications, apply to a payment to which subsection (2) applies—

    • (a) as if it were made by way of benefit under Part 1; and

    • (b) as if the person to whom it was made were a beneficiary entitled to a benefit of the amount (if any) that, in the chief executive's opinion, would have been payable if (as the case may be)—

      • (i) the fraud had not occurred; or

      • (ii) the false statement had not been made; or

      • (iii) the officer had not been misled.

    (3) Inserted by s 8 Social Security Amendment Act 1968 (1968 No 44) and repealed by s 34(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40).

    (4) Inserted by s 19(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46) and repealed by s 28(3)(a) Disabled Persons Community Welfare Act 1975 (1975 No 122) from 5 November 1976; see SR 1976/284.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 106; 1957 No 93 s 5(3); 1958 No 46 s 28(2); 1963 No 46 s 24

    Section 124 was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting Minister for Minister of Social Welfare.

    Section 124 was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting chief executive for Director-General of Social Welfare and Director-General.

    In subsections (1) and (2)(a) the reference to the Consolidated Account was substituted for a reference to the Consolidated Revenue Account, as from 1 April 1978, pursuant to section 114(6) Public Finance Act 1977 (1977 No 65).

    The words Consolidated Account were substituted, as from 1 July 1989, by the words Crown Bank Account pursuant to section 83(7) Public Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 44).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section 16(1) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by omitting Part 1 or Part 2 of. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1)(aa) was inserted, as from 21 November 1984, by section 10 Social Security Amendment Act 1984 (1984 No 8).

    Subsection (1)(aa) was repealed, as from 1 October 1986, by section 17(1)(e) Social Security Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 39).

    Subsection (1)(b) was substituted, as from 1 April 1972, by section 18(3) Department of Social Welfare Act 1971 (1971 No 60).

    Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting income support or employment for social welfare.

    Subsection (1)(d) was amended, as from 1 April 1972, by section 18(2) Department of Social Welfare Act 1971 (1971 No 60) by substituting Minister of Social Welfare for Minister of Social Security.

    Subsection (1)(d) was amended, as from 10 October 1975, by section 24 Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123) by omitting granting supplementary assistance under

    Subsection (1)(d) was amended, as from 1 November 1976, by section 34(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40) by inserting the words granting special assistance under.

    Subsection (1)(d) was substituted, as from 17 September 1997, by Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63). See section 24(4) of that Act as to the power of the Minister of Social Security to establish and approve any welfare programme for special assistance for the purposes of this section.

    Subsection (1)(da) was inserted by section 22 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147).

    Subsection (1)(da) was repealed, as from 15 April 2005, by section 14 Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30).

    Subsection (1)(dd) was inserted, as from 29 September 1969, by section 19(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 46) and repealed as from 5 November 1976, by section 28(3)(a) Disabled Persons Community Welfare Act 1975 (1975 No 122).

    Subsection (1A) was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 28(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (1A) was amended, as from 1 April 2005, by section 16(2) Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51) by omitting Part 1 of in both places where they appear. See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1B) was inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 24(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Subsection (1C) was inserted, as from 19 December 2006, by section 6 Social Security Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 90).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(3)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting Director-General of Social Welfare for Commission.

    Subsection (2)(a) was amended, as from 1 November 1976, by section 34(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40) by substituting special for supplementary.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting Director-General for Social Security Commission.

    Subsection (2)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by substituting spouse or partner for husband or wife.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 19 December 2006, by section 6 Social Security Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 90).

    Subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 19 December 2006, by section 6 Social Security Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 90).

124A
  • [Repealed]

    Section 124A was inserted, as from 7 June 1967, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act 1967 (1967 No 4) and repealed, as from 2 July 1975, by section 25(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123). See section 25(3) and (4) of that Act.

125 Advances to beneficiaries and war pensioners for repair or maintenance of home, etc
  • [Repealed]

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 26(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 23 June 1987, by section 27(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106) by substituting spouse for wife or husband.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1990, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990 (1990 No 26) by substituting (d) for (b).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 April 1990, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149) by substituting (as defined in section 3(1) of this Act) for under Part 1 of this Act.

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 10 October 1975, by section 26(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123)

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 1 October 1988, by section 23(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147)

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 October 1990, by regulation 3 Social Security (Miscellaneous Rates) Order 1990 (SR 1990/258) by substituting $2,652 for $2,465.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 October 1988, as from by section 23(2) Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1988 (1988 No 147) by inserting the words Where the land is Maori freehold land it shall not be necessary to obtain the consent of any person to the registration of the charge.

    Subsection (4) was amended, as from 20 October 1972, by section 40(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133) by inserting the words or by any person authorised on that behalf by any member of the Commission.

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 10 October 1975, by section 26(2)(a) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123) by omitting or, as the case may be, of the leasehold interest in the land. This subsection was amended by section 26(2)(b) of that same Act

    Subsection (5) was amended, as from 10 October 1975, by section 26(2)(b) Social Security Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 123) by omitting or, as the case may be, that leasehold interest.

    Subsection (6) was inserted, as from 23 June 1987, by section 27(3) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    The words Director-General were substituted for Social Security Commission, as from 23 June 1987, pursuant to section 2(4) Social Security Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 106).

    Section 125 was repealed, as from 1 July 1996, by section 3(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 49). See section 2(2) and (3) of that Act as to the savings provisions, and section 4 of that Act as to transitional arrangements for advances.

126 Cost of repair and replacement of artificial limbs
  • There shall from time to time be paid out of the Crown Bank Account out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose such sums as may be necessary to defray the reasonable cost of the repair or renewal by the New Zealand Artificial Limb Board, or by any other body or person specified from time to time by the Minister, by notice in the Gazette, of any artificial arm, hand, leg, or foot belonging to any person who is entitled to have that artificial limb repaired or renewed free of charge pursuant to the provisions of Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 106B; 1963 No 47 s 56

    The reference to the Consolidated Account was substituted for a reference to the Consolidated Revenue Account, as from 1 April 1978, pursuant to section 114(6) Public Finance Act 1977 (1977 No 65).

    The words Consolidated Account were substituted, as from 1 July 1989, by the words Crown Bank Account pursuant to section 83(7) Public Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 44).

    Section 126 was amended, as from 1 November 1976, by section 35(1) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40) by substituting Rehabilitation League NZ (Incorporated) for Disabled Re-establishment League Incorporated.

    Section 126 was amended, as from 1 November 1976, by section 35(2) Social Security Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 40) by substituting section 110 of the Accident Compensation Act 1972 for section 23A of the Workers' Compensation Act 1956 (as inserted by section 2 of the Workers' Compensation Amendment Act 1963). This reference was substituted by a reference to section 77 of the Accident Compensation Act 1982 (1982 No 181).

    Section 126 was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by omitting of Labour.

    Section 126 was amended, as from 1 July 1999, by section 415(1) Accident Insurance Act 1998 (1998 No 114) by substituting Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Accident Insurance Act 1998 for section 77 of the Accident Compensation Act 1982.

    Section 126 was amended, as from 1 April 2002, by section 337(1) Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 (2001 No 49) by substituting Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001 for Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Accident Insurance Act 1998. See Part 10 of that Act for provisions relating to transition from competitive provision of workplace accident insurance. See Part 11 of that Act for transitional provisions relating to entitlements provided by Corporation.

    Section 126 was amended, as from 15 April 2005, by section 15 Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 30) by substituting New Zealand Artificial Limb Board for Rehabilitation League N.Z. (Incorporated).

126A Information on beneficiaries and former beneficiaries may be disclosed to Department for Courts for fines enforcement purposes
  • (1) In this section, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    Beneficiary means a person who has been granted a benefit; and includes a person in respect of whom a benefit or part of a benefit has been granted; and also includes—

    • (a) A person who was formerly in receipt of a benefit:

    Benefit has the meaning given to it in section 3(1) of this Act; except that the term also includes—

    • (b) Any special assistance granted out of the Crown Bank Account from money appropriated by Parliament under section 124(1)(d) of this Act:

    Chief executive

    [Repealed]

    Chief executive: this definition was repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Fine means—

    Fine: paragraph (a) of this definition was amended, as from 9 October 2006, by section 37(1) Summary Proceedings Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 13) by adding the words , or an amount of reparation as defined in section 145D of the Sentencing Act 2002.

    Fine: paragraph (ab) of this definition was inserted, as from 9 October 2006, by section 37(2) Summary Proceedings Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 13).

    (2) The purpose of this section is to facilitate the disclosure of information by the department to the Department for Courts for the purpose of enabling the Department for Courts to locate any beneficiary who is in default in the payment of any fine.

    (3) For the purpose of this section, the chief executive of the Department for Courts may from time to time, in accordance with arrangements made with the chief executive of the department for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act, request the chief executive of the latter department to supply, from information kept by that department, the last known address and telephone number of any beneficiary.

    (4) On receipt of a request made under subsection (3), the chief executive of the department may supply the information requested to any officer or employee of the Department for Courts who is authorised by the chief executive of that department to receive that information.

    (5) Information supplied under a request made under subsection (3) may be supplied in such form as is determined by agreement between the 2 chief executives.

    Section 126A was inserted, as from 3 September 1996, by section 2 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1996 (1996 No 145).

    Subsections (3) to (5) were substituted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

    Sections 126A and 126B were amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting department for Department of Social Welfare.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 November 1998, by section 30 Summary Proceedings Amendment Act (No 3) 1998 (1998 No 91) by inserting the words and telephone number.

126AB Disclosure of personal information to Registrar-General for birth registration purposes
  • (1) The purpose of this section is to authorise the disclosure of information by the department to the Registrar-General appointed under section 79(1) of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995 (called the Registrar-General in this section), in order to assist in locating and contacting the mothers of children whose births are unregistered, so that the births may be registered.

    (2) On request from the Registrar-General, the chief executive, or a person authorised by the chief executive, may supply to the Registrar-General, or a person authorised by the Registrar-General, the postal address and residential address (if different from the postal address) of a person in respect of whom that information is held for the purposes of this Act and who the Registrar-General has grounds to believe may be the mother of a child whose birth is unregistered.

    (3) No request may be made unless—

    • (a) there is an agreement between the department and the Registrar-General in accordance with section 99 of the Privacy Act 1993; and

    • (b) the request is in accordance with the agreement.

    Section 126AB: inserted, on 24 January 2009, by section 47 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 48).

126B Certain grounds of discrimination in Human Rights Act 1993 not to apply
  • Nothing in—

    • (b) Section 24 of the Human Rights Commission Act 1977 ever applied—

    to anything done, before 31 December 2001, which—

    • (c) In relation to the granting of any benefit or assistance under or pursuant to this Act, or the granting of any assistance analogous to a benefit, by the department, is or was done pursuant to—

      • (i) A direction given pursuant to section 5; or

      • (ii) A welfare programme approved by the Minister under section 124(1)(d); or

    • (d) Would otherwise be or have been unlawful by reason of the prohibited grounds of discrimination in section 21(1)(a) or (b) of the Human Rights Act 1993; or

    • (e) In relation to anything done before 1 February 1994, would otherwise have been unlawful under section 24(1) of the Human Rights Commission Act 1977 on the grounds of sex or marital status.

    Section 126B was inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 25 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

    Section 126B(c)(ii) was amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting Minister for Minister of Social Welfare.

    Sections 126A and 126B were amended, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96) by substituting department for Department of Social Welfare.

    Section 126B was amended, as from 1 October 1999, by section 7(a) Human Rights Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 100) by omitting the expression 31 December 1999 and substituting the expression 31 December 2001.

    Paragraph (c)(i) was amended, as from 1 October 1999, by section 7(b) Human Rights Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 100) by omitting the expression section 5(2) and substituting the expression section 5.

127 Offences
  • Every person who makes any statement knowing it to be false in any material particular, or who wilfully does or says anything or omits to do or say anything for the purpose of misleading or attempting to mislead any officer concerned in the administration of this Act or any other person whomsoever, for the purpose of receiving or continuing to receive (for himself or for any other person), or which results in himself or any other person receiving or continuing to receive—

    • (b) Any exemption from any obligation under this Act; or

    • (c) Any payment from the Crown Bank Account in accordance with this Act; or

    • (d) Any entitlement card issued under regulations made pursuant to section 132A of this Act; or

    • (e) a more favourable means assessment under section 69FA than he or she would otherwise have been entitled to; or

    • (f) a more favourable means assessment under Part 4 than he or she would otherwise have been entitled to—

    commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to both imprisonment and fine.

    Section 127 was substituted, as from 20 October 1972, by section 41 Social Security Amendment Act 1972 (1972 No 133).

    The reference to the Consolidated Account was substituted for a reference to the Consolidated Revenue Account, as from 1 April 1978, pursuant to section 114(6) Public Finance Act 1977 (1977 No 65).

    Section 127 was amended, as from 23 December 1977, by section 29 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1977 (1977 No 133) by substituting receiving or continuing to receive for obtaining in two places.

    Paragraph (a) was substituted, as from 1 April 1990, by section 5 Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 149).

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting, after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990, the words or the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Paragraph (c) was substituted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 29(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Paragraphs (d) and (e) were inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 29(1) Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Paragraph (e) was amended, as from 17 September 1997, by section 26 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63) by inserting the words or section 69FA.

    Paragraph (e) was substituted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Paragraph (f) was inserted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

128 Proceedings for offences
  • (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 14 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957, an information for any offence against this Act may be laid at any time within 12 months after the facts alleged in the information have been brought to the knowledge of any officer concerned in the administration of this Act.

    (2) [Repealed]

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 137; 1957 No 93 s 5(3)

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 30 June 1993, by section 30 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

129 General penalty for offences
  • Every person who commits an offence against this Act or any regulations made under this Act, for which no penalty is provided elsewhere than in this section, is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and, if the offence is a continuing one, to a further fine not exceeding $50 for every day or part of a day during which the offence has continued.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 138

    Section 129 was amended, as from 30 June 1993, by section 31 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57) 1993 No 57 by substituting $1,000 and, if the offence is a continuing one, to a further fine not exceeding $50 for every day or part of a day during which the offence has continued for $40.

130
  • [Repealed]

    Section 130 was repealed, as from 1 January 1972, by section 101(1) Stamp and Cheque Duties Act 1971 (1971 No 51).

131 Declarations
  • Any declaration required for the purposes of this Act may be made before any person authorised to receive declarations in accordance with section 9 of the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 or before any other person authorised in that behalf by or in accordance with regulations made under this Act.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 139(2)

131A Disclosure of information between Department of Social Welfare and Department of Labour
  • [Repealed]

    Section 131A was inserted, as from 1 April 1997, by section 37 Social Security Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 20).

    Subsections (3A) and (3B) were inserted, as from 1 July 1997, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 (1997 No 22).

    Sections 131A to 131G were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

131B Definitions for purposes of sections 131C and 131D
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 131B to 131G were inserted, as from 1 July 1997, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 (1997 No 22).

    Sections 131A to 131G were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

131C Notice of decision to suspend, reduce, or cancel work-tested benefit
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 131B to 131G were inserted, as from 1 July 1997, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 (1997 No 22).

    Sections 131A to 131G were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

131D Reduction of notice period
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 131B to 131G were inserted, as from 1 July 1997, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 (1997 No 22).

    Sections 131A to 131G were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

131E Notices
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 131B to 131G were inserted, as from 1 July 1997, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 (1997 No 22).

    Sections 131A to 131G were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

131F Jurisdiction of Privacy Commissioner
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 131B to 131G were inserted, as from 1 July 1997, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 (1997 No 22).

    Sections 131A to 131G were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

131G Privacy Commissioner to report on compliance with section 131C
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 131B to 131G were inserted, as from 1 July 1997, by section 4 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 (1997 No 22).

    Sections 131A to 131G were repealed, as from 1 October 1998, by section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

132 Regulations
  • The Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, make regulations providing for such matters as are contemplated by or necessary for giving full effect to the provisions of this Act and for the due administration thereof.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 140

132AA Regulations exempting items from treatment as income or cash assets may have retrospective effect
  • (1) This section applies to regulations made under section 132 that—

    • (a) declare items or amounts of income or income from a specified source not to be income; or

    • (b) declare items of cash assets or cash assets of a specified kind not to be cash assets.

    (2) Any regulations to which this section applies have effect in respect of any income or cash assets specified in the regulations on and after any date specified in the regulations (which may be a date before, on, or after the date on which the regulations are made).

    Section 132AA was inserted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 28 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

132AB Regulations relating to temporary additional support
  • (1) Without limiting the general power to make regulations under section 132, the Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for the purposes of section 61G (which relates to temporary additional support) including, without limitation, provisions that—

    • (a) prescribe or provide for the setting of eligibility criteria for receiving temporary additional support:

    • (b) prescribe amounts allowed for standard living costs that ought to be met from chargeable income (standard costs), or 1 or more means of calculating amounts of standard. costs, which may differ depending on—

      • (i) whether the applicant or the applicant's spouse or partner, or both of them, is or are receiving a benefit or tax credit:

      • (ii) the kind and amount of benefit or benefits or tax credit or credits received by the applicant or his or her spouse or partner:

      • (iii) whether the applicant has a spouse or partner or dependent children:

      • (iv) whether the applicant's spouse or partner is lawfully or unlawfully in New Zealand:

      • (v) the number and ages of the applicant's dependent children:

    • (c) define the kinds of costs that are allowable costs, including any limits on the extent to which any such costs are allowable costs:

    • (d) define the kinds of income, benefits, credits, and receipts that are chargeable income, including any limits on the extent to which any income, benefit, credit, or receipt of that kind is chargeable income:

    • (e) prescribe amounts of temporary additional support that may be granted or 1 or more means for calculating the amount of temporary additional support to be granted, which may differ depending on whether the applicant—

      • (i) has a dependent spouse or partner; or

      • (ii) has a dependent child; or

      • (iii) is in any other prescribed circumstances:

    • (f) define the kinds of assets that are cash assets, including any limits on the extent to which any such assets are cash assets, and prescribe 1 or more cash asset limits, which may differ depending on whether the applicant—

      • (i) has a dependent spouse or partner; or

      • (ii) has a dependent child; or

      • (iii) is in any other prescribed circumstances:

    • (g) prescribe the period or periods for which temporary additional support may be granted:

    • (h) authorise the payment of temporary additional support in a lump sum up to a specified maximum amount in any prescribed circumstances.

    (2) For the purposes of any calculation made under section 61G or any regulations made under subsection (1), the allowable costs, cash assets, and chargeable income of an applicant include the allowable costs, cash assets, and chargeable income of the applicant's spouse or partner.

    Section 132AB was inserted, as from 4 June 2004, by section 17 Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1)(b), (e) and (f) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 4(1) Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse wherever it appears.

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner.

132A Regulations providing for issue and use of entitlement cards
  • (1) Without limiting the general power to make regulations conferred by section 132 of this Act, the Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:

    • (a) Providing for the issue of entitlement cards to various classes of persons:

    • (b) Prescribing the classes of persons eligible to be issued with entitlement cards:

    • (ba) providing for cardholders' photographs to be affixed to or imaged into a category of entitlement cards and prescribing procedures, requirements, and other matters in relation to those photographs:

    • (c) Prescribing and regulating the use of entitlement cards, including (but not limited to)—

      • (i) Their use to obtain payment of any benefit, allowance, or payment under this Act:

      • (ii) Their use as evidence that the holder or a dependent spouse or partner or child of the holder is exempt from any obligation under this Act or any regulations made under this Act:

      • (iii) Their use to obtain any payment or exemption from payment in consideration of services supplied to the holder of the entitlement card, or his or her dependent spouse or partner or child, whether those services are supplied under this Act, any other Act, or otherwise:

      • (iv) Placing time limits on the validity of entitlement cards:

      • (v) Placing obligations on holders to return entitlement cards to the Department:

      • (vi) Any other conditions relating to their use.

    • (d) Prescribing offences relating to the improper use of entitlement cards (other than a use which constitutes an offence under section 127 of this Act), or for their non-return after their expiry, and the amounts of fines that may be imposed in respect of any such offences, which fines shall be an amount not exceeding $1,000 and, where the offence is a continuing one, a further amount not exceeding $50 for every day or part of a day during which the offence has continued.

    (2) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that regulations made under this section may provide for entitlement cards to have all or any of a magnetic stripe or a barcode on them, or a microchip embedded in them, which may contain all or any of the following information:

    • (a) The cardholder's name:

    • (b) An identifying number assigned by the Department to the cardholder:

    • (c) A number or code indicating the cardholder's class of eligibility for the card:

    • (d) An identifying number assigned to the card:

    • (e) The commencement and expiry dates of the card:

    • (f) A code number for mailing purposes.

    (3) An Order in Council providing for the embedding of microchips in entitlement cards may not be made under this section except on the recommendation of the Minister.

    (4) The Minister must not recommend the making of an Order in Council referred to in subsection (3) unless, to ensure privacy and personal information are fully protected, adequate consultation concerning the privacy and security of the information to be contained in the microchip has taken place with—

    • (a) the State Services Commission; and

    • (b) the Privacy Commissioner; and

    • (c) any other State agency, department, or organisation the Minister considers relevant.

    Section 132A was inserted, as from 1 August 1991, by section 22 Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 1991 (1991 No 78).

    Subsection (1)(ba) was inserted, as from 22 May 2007, by section 5(1) Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 17).

    Subsection (1)(c)(ii) and (iii) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

    Subsection (2) was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 32 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 22 May 2007, by section 5(2) Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 17) by substituting all or any of a magnetic stripe or a barcode on them, or a microchip embedded in them, for a magnetic stripe on them,.

    Subsections (3) and (4) were inserted, as from 22 May 2007, by section 5(3) Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 17).

132AC Regulations relating to childcare assistance
  • (1) Without limiting the general power to make regulations under section 132, the Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for the purposes of section 61GA (which relates to childcare assistance) including, without limitation, provisions that—

    • (a) prescribe or provide for the setting of eligibility criteria for receiving childcare assistance, and which may include (without limitation) criteria based on—

      • (i) the income of the principal caregiver and his or her spouse or partner:

      • (ii) the age of the dependent child and whether the child attends school:

      • (iii) whether the principal caregiver or the dependent child or any of the principal caregiver's other dependent children has a disability or serious illness:

      • (iv) whether there is another person available to care for the child:

      • (v) whether the principal caregiver is undertaking employment or is engaged in—

        • (A) an employment-related activity arranged or approved by the department; or

        • (B) an approved course of study; or

        • (C) an approved rehabilitation programme:

    • (b) prescribe the kinds of childcare assistance to be provided, which may differ depending on the purposes of the childcare and the age of the child, or in any other prescribed circumstances:

    • (c) prescribe the amounts of childcare assistance to be paid, which may differ depending on the kind of assistance to be provided, the income of the principal caregiver and his or her spouse or partner, the number of dependent children in the family, and the kind of childcare, or in any other prescribed circumstances:

    • (d) prescribe the number of hours a week for the weeks during the year for which childcare assistance is available, which may differ depending on the purposes of the childcare or the principal caregiver's activity, employment, or study, or whether the assistance is granted for the school term or during school holidays, or in any other prescribed circumstances:

    • (e) provide for childcare assistance to be available to keep a child's place open in a childcare facility or programme during temporary absence:

    • (f) prescribe kinds of childcare facilities or programmes for which childcare assistance may be paid:

    • (g) authorise the chief executive to approve other kinds of childcare facilities or programmes for which childcare assistance may be paid and regulate—

      • (i) the period for which approval may be granted; and

      • (ii) the criteria for their approval:

    • (h) regulate the method of application for, and payment of, childcare assistance (which may include provision for payment to be made directly to a childcare facility or provider of a programme, and conditions relating to the payment of childcare assistance applicable to any such facility or provider):

    • (i) provide for the recovery of any overpayments of assistance from a childcare facility or the provider of a programme or from the person granted the assistance:

    • (j) define the kinds of income, benefits, credits, and receipts to be treated as income for the purposes of section 61GA, including any limits on the extent to which any income, credit, benefit, or receipt of that kind is to be treated as income for those purposes:

    • (k) prescribe transitional arrangements.

    (2) If regulations made under subsection (1) prescribe eligibility criteria or amounts of childcare assistance based on the income of the principal caregiver and his or her spouse or partner, the income limits so prescribed must be adjusted, by regulations made under subsection (1), by an amount equal to the percentage movement referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), as the case requires, if,—

    • (a) the total percentage increase in the movements in the quarterly all groups index number of the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from that applying on 4 October 2004 is 5% or more:

    • (b) the total percentage increase in the movements in the quarterly all groups index: number of the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from that applying on the date when the requirement to make the immediately preceding adjustment under this subsection arose is 5% or more.

    (3) For the purposes of any adjustment required under subsection (2), the amount of any increase must be rounded up to the nearest whole dollar amount, but any subsequent adjustment must be calculated on the amount of the increase without the rounding.

    (4) Any adjustment required by subsection (2) contained in regulations made under subsection (1) takes effect on the first day of April following the making of those regulations.

    Section 132AC was inserted, as from 4 June 2004, by section 18 Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 51). See sections 23 to 25 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1)(a)(i) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by adding the words or partner.

    Subsections (1)(c) and (2) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner after the word spouse.

132B Regulations providing for assessment of financial means of people requiring disability services
  • [Repealed]

    Section 132B was inserted, as from 30 June 1993, by section 33 Social Security Amendment Act (No 3) 1993 (1993 No 57).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partner.

    Subsection (2)(c) was amended, as from 12 October 2001, by section 77 New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001 (2001 No 84) by inserting after the expression Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990, the words or of the New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001

    Subsection (2)(c) was amended, as from 15 April 2003, by section 12(1) War Pensions Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 18) by inserting the words or Part 6 of the War Pensions Act 1954 after the words the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

    Subsection (2)(c) was amended, as from 21 April 2005, by section 9(1) New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 42) by substituting New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 for New Zealand Superannuation Act 2001.

    Subsection (2)(c) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Social Security Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 21) by inserting the words or partners after the word spouses.

    Section 132B was repealed, as from 1 July 2005, by section 13(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

132C Regulations relating to overseas pensions
  • (1) Without limiting the general power to make regulations conferred by section 132 of this Act, the Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:

    • (a) Providing for the determination by the chief executive of the amount of an overseas pension to be deducted from a benefit or benefits pursuant to section 70(1) of this Act:

    • (b) Providing that the currency exchange rate to be used by the chief executive for the purposes of the determination referred to in paragraph (a) of this section shall be one of the following:

      • (i) The average of the currency exchange rates (or, as the circumstances require, averages of different currency exchange rates) between the country paying the overseas pension and New Zealand during a period specified in the regulations; or

      • (ii) Any one of the currency exchange rates that occurs between the country paying the overseas pension and New Zealand within a period specified in the regulations; or

      • (iii) Either the average of the currency exchange rates (or, as the circumstances require, averages of different currency exchange rates) between the country paying the overseas pension and New Zealand during a period specified in the regulations or any one of the currency exchange rates that occurs between the country paying the overseas pension and New Zealand within a period specified in the regulations, whichever is the more favourable to the overseas pensioner:

    • (c) Prescribing the kinds of currency exchange rates that are to be used for the purposes of paragraph (b) of this section:

    • (d) Providing that the period referred to in paragraph (b) of this section may be a different period from the period to which the payment of the overseas pension relates and a different period from the period to which the payment of the benefit relates:

    • (e) Prescribing, for the purposes of the determination referred to in paragraph (a) of this section, the kinds of bank fees that may be taken into account and the manner in which they may be taken into account:

    • (f) Providing that a determination made under paragraph (a) of this section, and made in accordance with regulations made under paragraphs (b) to (e) of this section, shall be conclusive:

    • (g) Regulating the making, implementation, and variation of arrangements under section 70(3)(a), including (without limitation)—

      • (i) Prescribing the categories of overseas pensioners with whom the chief executive may make such arrangements:

      • (ii) Prescribing requirements that must be fulfilled before such arrangements can be entered into:

      • (iii) Prescribing conditions to be included in such arrangements:

      • (iv) Prescribing methods that may be specified in such arrangements for payment to the chief executive, and receipt by the chief executive, of an amount equivalent to the amount of the overseas pension that the overseas pensioner receives, including (without limitation) direct deduction from the overseas pensioner's bank account:

      • (v) Providing, in relation to any such arrangements that are in force when regulations under this section are made, that the regulations do not apply (in whole or in part) to those arrangements:

      • (vi) Providing for the chief executive to terminate an arrangement if the overseas pensioner fails to comply with any condition prescribed under subparagraph (iii).

    • (h) [Repealed]

    • (i) [Repealed]

    • (j) [Repealed]

    (2) Unless regulations made under paragraph (g) of subsection (1) provide otherwise, any regulations made under that paragraph apply to arrangements under section 70(3)(a) that are in force when the regulations are made and, in that case,—

    • (a) The regulations prevail over the arrangements to the extent that there is any inconsistency between the regulations and the arrangements; and

    • (b) The arrangements are taken to be modified to the extent necessary to give effect to the regulations.

    Section 132C was inserted, as from 2 September 1996, by section 5 Social Security Amendment Act (No 6) 1996 (1996 No 157).

    Subsection (1)(g) was substituted, and paras (h) to (j) were repealed, as from 28 March 1998, by section 3(1) Social Security (Overseas Pensions) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 10).

    Subsection (2) was inserted, as from 28 March 1998, by section 3(2) Social Security (Overseas Pensions) Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 10).

    As from 1 October 1998, references to Director-General were replaced by references to chief executive, pursuant to section 11 Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998 (1998 No 96).

132D Regulations exempting income and assets from assessment of financial means of people requiring certain disability services
  • Without limiting the general power to make regulations conferred by section 132, the Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, make regulations—

    • (a) Defining terms to be excluded as cash assets for the purpose of section 69FA; and

    • (b) Specifying that certain amounts of cash assets or income are not to be included within the financial means assessment of a person under that section.

    Section 132D was inserted, as from 17 September 1997, by section 27 Social Security Amendment Act (No 4) 1997 (1997 No 63).

132E Regulations relating to work capacity assessment
  • [Repealed]

    Section 132E was inserted, as from 1 September 1998, by section 17 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

    Section 132E was repealed, as from 8 March 2001, by section 4(2) Social Security Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 1).

132F Regulations providing for participation allowance
  • (1) Without limiting the general power to make regulations conferred by section 132, the Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, make regulations to provide for persons participating in activities under this Act to receive allowances of the nature and kind set out in the regulations.

    (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the regulations may—

    • (a) Provide for different allowances, and different rates of allowances, to be paid in respect of different activities and categories of person:

    • (b) Provide that no allowances are payable in respect of certain activities, or in respect of certain categories of person:

    • (c) Set conditions for the receipt of allowances:

    • (d) Set out the rates, or range of available rates, of allowances, and provide for maximum total allowances which may be granted to any person for any particular period:

    • (e) Provide that a total allowance may be made up of separate allowances granted for different reasons, or in respect of different activities or purposes, and provide for a method or methods of calculating total allowances.

    Section 132F was inserted, as from 1 October 1998, by section 55 Social Security Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 19).

132G Regulations providing for remittance or suspension of debt
  • (1) The Governor-General may, from time to time, by Order in Council, make regulations requiring or permitting—

    • (b) those amounts to be remitted.

    (2) Regulations under subsection (1) may require or permit the suspension of recovery of amounts, or the remission of amounts,—

    • (a) of a particular kind or from persons of a particular kind:

    • (b) of a particular value (which may differ between persons of a particular kind):

    • (c) in the case of suspension, for periods that may differ for amounts of a particular kind or value, or between persons of a particular kind.

    (3) Regulations may not be made under subsection (1) unless the Minister advises that he or she is satisfied that the regulations are likely to—

    • (a) prevent accumulation of debt by any category of beneficiary and assist those beneficiaries to reduce their levels of debt while on a benefit; or

    • (b) assist any category of beneficiary to move from dependence on a benefit to self-support through employment by ensuring that those beneficiaries do not face increasing benefit debt repayments when they enter the workforce; or

    • (c) provide a positive incentive for beneficiaries to enter employment or stay in employment; or

    • (d) achieve more than 1 of the objectives set out in paragraphs (a) to (c).

    (4) This section does not limit the power to make regulations conferred by section 132.

    Section 132G was inserted, as from 26 September 2002, by section 29 Social Security (Personal Development And Employment) Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 28).

132H Rules providing for determination of incomes of certain people by chief executive
  • (1) The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make rules—

    • (a) prescribing how the chief executive is to assess and determine for the purposes of this Act the income of any or all of the following:

      • (i) self-employed people:

      • (ii) people carrying on business in a partnership:

      • (iii) people trading as a small business:

      • (iv) directors of a company:

      • (v) people carrying on business or trade through a company of which they are—

        • (A) a director and a shareholder; or

        • (B) an employee and a shareholder; or

        • (C) a director, a shareholder, and an employee:

      • (vi) people otherwise engaged in business or trade; and

    • (b) prescribing the circumstances in which those rules apply.

    (2) Rules under subsection (1) may prescribe for the purposes of this Act any or all of the following:

    • (a) the kinds of deduction from income allowed under the Income Tax Act 2004 that are to be disregarded in determining income, and—

      • (i) the circumstances in which the deductions are to be disregarded; and

      • (ii) whether the deductions are to be disregarded wholly or in part only:

    • (b) how income is to be calculated where business accounts are presented in cash or accrual form:

    • (c) livestock valuation methods, and their treatment, in calculating income:

    • (d) the extent (if any) to which, and circumstances in which, any or all of the following are to be treated as a person's income:

      • (i) the person's drawings from a business or trade:

      • (ii) goods or services supplied to the person by a business or trade:

      • (iii) distributions to the person from a business or trade:

      • (iv) income from a business or trade by the person:

    • (e) how it is to be determined whether a person has used assets of a business or trade for no consideration or inadequate consideration:

    • (f) how a person's income is to be determined where he or she has used assets of a business or trade for no consideration or inadequate consideration:

    • (g) the extent (if any) to which depreciation or other provision for replacement of capital assets is to be—

      • (i) allowed as a deduction from income; or

      • (ii) disregarded in calculating income:

    • (h) the extent (if any) to which, and circumstances in which, either or both of the following are to be treated as income:

      • (i) distributions from a company:

      • (ii) retained profits of a company:

    • (i) the treatment of loss-attributing qualifying companies (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act 2007).

    (3) Subsection (2)(d) applies to businesses and trades however they are carried on.

    (4) Subsection (3) does not limit or affect the generality of subsection (1).

    (5) This section does not limit or affect the generality of section 132.

    Sections 132H and 132I were inserted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 15 Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

    Section 132H(2)(i): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

132I Rules relating to determination by chief executive of deprivation of property or income
  • (1) The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, for the purposes of section 74(1)(d) make rules—

    • (a) relating to the deprivation of property, income, or both; and

    • (b) prescribing the circumstances in which the rules apply.

    (2) This section does not limit or affect the generality of section 132.

    Sections 132H and 132I were inserted, as from 2 July 2007, by section 15 Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20). See section 20 of that Act for transitional arrangements for financially disadvantaged people.

132J Regulations stating pre-benefit activities
  • (1) The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations stating pre-benefit activities for the purposes of section 96A.

    (2) The Minister must not recommend the making of regulations under subsection (1) unless, in his or her opinion, each pre-benefit activity concerned is likely to—

    • (a) increase the awareness of the people undertaking it of opportunities for employment; or

    • (b) strengthen incentives for the people undertaking it to move into employment; or

    • (c) facilitate the movement of the people undertaking it into employment.

    (3) This section does not limit section 132.

    Section 132J: inserted, on 24 September 2007, by section 44 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 20).

133 Annual reports
  • (1) The Minister charged with the administration of any Part of this Act shall, as soon as practicable after the close of each financial year, cause to be prepared a report of the operations carried out under that Part during the financial year.

    (2) Every such report shall be laid before Parliament within 28 days after it has been received by the Minister concerned therewith if Parliament is then in session, and, if not, shall be laid before Parliament within 28 days after the commencement of the next ensuing session.

    Compare: 1938 No 7 s 141; 1957 No 93 s 5(3); 1963 No 47 s 39

134
  • [Repealed]

    Section 134 was repealed, as from 1 April 1972, by section 18(4) Department of Social Welfare Act 1971 (1971 No 60).

135 Repeals and savings
  • (1) The enactments specified in Schedule 13 to this Act are hereby repealed.

    (2) For all purposes whatsoever in respect of any social security contribution or social security charge which at the commencement of this Act has already been assessed or paid or is still assessable or payable in or for any year before the year commencing on the 1st day of April 1958, or deductible on or before or after that date from any salary or wages or other income for any period before that date, in accordance with any provision of the Social Security Act 1938 that was repealed before the commencement of this Act, that provision (whether a penal provision or not) and all regulations, orders, warrants, and other acts of authority originating under the Social Security Act 1938 shall, notwithstanding the repeal of that Act by this Act or of any provision thereof by any other enactment, be deemed to remain in full force and effect; and all proceedings under that Act, including proceedings for the recovery of any fine or penalty in respect of any offence committed, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, may be instituted or continued accordingly as if the Social Security Act 1938, or, as the case may be, the provision thereof, had not been repealed.

    (3) All proceedings in respect of offences committed or alleged to have been committed against any enactment hereby repealed or against any provision of the Social Security Act 1938 that was repealed before the commencement of this Act may be instituted or continued as if this Act had not been passed.

    (4) [Repealed]

    (5) Nothing in subsection (1) of section 55 or in section 66 or in Schedule 8 or Schedule 10 to this Act shall apply with respect to any sickness benefit that was in force on the 13th day of September 1961 (being the date of the passing of the Social Security Amendment Act 1961) and is in force at the date of the commencement of this Act, and any such benefit may be continued as if this Act and section 6 of the Social Security Amendment Act 1961 had not been passed.

    Subsection (4) was repealed, as from 1 October 1987, by section 3(1)(b) Social Security (Reciprocity with Australia) Act 1987 (1987 No 71).

Part 4
Long-term residential care in hospital or rest home

  • Part 4 (comprising sections 136 to 155) was inserted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 5 Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

136AA Purpose of this Part
  • The purpose of this Part is to—

    • (a) specify the circumstances in which certain older persons are required to pay for their own long-term residential care; and

    • (b) specify the circumstances in which a funder must contribute toward the cost of those persons' long-term residential care; and

    • (c) provide for those persons to apply for a means assessment to determine if, and how much, a funder must contribute toward the cost of their long-term residential care; and

    • (d) provide that those persons are not required to pay more than the maximum contribution (which amount is specified by Gazette notice) for their long-term residential care, if that care is provided by a provider who has a contract with a funder to provide long-term residential care to older persons.

    Sections 136AA and 136AB were inserted, as from 22 November 2006, by section 5 Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 67).

136AB Overview of this Part
  • (1) This Part sets out the regime for determining liability in respect of the cost of providing long-term residential care to an eligible person who—

    • (a) has been needs assessed as requiring long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home indefinitely; and

    (2) This Part provides—

    • (a) for the needs assessment of an eligible person to determine whether the person requires long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home indefinitely; and

    • (b) for the means assessment of an eligible person who has been needs assessed as requiring long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home indefinitely to determine the amount that the person is liable to pay for the cost of his or her care; and

    • (c) for a maximum contribution, which is the most that an eligible person who has been needs assessed as requiring long-term residential care indefinitely may be required to pay for the cost of his or her assessed care needs provided in a hospital or rest home that has a contract with a funder to provide long-term residential care to eligible persons; and

    • (d) for determination of the extent to which a funder is liable to pay the cost of the long-term residential care provided to an eligible person who has been needs assessed as requiring long-term residential care indefinitely.

    (3) This section is by way of explanation only. If a provision of this or any other Act is inconsistent with this section, the other provision prevails.

    Sections 136AA and 136AB were inserted, as from 22 November 2006, by section 5 Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 67).

136 Interpretation
  • In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    applicable asset threshold is the value of assets that is applied to determine whether a resident assessed as requiring care must use his or her assets to pay the cost of contracted care services provided to the person; and the applicable asset thresholds are set out in Part 1 of Schedule 27

    contracted care provider means a provider that—

    • (a) has a service agreement; or

    contracted care provider: this definition was inserted, as from 22 November 2006, by section 6(2) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 67).

    contracted care services means services that are—

    • (a) provided by a contracted care provider; and

    • (b) provided to an eligible person who has been needs assessed as requiring long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home indefinitely; and

    • (c) in relation to a particular person, the services necessary to meet the person's assessed long-term residential care needs

    contracted care services: this definition was substituted, as from 22 November 2006, by section 6(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 67).

    cost of contracted care services means, in relation to a resident assessed as requiring care, the amount that—

    • (a) is the cost of the contracted care services provided by a contracted care provider to meet the resident's assessed long-term residential care needs; and

    • (b) is specified in the service agreement or section 88 notice that applies to the contracted care provider as the price payable for those services, whether or not the services provided to the resident are wholly or partly funded under that agreement or notice

    cost of contracted care services: this definition was substituted, as from 22 November 2006, by section 6(1) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 67).

    date of means assessment has the meaning given in section 145

    DHB means a district health board established by or under section 19 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000

    elderly victim of crime means a resident assessed as requiring care who is assessed, in accordance with regulations made under section 155, as being an elderly victim of crime for the purposes of this Part

    eligible person means a person who—

    • (a) is either—

      • (i) aged 65 or over; or

      • (ii) aged between 50 and 64, and is single and has no dependent children; and

    exempt person means a resident assessed as requiring care who belongs to a class of exempt persons, as those classes are defined in regulations made under section 155

    funder means an entity responsible under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 for paying, in accordance with this Part, some or all of the cost of contracted care services provided to a resident assessed as requiring care

    maximum contribution, in relation to a resident assessed as requiring care who is residing in a particular region, means the weekly amount, inclusive of goods and services tax, that is set by notice in the Gazette under section 152 as the maximum contribution applying to that region, and is the maximum that any resident assessed as requiring care may be required to pay for contracted care services provided in that region

    needs assessment means an assessment, carried out under section 137, that assesses whether an eligible person requires long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home indefinitely

    personal allowance means an amount of benefit, specified in regulations made under section 155, that a person is not required to contribute to the cost of contracted care services provided to the person

    personal allowance: this definition was inserted, as from 22 November 2006, by section 6(2) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 67).

    provider means a person who provides long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home; and, in relation to a resident assessed as requiring care, means the person providing that care to the resident

    region means any geographical area defined by the Director-General of Health as being a region for the purpose of identifying maximum contributions (such as, for example, a District Health Board area, or a district of a territorial authority)

    resident assessed as requiring care means an eligible person who—

    • (a) has been needs assessed as requiring long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home indefinitely; and

    • (b) is receiving contracted care services from a provider irrespective of whether a funder has any liability to pay for any of the cost of his or her care.

    resident assessed as requiring care: paragraph (b) of this definition was amended, as from 22 November 2006, by section 6(3) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 67) by adding the words irrespective of whether a funder has any liability to pay for any of the cost of his or her care.

    section 88 notice means a notice given under section 88 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 in respect of the provision of long-term residential care to eligible persons

    section 88 notice: this definition was inserted, as from 22 November 2006, by section 6(2) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 67).

    service agreement means a service agreement entered into between a funder and provider under section 25 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 in respect of the provision of long-term residential care to eligible persons.

    service agreement: this definition was inserted, as from 22 November 2006, by section 6(2) Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 67).

    Part 4 (comprising sections 136 to 155) was inserted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 5 Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

Needs assessment

137 Needs assessment
  • (1) A DHB may conduct a needs assessment of an eligible person at any time.

    (2) An eligible person may apply at any time to a DHB for a needs assessment.

    (3) A needs assessment of an eligible person must ascertain whether the person requires long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home indefinitely.

    (4) A DHB that receives a request under subsection (2) must arrange for a needs assessment to be conducted as soon as practicable.

    (5) The date of a person's needs assessment is the date shown as such on the assessment.

    (6) A copy of the assessment must be provided to—

    • (a) the person to whom it applies; and

    • (b) the provider (if any) who is currently providing long-term residential care to the person.

    (7) For the purposes of a needs assessment (and, in particular, consent to a needs assessment), the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights (made under section 74 of the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994) applies as if—

    • (a) the needs assessment were a service; and

    • (b) the person assessed were a consumer of that service; and

    • (c) the DHB or its delegate were a provider of that service.

    Part 4 (comprising sections 136 to 155) was inserted, as from 1 July 2005, by section 5 Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 101). See sections 7 to 11 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

138 Effect of being assessed as requiring long-term residential care in hospital or rest home indefinitely
  • (1) An eligible person who has been needs assessed as requiring long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home indefinitely—

    • (a) receives contracted care services if he or she is receiving long-term residential care from a contracted care provider, irrespective of whether a funder has any liability to pay for any of the cost of his or her care; and

    • (b) is, or becomes, a resident assessed as requiring care as soon as he or she receives contracted care services and sections 139 to 142 therefore apply; and

    (2) When a person is notified of the results of a needs assessment, the DHB must advise the person to whom it relates—

    • (a) of the amount of the maximum contribution; and

    • (b) of the person's and the funder's respective liabilities under sections 139 to 142; and

    • (c) about how to apply for a means assessment.

    Part 4 (comprising sections 136 to 155) was inserted, as from 1 July 2005, by