NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

No. 8

Part 2

Universal Entrance Criteria

6. Residence

The applicant must be ordinarily resident in New Zealand.

Definitions: ordinarily resident, Social Security Act 1964, s. 3

7. Income Limits

7.1 An applicant is not entitled to a grant if his or her income is such that it would prevent the payment of an invalid’s benefit under the Act.

7.2 In clause 7.1, an applicant’s income includes the income of—

(a) his or her spouse (if any); or

(b) if the applicant is a dependent child, his or her parent.

Definitions: dependent child, income, spouse, Social Security Act 1964, s. 3

8. Cash Asset Limits

8.1 An applicant is not entitled to a grant if his or her cash assets exceed the appropriate limit in clause 8.3.

8.2 An applicant’s cash assets include the cash assets of—

(a) his or her spouse (if any); or

(b) if the applicant is a dependent child, his or her parent.

8.3 The cash assets limits referred to in clause 8.1 are—

(a) in the case of a single person, a value equivalent to four times the maximum weekly invalid’s benefit rate for a single person under the Act; and

(b) in the case of a married couple or a sole parent, a value equivalent to four times the maximum weekly invalid’s benefit rate for a married couple.

8.4 An applicant is not entitled to a grant for food or transition to work expenses unless the applicant and his or her spouse (if any) has no cash assets.

Definitions: dependent child, sole parent, spouse, Social Security Act 1964, s. 3

9. Restriction on Payments

9.1 Only one grant may be paid to an applicant or any other person for the same item or for the same or a similar purpose within a 52 week period, except where otherwise stated in this programme or if the chief executive considers exceptional circumstances exist.

9.2 An applicant is not entitled to a grant if another member of the applicant’s immediate family has received a grant of the same type within a 52 week period unless the clause under which the application is made (or its context) otherwise provides.

9.3 If more than one grant may be made under clause 9.1, the maximum amount of each grant is to be $200 unless otherwise stated.

9.4 A grant must not exceed $200 (or any lesser amount stated in the clause under which the grant is made) except where otherwise stated in this programme or if the chief executive considers exceptional circumstances exist.

9.5 A recoverable grant must not be made—

(a) to a beneficiary in receipt of a widow’s benefit, a domestic purposes benefit, an invalid’s benefit, a community wage, an independent youth benefit, an emergency benefit, New Zealand superannuation, a veteran’s pension, or a transitional retirement benefit, or to the spouse or dependent child of any such beneficiary; or

(b) for a child for whom an orphan’s benefit or an unsupported child’s benefit is payable.

9.6 Despite clause 9.5, a recoverable grant may be made to a beneficiary if that person qualifies for it under clause 17.

Definitions: beneficiary, benefit, chief executive, disability services, health or disability insurance payment, New Zealand superannuation, transitional retirement benefit, veteran’s pension, Social Security Act 1964, s. 3

9.7 A grant under clause 11.4 or clauses 13.2 to 13.4 or clause 14 for medical, health, and disability related costs is to be made only in respect of that part of the fees or charges the applicant is required to pay, after the deduction of—

(a) any subsidy to which the applicant may be entitled, including subsidies—

(i) available to a holder of a Community Services Card;

(ii) made available under the Health and Disability Services Act 1993;

(iii) provided by a Health Agency; and

(b) any health or disability insurance payment to which the applicant is entitled; and

(c) any disability allowance paid under section 69C of the Act.

9.8 A grant must not be made for medical, health, and disability related costs if a Health Agency provides, without cost to the applicant, goods or services which meet the need.

9.9 If an applicant receives any health or disability services arising out of personal injury by accident, a grant must not be made for that part of any fees or charges for the services that is not paid by the Accident Rehabilitation Compensation and Insurance Corporation or an insurer within the meaning of the Accident Insurance Act 1998, except—

(a) where otherwise provided in this programme; or

(b) if the applicant satisfies the chief executive that he or she has no cover in respect of that injury under the Accident Rehabilitation Compensation and Insurance Act 1992 or the Accident Insurance Act 1998.

9.10 A grant under clause 11.3 may be made only to a person who—

(a) is a beneficiary; or

(b) would continue to be a beneficiary but for the cancellation or suspension of benefit upon the person taking up the position referred to in that clause.

9.11 An applicant is not entitled to a grant if the benefit being paid to him or her is suspended or reduced under any of sections 115, 116, 117, or 118 of the Act.

Definitions: beneficiary, benefit, chief executive, disability services, health or disability insurance payment, New Zealand superannuation, transitional retirement benefit, veteran’s pension, Social Security Act 1964, s. 3

Part 3

Essential Needs

10. Need to be both Immediate and Essential

Grants made under this Part may be made only for a need which is immediate and essential.

Non-Recoverable Grants

11. Non-Recoverable Grants For Essential Needs

11.1 Grants made under clause 11 are non-recoverable, unless otherwise stated.

11.2 Food

11.2.1 The chief executive may make a grant to purchase food for a person and his or her immediate family if—

(a) the person or the immediate family has an immediate need to purchase food; and

(b) the person and his or her spouse has no resources to meet the need; and

(c) the person and his or her spouse would otherwise have to rely upon a food bank to meet the need; and

(d) the need, or the lack of resources to meet it, was unforeseen.

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