30 MARCH
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
723

Social Policy

Social Security Act 1964

Disability Assistance Programme

Pursuant to section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, I, Steve Maharey, Minister of Social Services and Employment, establish and approve the following welfare programme for special assistance to take effect on and from 1 April 2000.

Dated this 27th day of March 2000.

STEVE MAHAREY, Minister of Social Services and Employment.

Programme

1 Title and commencement
2 Purpose
3 Definitions
4 Application of the Social Security Act
5 Eligibility for Payment

Analysis

6 Rate of Payment
7 Beginning and end of Payments
7.1 Beginning
7.2 End
8 General Provisions

1. Title—

1.1 This programme is called the Disability Assistance Programme.

2. Purpose—

2.1 The purpose of this programme is to:

(a) Provide non-recoverable financial assistance to certain persons who would otherwise lose entitlement to a Disability Allowance due to the increases in the rates of New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans’ Pensions on and from 1 April 2000;

(b) Ensure that the financial assistance set out in paragraph (a) is provided within the limits and for the reasons prescribed.

3. Definitions—

3.1 In this programme, unless the context otherwise requires:

“Act” means the Social Security Act 1964;

“Disability Allowance” means a disability allowance under section 69C of the Act;

“New Zealand Superannuation” means New Zealand superannuation under section 3 of the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990;

“Payment” means a disability assistance payment, being the special assistance under this programme;

“Veteran’ Pension” means a veteran’s pension under section 8 of the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990.

3.2 Expressions otherwise defined in section 3 (1) of the Act are to have the meanings so defined unless the context otherwise requires.

Note: Words, or phrases whose words begin with capital letters generally refer to either a definition in clause 3.1 or an expression defined in section 3 (1) of the Social Security Act 1964.

4. Application of the Social Security Act—

4.1 Sections 3, 12, 62, 63, 64, 66, 66A, 66B, 68, 68A, 69, 69H, 70, 71, 73, 74, 74A, 76, 77, 78, 80A, 81, 82 (except 82 (6)), 84, and 86I of the Act apply, with any necessary modifications, to this programme as if a Payment under this programme were a Benefit under the Act.

4.2 Nothing in clause 4.1 limits any other provision of the Act.

5. Eligibility for Payment—

5.1 The Chief Executive may grant a disability assistance payment to any person who:

(a) Was, immediately before 1 April 2000 in receipt of a Disability Allowance; and

(b) Is no longer eligible for a Disability Allowance by reason only that the person’s Income (including the Income of the person’s Spouse, if any) has been increased on and from 1 April 2000 by the increases to the rates of New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans’ Pensions made by the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2000 and the Social Security (Rates of New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pensions) Order 2000; and

(c) Continues otherwise in all respects to be eligible for a Disability Allowance.

6. Rate of Payment—

6.1 Rate equal to Disability Allowance rate

The amount of a Payment on a weekly basis is the amount per week of a Disability Allowance that the person would from time to time have received if the person had continued to be eligible for a Disability Allowance.

7. Beginning and end of payments—

7.1 Beginning

No Payment may be made earlier than the Pay Day following the date on which the person ceased to be eligible for a Disability Allowance on the grounds referred to clause 5.1 (b).