13 MAY 2004

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 52

(b) the family credit income of the applicant is not more
than the appropriate amount set out in Regulation
8 (6) of those Regulations.

(2) In calculating the family credit income of an applicant,
the chief executive must regard that income to be increased
by $1 a week for each $100 of the cash assets of the
applicant and his or her spouse exceeding:

(a) $5,400 in the case of an applicant who is married or
a sole parent; or

(b) $2,700 in the case of a single person.

(3) Where an applicant’s spouse is receiving care in a
hospital care institution or a rest home or a residential
disability care institution (within the meaning of the Health
and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001):

(a) only 50% of the cash assets of the applicant and the
applicant’s spouse must be counted as their cash
assets; and

(b) only 50% of the net income of the applicant and the
applicant’s spouse must be taken into account in
calculating the applicant’s family credit income.

8. Home help assistance: Grant—(1) Subject to the
   provisions of the Act referred to in clause 5:

(a) the chief executive must grant home help assistance
to an applicant who is eligible for it under clause
6 (1) (a) or (b);

(b) the chief executive may, in his or her discretion,
grant home help assistance to an applicant who is
eligible for it under clause 6 (1) (c) or (d) having
regard to the matters in subclause (2).

(2) The matters referred to in subclause (1) (b) are:

(a) whether an able relative (not being a primary or
secondary school student) lives in the applicant’s
home;

(b) whether the applicant is living with an able relative;

(c) in a case where home help assistance is sought for
a domestic emergency:

(i) whether the applicant can obtain home help
from his or her relatives, church or a voluntary
organisation;

(ii) whether the home help is for childcare (and for
which childcare assistance under the Childcare
Assistance Programme may be available);

(iii) whether a friend or relative of the applicant can
care for the applicant’s dependent children or
other dependents;

(iv) whether the applicant has a spouse and whether
the spouse can take leave from his or her
employment to care for the applicant’s
dependent children or other dependents;

(d) in a case where home help assistance is sought for
domestic support:

(i) whether home help is available from a
community organisation providing services
under the Children, Young Persons, and Their
Families Act 1989;

(ii) whether any previous applications for home
help for domestic support have been granted to
the applicant or the applicant’s spouse.

9. Amount and period of assistance—(1) The amount of
   an assistance payment must be fixed by the chief executive
   in each case, having regard to the experience of the home
   helper, but must not exceed the appropriate amount set out
   in the Schedule.

(2) The period or periods for which assistance may be
granted must not exceed the appropriate period or periods
set out in the Schedule.

10. Payment—The chief executive may make payment of
    home help assistance:

(a) if the home helper is a self-employed person, to the
home helper on behalf of the applicant;

(b) if the home helper is employed by the applicant, to
the applicant;

(c) if the home helper is employed by an agency, to the
agency on behalf of the applicant.

11. Revocation—The authority given on 24 September 1982
    under section 124 (1) (d) of the Act by the then Minister of
    Social Security to make special assistance payments under
    the Department’s Home Help Scheme is revoked.

Schedule

Clause 9

Part 1

Maximum rate and payment for travel

1. The maximum hourly rate including holiday pay that
   may be paid for a home helper is $10.14.

2. Travel costs from the home helper’s home (or other
   home help assignment) to the applicant’s home may be
   paid not exceeding the greater of:

(a) up to 40 cents per kilometre for a maximum of
12 kilometres (or any greater distance agreed in
advance by the chief executive);

(b) actual public transport costs.

3. Where the applicant engages the home helper from an
   agency, the rates payable under this Part may be
   increased by the amount of Goods and Services Tax
   payable.

Part 2

Maximum periods of home help

Multiple births (clause 6 (1) (a) and (b))

Twins

Up to 240 hours within a maximum
period of 12 months after the children
were born in, or first entered, the
applicant’s home.

Triplets, quadruplets,
quintuplets, etc.

Up to 1,560 hours within a maximum
period of 24 months after the children
were born in, or first entered, the
applicant’s home.

Domestic emergency (clause 6 (1) (c))

Up to 45 hours a week for a period of up to three months,
but for not more than three such periods.

Domestic support (clause 6 (1) (d))

Up to 15 hours a week for a period of up to three months,
but for not more than three such periods within a two year
period.

Explanatory note

This note is not part of the programme, but is intended
to indicate its general effect.

This Ministerial welfare programme, which comes into
effect on 10 May 2004, provides for the granting of home
help assistance. It replaces the Ministry of Social
Development’s home help scheme, and makes some changes
to the eligibility criteria for home help.