What's new

Mandatory Reviews

The following Mandatory Review changes are effective from 1 July 2026.

When a client responds to their Mandatory Review and confirms they have no change in circumstances, there are some exceptions when MSD can request further information from the client before deciding whether to continue the benefit. Exceptions include when, at the time the client responds to their Mandatory Review, they:

• have been getting Disability Allowance and have had no change in their disability related costs for three consecutive years or
• have been getting Accommodation Supplement and have had no change in their accommodation costs for three consecutive years or
• have had no change to their confirmed income amount for three consecutive years or
• are a non-beneficiary and have confirmed no income

For more information see:

• Supported Living Payment Exceptions when a client declares no change in circumstances for Mandatory Review
• Emergency Benefit Exceptions when a client declares no change in circumstances for Mandatory Review
• Emergency Maintenance Allowance Exceptions when a client declares no change in circumstances for Mandatory Review
• Accommodation Supplement Exceptions when a client declares no change in circumstances for Mandatory Review
• Disability Allowance Exceptions when a client declares no change in circumstances for Mandatory Review
• New Zealand Superannuation Exceptions when a client declares no change in circumstances for Mandatory Review

Information has been added about when a Mandatory Review is required in specific circumstances such as when a client or child has died, or payment continues for 28 days after a child has left a sole parent's care suddenly, a Supported Living Payment client is no longer entitled or there are changes to a person being cared for.

Clients getting Disability Allowance and Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment will not have a Mandatory Review.

Information about review of decisions for Mandatory Reviews has been moved to core policy. See:

• Review of decision for Mandatory Reviews

For more information about the changes see:

• Mandatory Review for Supported Living Payment
• Mandatory Review for Emergency Benefit
• Mandatory Review for Emergency Maintenance Allowance
• Mandatory Review for Accommodation Supplement
• Mandatory Review for Disability Allowance
• Mandatory Review for New Zealand Superannuation with a grandparented non-qualified partner included

Caregivers getting Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit will have a Mandatory Review at least once in a 52-week period. For more information see:

• Mandatory Review for Orphan's Benefit and Unsupported Child's Benefit
• Clothing Allowance Changes and reviews

Orphan's Benefit and Unsupported Child's Benefit - Absence from New Zealand

Information has been added about a caregiver's obligation to advise departure from New Zealand and what MSD needs to do when a caregiver returns to New Zealand. See:

• Obligation to advise of departure from New Zealand
• Action on return to New Zealand

Residence

The residence requirements have been updated to remove out-of-date or repetitive information for the following:

• Child Disability Allowance
• Orphan's Benefit and Unsupported Child's Benefit

These now retain only the residence rules that are particular or exceptional for that assistance.

For standard residence criteria that apply to most types of assistance see:

• Core policy Residence

Residential Care Subsidy

Map has been updated to reflect the 1 July 2026 increases to the Residential Care Subsidy allowable gifting amounts, asset thresholds, income from assets exemption, and the Territorial Local Authority maximum contribution rates. See:

• Residential Care Subsidy Gifting
• Residential Care Subsidy Asset thresholds
• Residential Care Subsidy Income from assets exemption
• Deskfile Allowable gifting amounts
• Deskfile Asset thresholds
• Deskfile Income from assets exemption
• Deskfile Territorial Local Authority maximum contribution rates

Legislation

The following ministerial direction has been updated, effective from 1 July 2026:

• Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance

This is also available in a hard-copy (PDF) format. See ministerial directions.

The following welfare programme has been updated, effective from 1 July 2026:

• Flexible Funding Programme

This is also available in a hard-copy (PDF) format. See welfare programmes.

Backdated ACC payments

Map has been updated to clarify that when a backdated ACC payment reduces a client's specified benefit to zero, MSD must treat the client as a non-beneficiary and review their entitlement to specified supplementary assistance.

Additional updates have been made to improve existing guidance in relation to treatment of ACC payments.

See:

• ACC weekly compensation
• Backdated ACC weekly compensation payments
• Clients waiting for compensation
• Quick reference guide for the treatment of ACC payments
• specified benefit
• specified supplementary assistance

Calculation of weekly income

The Social Security Act 2018 was amended on 11 March 2026 to clarify how MSD charges weekly income. Map has been updated to improve existing guidance in relation to charging weekly income.

Weekly income must be charged for the period it represents, and is limited to:

• the period it was earned or
• the period entitlement to it arose or is in respect of

If income does not represent a specific period or if MSD cannot determine the period it represents, MSD must determine the appropriate period to charge the income. This is either the week it is received, provided or supplied.

Specific provisions apply to holiday pay.

Updated guidance includes:

• Holiday pay
• Gifts
• Sick leave, family violence leave and long service leave
• Period over which to charge income
• Income change
• Charging income
• Change in income
• Estimated income
• Effect of income on Extra help

These changes do not apply to information share Child Support income.