What's new
30 December 2020
Legislation
The following welfare programme has been updated, effective from 30 December 2020:
This is also available in a hard-copy (PDF) format. See welfare programmes.
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24 December 2020
COVID-19 Emergency Benefit for temporary visa holders- Changes and reviews
The changes and reviews content has been added for COVID-19 Emergency Benefit for temporary visa holders. See:
Housing Support Products - Rent Arrears Assistance
The temporary expansion of Rent Arrears Assistance has been extended until 30 June 2021. This assistance is to help clients who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 to remain safely housed during this time.
Rent Arrears Assistance should be considered first for any clients with rent arrears. See:
The updates to the Housing Support Assistance Programme will be published on 30 December 2020.
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23 December 2020
Best Start tax credit, family tax credit and Child Disability Allowance
The definition of principal caregiver for Best Start, family tax credit and Child Disability Allowance has been updated to match the correct legislation references.
The Disabled Persons Community Welfare Act 1975 has been removed and Best Start and family tax credit pages now refer to the correct information in the Income Tax Act 2007.
A new definition for transitional resident used in the Income Tax Act 2007 has been added. See:
- Best Start tax credit Principal caregiver
- family tax credit Principal caregiver
- Child Disability Allowance Shared Care - principal caregiver
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18 December 2020
Working overseas and paying New Zealand tax on earnings
For some main benefit clients, periods working overseas can be considered resident and present in New Zealand, when they have been paying tax on their earnings to Inland Revenue New Zealand.
See:
- Jobseeker Support Working overseas and paying New Zealand tax on earnings
- Supported Living Payment Working overseas and paying New Zealand tax on earnings
- Sole Parent Support Working overseas and paying New Zealand tax on earnings
- Young Parent Payment Working overseas and paying New Zealand tax on earnings
- Youth Payment Working overseas and paying New Zealand tax on earnings
Advance Payment of Benefit and Recoverable Assistance Payment - School costs
Access to computing equipment (devices) is a key part of digital learning and is becoming normal in schools.
Assistance for computing equipment (devices) can be considered when a parent/caregiver has identified an immediate and essential need for the child to have their own device. See:
- Advance Payment of Benefit School costs
- Recoverable Assistance Payment School costs