Disability Allowance obligations

You and your partner must tell us (or your Youth Service Provider if you have one assigned to you) immediately if you:

• have a change in work situation, e.g. starting part-time, casual or full-time work (paid or unpaid)
• have a change to your disability costs
• become self-employed or start a business
• have changes to your income or financial circumstances
• have a boarder or renter that moves in or out, or the payments you get from them change
• plan to travel overseas
• start or finish study - part-time or full-time
• have changes to your personal details, e.g:
  • name
  • address
  • bank account number
• have changes to their living situation, e.g:
  • marriage or separation
  • starting or ending a civil union
  • starting or ending a de facto relationship
  • change in the number of children you support
• have a change in accommodation costs
• are imprisoned or held in custody on remand
• are admitted to or discharged from hospital
• are granted an overseas pension
• have any other change that may affect your entitlement or rate.

If there's any reason why you or your partner can't meet your obligations, talk to us straight away.

If you or your partner don't tell us about changes in your life that might affect your payment entitlement, or rate, then:

• your payment may be reviewed and cancelled
• you may have to pay back the total amount of any overpayment that you've received
• we may impose a penalty (up to 3 times the value of the overpayment)
• you may be prosecuted and fined and/or imprisoned.

Going overseas

If you or your partner intend to travel overseas and don't let us know before you leave New Zealand, your payment will be stopped the day after you leave New Zealand.