Obligations for partners included in NZ Super and Veteran's Pension
There are things your partner needs to do when they're included in your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension. If they don't do them, your payment could reduce or stop.
What your partner needs to do
These obligations are only for partners who are included in your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payments.
Before 9 November 2020, you could include your partner in your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payments. You could do this if you qualified for NZ Super or Veteran's Pension but your partner didn't (e.g. they were under 65).
Tell us if something changes
Tell us if something changes
Your partner must tell us if they:
- have changes to personal details, e.g. their:
- have changes to their living situation, e.g:
- marriage or separation
- enter or end a civil union
- start or end a de facto relationship
- start or stop living alone
- become self-employed or start a business
- have other changes to their income or financial circumstances
- have a change in work situation, e.g. starting paid part-time, casual or full-time work
- plan to live overseas
- plan to travel overseas for longer than 26 weeks
- are admitted to or discharged from hospital
- are granted an overseas benefit or pension
- are imprisoned or held in custody on remand
- have any other change that may affect your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension entitlement or rate.
Note: some of these changes may mean you can no longer get the non-qualified partner payment. In these cases, you can't restart the non-qualified partner payment in the future.
If they don't meet their obligations
If your partner doesn't tell us about changes in their life that might affect your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension entitlement, then:
- your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension may be reviewed and stopped
- 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.