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loginTraffic light system in other languages and alternate formats
We have information about the traffic light system in other languages, Easy Read, large print, NZSL, audio and braille.
Read it in your language
Read it in Easy Read
Read it in large print
Watch it in New Zealand Sign Language
View transcript of 'Traffic light system in New Zealand Sign Language' video
When you're on a benefit, there are things you or your partner need to do (your obligations). We have a traffic light colour system to help you stay on track with some of your obligations.
Most people who get Supported Living Payment are not in the traffic light system.
The traffic light system lets you know where you're at and what you need to do.
If you're at green, you're on track and meeting your obligations.
You'll move to orange if you don't meet your obligations and you don't have a good reason. This means you need to contact us straight away. If you don't contact us and get back on track within 5 working days, you'll move to red.
Once you're at red, your benefit will reduce or stop. This means you need to contact us immediately to get back on track.
If there's any reason why you can't meet your obligations, talk with us straight away. If you haven't been in touch, we'll try and contact you before you move to orange, to find out why you haven't met your obligations.
We'll send you a letter to let you know if you're at orange or red. From early October, you'll also see in MyMSD if you're at orange or red.
You'll be in the traffic light system if you have work-related and/or social obligations. These are:
- find or prepare for work
- take part in Work Ability Assessments, to help us understand what kind of work you can do
- take part in activities with our service providers, to find a job or prepare for work
- social obligations (when taking care of dependent children).
You or your partner will have work-related and/or social obligations if you get one of these benefits:
- Jobseeker Support, or
- Sole Parent Support
You or your partner may have work-related and/or social obligations if you get either:
- Emergency Benefit, or
- Emergency Maintenance Allowance.
You will have other obligations as well. To find out what happens if you or your partner don't meet your other obligations, see 'When you don't meet your obligations'.
Most people who get Supported Living Payment are not in the traffic light system. This is because you do not have an obligation to find work.
You will only be in the traffic light system if:
- you're taking care of dependent children, because this means you have social obligations (to make sure children get health checks and education)
- it has been assessed you can prepare for work and we have discussed this with you (very few people have this), or
- we've asked you to take part in a Work Ability Assessment or to work with a contracted service provider (very few people are asked to do this).
If you have a partner, their obligations are likely to be different. This means they could be included in the traffic light system, even if you're not.
Listen in an audio file
View transcript of 'Audio file of the traffic light system' audio
00:00:00
Traffic light system.
00:00:02
Adapted in 2024 by accessible format service Blind Low Vision New Zealand, Auckland
00:00:08
There are two logos at the top of the page, Ministry of Social Development Te Manatu Whakahiato Ora, below that Work and Income Te Hiranga Tangata.
00:00:20
Traffic light system
00:00:22
About the traffic light system.
00:00:24
The traffic lights are an easy, helpful way for you to know if you're on track with meeting your obligations. If you get off track, we'll explain your responsibilities and support you to get back on track. This helps to set clear expectations up front and empowers you to meet your obligations.
00:00:41
The traffic light system is in place now.
00:00:43
Who the traffic light system is for
00:00:46
Benefits with work related and or social obligations
00:00:49
You'll be in the traffic light system if you have work-related and or social obligations. These are
00:00:57
One, find or prepare for work
00:01:00
Two, take part in work ability assessments to help us understand what kind of work you can do
00:01:06
Three, take part in activities with our service providers to find a job or prepare for work
00:01:12
And four, social obligations, when taking care of dependent children.
00:01:16
You or your partner will have work-related and or social obligations if you get one of these benefits
00:01:25
One, Jobseeker Support or
00:01:27
Two, Sole Parent Support.
00:01:30
You or your partner may have work-related and or social obligations if you get either
00:01:36
One, Emergency Benefit or
00:01:39
Two, Emergency Maintenance Allowance.
00:01:42
You will have (click on the link) your obligations while getting payments from us as well. To find out what happens if you or your partner don't meet your other obligations, click on the link (When you don't meet your obligations, hyphen, work and income)
00:01:59
Supported Living Payment.
00:02:02
Most people who get Supported Living Payment are not in the traffic light system. This is because you do not have an obligation to find work.
00:02:10
You will only be in the traffic light system if
00:02:13
One, you're taking care of dependent children, because this means you have social obligations to make sure children get health checks and education
00:02:22
Two, it has been assessed you can prepare for work and we have discussed this with you, very few people have this
00:02:29
Or three, we've asked you to take part in a work ability assessment or to work with a contracted service provider, very few people are asked to do this.
00:02:40
If you have a partner, their obligations are likely to be different. This means they could be included in the traffic light system even if you're not.
00:02:47
(Click on the link) Supported Living Payment obligations, work and income, or (click on the link) Supported Living Payment obligations for partners, work and income
00:03:00
How it works
00:03:01
Depending on your situation there are different things you or your partner need to do, your obligations.
00:03:07
If you are in the traffic light colour system, then it will help you stay on track with some of your obligations.
00:03:14
Most people who get Supported Living Payment are not in the traffic light system.
00:03:19
The traffic light system lets you know where you're at and what you need to do.
00:03:23
One, green
00:03:24
If you're at green, you're on track and meeting your obligations.
00:03:29
Two, orange
00:03:30
You'll move to orange if you don't meet your obligations and you don't have a good reason. This means you need to (click on the link) contact us straight away. If you don't contact us and get back on track within 5 working days, you'll move to red.
00:03:46
And three, red
00:03:47
Once you're at red, your benefit will reduce or stop. This means you need to (click on the link) contact us immediately to get back on track.
00:03:56
If there's any reason why you can't meet your obligations, talk with us straight away. If you haven't been in touch, we'll try and contact you before you move to orange to find out why you haven't met your obligations.
00:04:08
We'll send a letter to let you know if you're at orange or red. From early October, you'll also see in MyMSD if you're at orange or red.
00:04:17
Contact us
00:04:19
One, you can contact our general enquiries team from Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM on 0800 559 009.
00:04:31
If you're deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, have a speech impairment or find it hard to talk, you can use the New Zealand relay service (click on the link) www.nzrelay.co.nz
00:04:42
And two, if you're deaf, hard of hearing or find it hard to communicate by phone, you can contact us on text 0292867170 or e-mail (click on the link) MSD_Deaf_Services@msd.govt.nz