Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Social Security Act 2018

General provisions

3: Purpose of this Act

You could also call this:

“This law helps people in need by giving money and support”

This law is about helping people when they need it. It’s meant to give money and other support to people in different situations.

You might get help if you can’t work right now and need money to take care of yourself and your family. The law also tries to help people find jobs or keep the jobs they have.

If you’re sick, hurt, have a disability, or need to take care of someone, you might get help too. Sometimes, the law can give money to people who are having a really hard time.

Before you get help from this law, you might need to use your own money first if you can. The government will also look at other help you might be getting.

For young people, there are services to help you stay in school, training, or work instead of getting money from this law.

If you do get help from this law, you might have to do some things in return. This could mean looking for work, going to school, or learning how to manage your money. If you have kids, you might need to make sure they go to school and see a doctor when they need to.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6783121.

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2: Commencement, or

“When this law starts working and what it means”

Next

4: Principles, or

“Main ideas for helping people with jobs and money”

Part 1 General provisions

3Purpose of this Act

  1. The purpose of this Act is—

  2. to enable the provision of financial and other support as appropriate—
    1. to help people to support themselves and their dependants while not in paid employment; and
      1. to help people to find or retain paid employment; and
        1. to help people for whom work is not currently appropriate—because of sickness, injury, disability, or caring responsibilities—to support themselves and their dependants:
        2. to enable in certain circumstances the provision of financial support to people to help alleviate hardship:
          1. to ensure that the financial support referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) is provided to people taking into account—
            1. that, where appropriate, they should use the resources available to them before seeking financial support under this Act; and
              1. any financial support that they are eligible for or already receive, otherwise than under this Act, from publicly funded sources:
              2. to provide services to encourage and help young people to move to or remain in education, training, and employment, rather than receiving financial support under this Act:
                1. to impose, on the following specified people or young people, the following specified requirements or obligations:
                  1. on people seeking or receiving financial support under this Act, administrative and, where appropriate, work-related requirements; and
                    1. on young people who are seeking or receiving financial support under this Act, educational, budget management, and (where appropriate) parenting requirements; and
                      1. on people receiving certain financial support under this Act, obligations relating to the education and primary health care of their dependent children.

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