Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Social Security Act 2018

Assistance - Sole parent support

30: What is sole parent requirement

You could also call this:

“The sole parent requirement is for single parents caring for young children”

You meet the sole parent requirement if you are a mother or father taking care of at least one child under 14 years old, and you are in one of these situations:

You are single.

Your husband, wife, or partner has died.

Your marriage or civil union has ended.

You are living apart from your husband, wife, or partner, and they are not supporting you enough or at all.

Your husband, wife, or partner can’t support you regularly because they are in prison or have to follow rules after prison that stop them from working.

Your husband, wife, or partner can’t support you regularly because they are being supervised by the law in a way that stops them from working. This could be at home or somewhere else.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6783167.

Topics:
Family and relationships > Children and parenting
Money and consumer rights > Banking and loans
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29: Sole parent support: requirements, or

“Rules for getting help as a single parent”

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31: When dependent child may be regarded as applicant’s child, or

“When the government might treat you as a child's parent for help purposes”

Part 2 Assistance
Sole parent support

30What is sole parent requirement

  1. A person (P) meets the sole parent requirement if P is the mother or father of, and caring for, at least 1 dependent child aged under 14 years and—

  2. P is single; or
    1. P’s spouse or partner has died; or
      1. P’s marriage or civil union has been dissolved; or
        1. P is living apart from, and has lost the support of or is being inadequately maintained by, P’s spouse or partner; or
          1. P has lost the regular support of P’s spouse or partner because that spouse or partner—
            1. is subject to a sentence of imprisonment and is serving the sentence in a prison or is subject to release conditions that prevent that spouse or partner from undertaking employment; or
              1. is subject to a sentence of supervision, intensive supervision, or home detention and is subject to conditions (including post-detention conditions of a sentence of home detention) that prevent that spouse or partner from undertaking employment.

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              Notes
              • Section 30(1) and (2): replaced, on , by section 4 of the Social Security (Subsequent Child Policy Removal) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 38).