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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Social Security Act 2018

Assistance - Sole parent support

33: Expiry of sole parent support, and replacement with jobseeker support, when youngest dependent child turns 14 years old

You could also call this:

“Your support changes from sole parent to jobseeker when your youngest child turns 14”

When you receive sole parent support and your youngest child turns 14, your support changes. The government will stop your sole parent support and start giving you jobseeker support instead. This happens automatically on your child’s 14th birthday.

If the government thinks you might not qualify for jobseeker support, they won’t change it automatically. Instead, they will ask you to apply for jobseeker support.

Any rules or exemptions you had with your sole parent support will still apply to your new jobseeker support. This includes things like working with service providers, getting ready for work, and following social rules if you have children.

The government can still check if you qualify for jobseeker support after it starts. They can review your situation to make sure you meet all the requirements.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6783171.

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Part 2 Assistance
Sole parent support

33Expiry of sole parent support, and replacement with jobseeker support, when youngest dependent child turns 14 years old

  1. This section applies to a person (P) who is receiving sole parent support.

  2. On the date that the youngest dependent child in P’s care turns 14, P’s sole parent support expires and is replaced with jobseeker support that commences on that date and is taken to be granted to P as if P had applied for it.

  3. However, if MSD reasonably believes that on that date P would not meet the conditions of entitlement to jobseeker support,—

  4. P’s sole parent support expires but is not replaced under subsection (2) by jobseeker support; and
    1. MSD must instead invite P to apply for jobseeker support.

      1. Obligations or exemptions that apply to P immediately before the expiry of P’s sole parent support continue after that expiry in respect of the jobseeker support to which P is transferred under subsection (2) if those obligations or exemptions are any of the following:

      2. the obligation to work with contracted service providers:
        1. work-preparation obligations:
          1. social obligations of certain assistance recipients with dependent children:
            1. the obligation to undergo a work ability assessment:
              1. work-test obligations:
                1. an exemption from work-test obligations or from obligations to prepare for employment (other than any exemption that, under regulations made under section 431, is not available to a person receiving jobseeker support).

                  1. This section does not preclude a review under subpart 3 of Part 6 (review of entitlement to, or rate of, benefit granted) of whether P satisfies the conditions of entitlement to jobseeker support.

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