Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Social Security Act 2018

Assistance - Supported living payment - Supported living payment on ground of caring for another person

40: Supported living payment: on ground of caring for another person: requirements

You could also call this:

“Rules for getting money to care for someone at home full-time”

You can get a supported living payment if you need to care for someone full-time at home. Here’s what you need to know:

You must be caring for someone who would otherwise need to be in a care facility. This person can’t be your husband, wife, or partner. The government office called MSD needs to agree that you’re needed to give this care.

You need to live in New Zealand to get this payment. You also need to be old enough. If you don’t have any children of your own to look after, you must be at least 18 years old. If you do have children, you need to be at least 20 years old.

Sometimes, you might not be able to care for the person for a short time. MSD can keep paying you for up to 28 days even if you’re not caring for them during this time.

The care you’re giving needs to be similar to what the person would get in a hospital, rest home, or place that cares for people with disabilities. It can also be like the care given to children or young people who have severe disabilities.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

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=DLM6783188.

Topics:
Health and wellbeing > Healthcare services
Family and relationships > Children and parenting
Money and consumer rights > Banking and loans
Previous

39: Supported living payment: on ground of restricted work capacity: encouraging open employment, or

“Helping people with health problems try working while keeping their support payment”

Next

41: Supported living payment: on ground of caring for another person: application must include certificate, or

“You need a doctor's note to get money for caring for someone full-time”

Part 2 Assistance
Supported living payment: Supported living payment on ground of caring for another person

40Supported living payment: on ground of caring for another person: requirements

  1. A person (C) is entitled to the supported living payment if—

  2. MSD is satisfied that C is required to give full-time care and attention at home to a person (P) who would otherwise have to receive institutional care (and who is not C’s spouse or partner); and
    1. C meets the residential requirement; and
      1. C is aged—
        1. at least 18 years, in the case of an applicant without a dependent child; or
          1. at least 20 years, in any other case.

          2. MSD may continue a payment granted under this section for a period of not more than 28 days even though P was not during that period in the full-time care of C.

          3. In this subpart, institutional care means care that is, or is equivalent to,—

          4. hospital care, rest home care, or residential disability care, as defined in section 4(1) of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001; or
            1. care of the kind referred to in section 141 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 (which relates to care of severely disabled children and young persons).

              Compare