Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Social Security Act 2018

Assistance - Hardship assistance

98: Interpretation

You could also call this:

“This part explains important words used in the rules about extra money help”

In this part of the law, you’ll find explanations for some important words and phrases. These definitions help you understand what certain terms mean when you read about temporary additional support.

‘Allowable costs’ are expenses that the government recognises. The exact details of what counts as allowable costs are written in other rules. However, it’s important to know that ‘standard costs’ are not included in allowable costs.

When the law talks about an ‘applicant’, it means someone who is asking for or already getting temporary additional support.

‘Cash assets’ refers to money or things that can be easily turned into money. The exact definition is explained in separate rules.

‘Chargeable income’ is the amount of money the government looks at when deciding about temporary additional support. The details of how this is calculated are in other rules.

‘Essential costs’ are the total of your allowable costs and standard costs added together.

‘Standard costs’ are basic living expenses that everyone is expected to have. The law explains this in more detail in another section.

A ‘tax credit’ is money you can get back from the government through the tax system. This can come from different parts of the tax law, including recent laws and older ones that aren’t used anymore but might still apply to some people.

Remember, these definitions are here to help you understand the rules about temporary additional support. If you’re not sure about anything, it’s a good idea to ask for help from someone who knows about these laws.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6783293.

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97: Temporary additional support: refusal, reduction, or cancellation of grant in certain circumstances, or

“You might get less or no extra money if you or your partner do certain things”

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Part 2 Assistance
Hardship assistance

98Interpretation

  1. In this subpart and in section 428,—

    allowable costs has the meaning prescribed in regulations made under section 428, but does not include standard costs

      applicant includes a recipient of temporary additional support

        cash assets has the meaning prescribed in regulations made under section 428

          chargeable income has the meaning prescribed in regulations made under section 428

            essential costs means the sum of a person’s allowable costs and standard costs

              standard costs has the same meaning as in section 428(2)(b)

                tax credit means a credit of tax, or an amount, received under—

                1. subparts MA to MG and MZ of the Income Tax Act 2007; or
                  1. subpart KD of the Income Tax Act 2004; or
                    1. subpart KD of the Income Tax Act 1994.

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