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Social Security Act 2018

Obligations - Beneficiaries’ obligations - Specific obligations: work-test obligations

146: Work-test obligations as required by MSD

You could also call this:

“MSD can ask you to do things to help you find a job”

If you’re someone who needs to follow work-test obligations, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) might ask you to do certain things. These tasks are meant to help you get ready for work or find a job.

When MSD tells you to, you need to:

Make plans for getting a job.

Go to meetings with someone from MSD or someone working for them, and take part in those meetings.

Tell MSD or their representative how well you’re following your work-test obligations. You’ll need to do this as often as they ask and in the way they want you to.

Take part in activities that MSD thinks will help you get ready for work or find a job. These could be things like:

  • Having your work skills checked
  • Going to classes to learn new skills or to feel more motivated
  • Trying out different types of work or exploring job options
  • Getting training related to jobs
  • Doing other activities to help you get ready for work (but not medical treatment, volunteer work, or community activities)

Take and pass a drug test when asked.

Even if you’re in trouble for not following your work-test obligations before, you still need to do these activities if MSD asks you to.

If MSD wants you to do any of these activities, they need to help you arrange to do them.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6783387.

Topics:
Work and jobs > Worker rights
Government and voting > Government departments
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145: Meaning of suitable employment, or

“What MSD thinks is a good job for you”

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“You must take and pass a drug test when asked for work or training”

Part 3 Obligations
Beneficiaries’ obligations: Specific obligations: work-test obligations

146Work-test obligations as required by MSD

  1. A person to whom this section applies must, as required by MSD from time to time,—

  2. undertake planning for employment:
    1. attend and participate in an interview with an MSD employee or a person on behalf of MSD:
      1. report to MSD or a person on behalf of MSD on the person’s compliance with the work-test obligations set out in this section or sections 144 and 147, and must do so as often as, and in the manner that, MSD reasonably requires:
        1. participate in or undertake any of the following activities specified by MSD that MSD considers suitable for improving the person’s work-readiness or prospects for employment:
          1. a work assessment:
            1. a programme or seminar to increase particular skills or enhance motivation:
              1. a work-experience or work-exploration activity:
                1. employment-related training:
                  1. any other activity (including rehabilitation) other than medical treatment, recognised voluntary work, or activity in the community:
                  2. undertake and pass a drug test in accordance with sections 147 to 151.

                    1. Subsection (1)(d) applies whether or not a person is subject to a sanction for failing to comply with a work-test obligation.

                    2. If MSD requires a person to undertake an activity under subsection (1)(d), MSD must take reasonable steps to arrange for the person to undertake that activity.

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