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Social Security Act 2018

Enforcement: sanctions and offences - Sanctions for breach of obligations other than young person or young parent obligations - Types of sanction

232: Sanctions for failure to comply with certain obligations under this Act

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"What happens if you don't meet your obligations under the Social Security Act"

Illustration for Social Security Act 2018

If you do not comply with certain obligations under the Social Security Act 2018, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) must impose a sanction. You can find these obligations in section 233. The sanction will be one of the following: a reduction of your main benefit, a non-financial sanction, suspension of your main benefit, or cancellation of your main benefit. The type of sanction imposed will be in accordance with section 234. MSD will decide which sanction to impose based on the circumstances. The non-financial sanction will be in accordance with sections 236, 236A, 236B, 236E, and 236H. MSD cannot impose a non-financial sanction on a young person if section 276(2)‎(a) or (b) or 278(2)‎(a) or (b) applies to you. This section is subject to sections 243AAA, 243, and 245 to 248. These sections may affect how the sanction is imposed or what type of sanction you receive.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6783617.

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Part 5Enforcement: sanctions and offences
Sanctions for breach of obligations other than young person or young parent obligations: Types of sanction

232Sanctions for failure to comply with certain obligations under this Act

  1. MSD must under this section impose a sanction if MSD considers that a person has failed without good and sufficient reason to comply with 1 or more obligations under this Act that are specified in section 233.

  2. The sanction is 1 of the following (in accordance with section 234):

  3. reduction of the rate of a main benefit or imposition of a non-financial sanction in accordance with sections 236, 236A, 236B, 236E, and 236H:
    1. suspension of a main benefit:
      1. cancellation of a main benefit.

        1. MSD must not impose under this section a non-financial sanction on a young person to whom section 276(2)(a) or (b) or 278(2)(a) or (b) applies.

        2. This section is subject to sections 243AAA, 243, and 245 to 248.

        Compare
        Notes
        • Section 232(2)(a): replaced, on , by section 13(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 25).
        • Section 232(2)(a): amended, on , by section 13(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 25).
        • Section 232(3): inserted, on , by section 13(3) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 25).
        • Section 232(4): inserted, on , by section 13(3) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 25).