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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 - Hierarchy of sanctions

234: Hierarchy of sanctions

You could also call this:

"What happens if you don't meet benefit rules: a step-by-step guide to penalties"

If you fail to meet certain requirements, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) must impose a sanction on you under section 232(1). The type of sanction you get depends on how many times you have failed. For a first failure, MSD can reduce your main benefit rate or impose a non-financial sanction, as set out in sections 236, 236A, and 236B. For a second failure, MSD can suspend your main benefit. For a third failure, MSD can cancel your main benefit.

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233A: Cancellation of main benefit for continuing failure to comply, or

"Your main benefit can be stopped if you don't do what you're supposed to do and you've already been warned."

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235: Failure, and first, second, and third failure, defined for obligations other than young person or young parent obligations, or

"What happens when you don't meet your responsibilities, and how failures are counted"

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

234Hierarchy of sanctions

  1. The sanction that MSD must impose under section 232(1) (subject to section 232(3) and (4)) is,—

  2. for a first failure, reduction of the rate of a main benefit or imposition of a non-financial sanction in accordance with sections 236, 236A, and 236B:
    1. for a second failure, suspension of a main benefit:
      1. for a third failure, cancellation of a main benefit.

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        Notes
        • Section 234: amended, on , by section 15(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 25).
        • Section 234(a): replaced, on , by section 15(2) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 25).