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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

237: Sanction for second failure: suspension of main benefit

You could also call this:

"If you don't meet your obligations twice, your main benefit will be stopped until you meet them again."

If you fail to meet your obligations for a second time, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) must suspend your main benefit. This suspension will last until you start meeting your obligations again or MSD cancels your main benefit under section 233A. You will have your benefit suspended until one of these things happens. This rule is affected by other parts of the law, including sections 243AAA, 243, 245 to 248, and 320 to 322. The MSD will look at these other rules when deciding what to do with your benefit.

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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=DLM6783632.

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236D: Sanction for first failure: community work experience: replacement sanction if good and sufficient reason why cannot meet requirements, or

"What happens if you can't do community work and have a good reason"

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238: Sanction for third failure: cancellation of main benefit, or

"If you break the rules three times, your main benefit will stop for 13 weeks."

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

237Sanction for second failure: suspension of main benefit

  1. For a second failure by a person (P), MSD must suspend P’s main benefit until the earlier of the following events:

  2. P recomplies:
    1. MSD cancels P’s main benefit under section 233A.

      1. This section is subject to sections 243AAA, 243, 245 to 248, and 320 to 322.

      Notes
      • Section 237: replaced, on , by section 17 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 25).