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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 - Special cases: variations on ordinary sanctions rules

244: Variation for failure to comply with work-test obligation to accept offer of suitable employment

You could also call this:

“Your benefit will be cancelled if you refuse a suitable job offer”

If you do not follow the rule to accept any suitable job that is offered to you, MSD (Ministry of Social Development) must cancel your main benefit. This rule is stricter than other work-test rules. MSD has to cancel your benefit, not just reduce it or stop it for a short time. This applies even if it’s your first time not following the rule. The law says this rule is more important than some other rules about sanctions (penalties) for not following work-test obligations.

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Topics:
Work and jobs > Worker rights
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243: Exclusion of sanction if failure is subject of prosecution under Education and Training Act 2020, or

“No MSD punishment if you're in court for your child not going to school”

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245: Variation for breach of work-test obligation by 1 spouse or partner, or

“Changes to couple's benefit when one person doesn't follow work rules”

Part 5 Enforcement: sanctions and offences
Sanctions for breach of obligations other than young person or young parent obligations: Special cases: variations on ordinary sanctions rules

244Variation for failure to comply with work-test obligation to accept offer of suitable employment

  1. MSD must, under section 238, cancel a main benefit for any failure to comply with the work-test obligation to accept any offer of suitable employment (see section 144(b)).

  2. This section overrides sections 234 to 238.

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