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New Zealand law explained for everyone

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

248: Variation for reduction to zero of rate of main benefit, or suspension or cancellation of main benefit, or non-entitlement period, affecting sole parent

You could also call this:

"What happens to sole parent benefits if they're reduced, stopped, or cancelled"

If you are a sole parent and get a main benefit, there are rules that apply if your benefit is reduced to zero, suspended, or cancelled. This can happen under certain sections of the law, such as sections 227, 232, 233A, 236, 236A, 236C, and 236D, or if you are not entitled to a benefit for a period of time under sections 225 and 227.

When this happens, the reduction or suspension only applies to half of your main benefit, and you are still entitled to receive the other half.

You might not get your full main benefit for a while, but you will get half of it.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6783648.

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247: Variation for reduction of rate of benefit (by half or to zero), or money management, suspension, or cancellation of benefit, or non-entitlement period, affecting couple with 1 or more dependent children, or

"Rules for couples with kids if one partner's benefit is reduced, managed, suspended, or cancelled"

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249: Good and sufficient reason for non-compliance: default by MSD, or

"MSD's mistake can be a valid reason for not following a rule"

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

248Variation for reduction to zero of rate of main benefit, or suspension or cancellation of main benefit, or non-entitlement period, affecting sole parent

  1. This section applies if,—

  2. under any 1 or more of sections 227, 232, 233A, 236, 236A, 236C, and 236D, for a main benefit of a person (P) who is a sole parent, the rate of the benefit is reduced to zero, or the benefit is suspended or cancelled; or
    1. under sections 225 and 227, a sole parent (P)—
      1. has not been granted a main benefit; and
        1. is not entitled for a period of 13 weeks to a work-tested benefit.

        2. For the period of the reduction to zero, suspension, cancellation, or non-entitlement,—

        3. the reduction to zero, suspension, cancellation, or non-entitlement applies only to half of any default amount of main benefit payable to P; and
          1. P is entitled to receive half of any default amount of main benefit payable to P.

            Notes
            • Section 248: replaced, on , by section 24(1) of the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 25).