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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 - Recompliance

266: Costs of drug testing for purposes of recompliance

You could also call this:

“Who pays for drug tests when you're trying to follow the rules again”

You should know about the costs of drug testing when it comes to recompliance. The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) will pay for one drug test that you need to take. They will cover the actual and reasonable costs of this test.

However, you need to understand that the money spent on this drug test is not free. It becomes a debt that you owe to the government. This means you will have to pay it back. The government can make rules about how you need to repay this debt.

Remember, MSD only pays for one drug test. If you need more tests, you might have to pay for them yourself.

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265: Failure of drug test for purposes of recompliance constitutes third failure, or

“Failing a drug test when trying to fix past mistakes counts as your third strike”

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267: Case management support for beneficiary in breach of obligation in relation to dependent children, or

“Help for parents who haven't followed rules about caring for their children”

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

266Costs of drug testing for purposes of recompliance

  1. MSD must pay the actual and reasonable costs of a drug test undertaken on only 1 occasion in accordance with section 264(2).

  2. Those costs are a debt due to the Crown from the beneficiary for the purpose of regulations made under section 444.

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