Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Social Security Act 2018

Enforcement: sanctions and offences - Offences

293: Offence of demanding or accepting acknowledgement or undertaking

You could also call this:

“It's illegal to make someone promise to give away their benefit money”

You need to know about a rule that protects people who get benefits from the government. It’s against the law for anyone to ask you to promise or agree to give away your benefit money. This includes asking you to sign papers that would let someone else control your benefit.

If someone tries to do this, they’re breaking the law. They could be fined up to $100 if they’re caught and found guilty.

Remember, your benefit is meant for you. No one should try to take it or control it. If anyone asks you to sign something about your benefit that you don’t understand, it’s a good idea to ask for help from someone you trust.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6783756.

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292: Offence of demanding or accepting fee or other consideration in relation to grant of benefit, or

“It's against the law to ask for payment when helping with benefit applications”

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294: General penalty for offences, or

“What happens if you break a rule in the Social Security Act”

Part 5 Enforcement: sanctions and offences
Offences

293Offence of demanding or accepting acknowledgement or undertaking

  1. A person commits an offence if the person demands or accepts from a beneficiary an acknowledgment or undertaking where that demand, acceptance, acknowledgment, or undertaking would constitute a legal or an equitable assignment of, or a charge on, a benefit if the benefit were capable of being legally assigned or charged.

  2. A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100.

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