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Social Security Act 2018

Administration - Payment of benefits, tax on benefits, debts and deductions - Payment of benefits

340: Required manner of payment: general

You could also call this:

"How your benefit money is paid to you"

Illustration for Social Security Act 2018

When you get a benefit, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) decides how you receive the money. They might pay it into your bank account. MSD can change how they pay you from time to time.

There are some exceptions to how MSD pays benefits, which are explained in section 340A, section 341, and regulations made under section 442. These exceptions might affect how you get your benefit. You should look at these sections to understand the exceptions.

If MSD decides how you get your benefit, you can ask for this decision to be reviewed under subpart 3 of this Part. However, you cannot appeal against this decision under Part 7. This means you have some options to review the decision, but not others.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6783825.

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339: Payment generally to, or on account of, beneficiary personally, or

"How your benefit money is paid to you or someone else on your behalf"

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340A: Required manner of payment: money management for certain payments to people subject to sanction for first failure, or

"How the government manages your benefit money if you break a rule for the first time"

Part 6Administration
Payment of benefits, tax on benefits, debts and deductions: Payment of benefits

340Required manner of payment: general

  1. All or part of an instalment of a benefit must be paid in a manner from time to time determined by MSD.

    Example

    An instalment of jobseeker support must be paid by electronic transfer of funds into the beneficiary’s bank account, if that is what MSD has determined.

  2. Subsection (1) is subject to contrary provisions in, or in regulations made under, this Act (for example,—

  3. section 340A, on the manner of payment of certain payments to people subject to a sanction for a first failure; and
    1. section 341, on the manner of payment of specified youth support payments; and
      1. default determinations, and exceptions, provided for in regulations made under section 442).

        1. A determination made by MSD under this section of a required manner of payment—

        2. may be reviewed under subpart 3 of this Part; but
          1. cannot be reviewed, or appealed against, under Part 7.

            Compare
            Notes
            • Section 340(2)(aaa): inserted, on , by section 53 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 25).