Social Security Act 2018

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

342: Youth money management for certain payments to young people: exception if young person meets prescribed criteria for managing own payments

You could also call this:

"Young people can get payments directly if they can manage their own money."

If you are a young person, this section applies to you only if the Ministry of Social Development thinks you can manage your own payments. They will check if you meet the criteria for managing your payments, which are stated in regulations made under section 418(1)(k). The Ministry of Social Development will also consider the criteria for managing your own payments as stated in those regulations.

If you meet the criteria, some or all of your payments can be paid directly to you, as stated in section 341(3)(a) to (d), until a sanction is imposed on you under sections 270, 271, 280, or 281. This is in line with section 339(1).

You will get your payments directly until something happens that means you should not get them in the same way, like a sanction being imposed on you.

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This page was last updated on 19 July 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6783829.

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341: Required manner of payment: youth money management for certain payments to young people, or

"How the government pays some money to young people to help with managing their finances"

343: Review and appeal of specified determinations made by MSD under regulations, or

"Checking and challenging MSD's decisions made under certain rules"

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

342Youth money management for certain payments to young people: exception if young person meets prescribed criteria for managing own payments

This section applies to a young person only if MSD considers the young person has met the criteria—
for managing the young person’s own payments; and
stated for the purposes of this section in regulations made under section 418(1)(k).

All or a part of the payments referred to in section 341(3)(a) to (d) may be paid to or on account of the young person personally (in line with section 339(1)) until a sanction is imposed on the young person under section 270, 271, 280, or 281.

Compare

1964 No 136 s 179(7)

Notes

Section 342 heading: amended, on 26 May 2025, by section 61 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 25).