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Social Security Act 2018

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

347: Advance payment of instalments of benefit

You could also call this:

“Getting some of your benefit money early if you need it right away”

You can get some of your benefit money early if you need it right away. This is called an advance payment. You can only get an advance payment for certain types of benefits. These include main benefits, orphan’s benefit, unsupported child’s benefit, New Zealand superannuation, or a veteran’s pension.

To get an advance payment, you need to ask for it. The people who manage your benefit (called MSD) will decide if giving you the money early is the best way to help you with your immediate needs.

When you ask for an advance payment, you have to fill out a form. This form is described in section 446 of the law. After you ask for an advance, you might need to do a budgeting activity. This is explained in section 348.

If you get an advance payment, you will need to pay it back. The money you get early is considered a debt that you owe to the government. The rules about how you pay it back are described in section 444 of the law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6783833.

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

347Advance payment of instalments of benefit

  1. MSD may make an advance payment of all or part of 1 or more instalments of a benefit (and that are instalments that are not yet due) if, and only if,—

  2. the benefit is a main benefit, an orphan’s benefit, an unsupported child’s benefit, New Zealand superannuation, or a veteran’s pension; and
    1. MSD is satisfied that an advance payment of the benefit would best meet the beneficiary’s immediate needs; and
      1. the beneficiary has applied for an advance payment of the benefit.

        1. The beneficiary’s application must be made in a manner and form specified in regulations made under section 446, and makes the beneficiary subject to section 348 (requirement for beneficiary, spouse or partner, or both, to undertake budgeting activity).

        2. The amount so paid in advance is a debt due to the Crown under regulations made under section 444, and subject to recovery under regulations made under section 444, from the beneficiary.

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