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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 - Hierarchy of sanctions

236F: Sanction for first failure: report job search: failure without good and sufficient reason to meet requirements

You could also call this:

"Your benefit may be reduced if you don't meet job search requirements without a good reason"

Illustration for Social Security Act 2018

You have to meet certain requirements when you are on a main benefit. If you do not meet these requirements without a good reason, your benefit may be reduced. You must tell MSD why you did not meet the requirements within a reasonable time. If you do not meet the requirements, MSD will reduce your main benefit to zero. This reduction starts from the date you did not comply or from the date after the prescribed period. It ends when you comply again or when your benefit is cancelled. If you give MSD a good reason for not meeting the requirements within a certain time, your benefit reduction may be different. When your benefit is reduced to zero, you do not have to meet the requirements anymore. You are considered to have complied again and a new 13-week period starts. MSD has rules to follow when reducing your benefit. These rules are in sections like section 236E(4) and section 418(1)​(ie). You can find more information about these rules in the Social Security Act 2018.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1551796.

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236E: Sanction for first failure: report job search: general, or

"What happens if you don't meet your job search requirements for the first time"

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236G: Sanction for first failure: report job search: replacement sanction if good and sufficient reason why cannot meet requirements, or

"What happens if you can't meet job search rules and have a good reason"

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

236FSanction for first failure: report job search: failure without good and sufficient reason to meet requirements

  1. This section applies if, after report job search that is imposed on P has effect,—

  2. P has not met the requirements that apply to P under section 236E(4) (see subsections (2) and (3)); and
    1. P has not satisfied MSD within the reasonable period specified in subsection (4) that a good and sufficient reason existed as to why P failed to meet those requirements.

      1. For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) and of section 236G(1)(a), P has not met the requirements that apply to P under section 236E(4) if MSD has not been provided with supporting evidence that has satisfied MSD of P’s compliance with those requirements by the end of 5 days after the prescribed period for the purposes of section 236E(4) (see regulations made under section 418(1)(ie)).

      2. Subsection (2) does not limit the generality of subsection (1)(a) or of section 236G(1)(a).

      3. The reasonable period mentioned in subsection (1)(b) and in section 236G(1)(b) must be one that—

      4. MSD considers reasonable in the circumstances of P; and
        1. ends no later than the end of the prescribed period for the purposes of section 236E(4) (see regulations made under section 418(1)(ie)).

          1. MSD must reduce the rate of P’s main benefit to zero with effect—

          2. starting on the first day of the week of P’s non-compliance or, if MSD is unable to determine the date of P’s non-compliance,—
            1. starting on the first day after the prescribed period for the purposes of section 236E(4) (see regulations made under section 418(1)(ie)), if P has not in that period contacted MSD about P’s non-compliance; or
              1. starting on the first day of the prescribed period for the purposes of section 236E(4) (see regulations made under section 418(1)(ie)), if—
                1. P has in or after that period contacted MSD about P’s non-compliance; and
                  1. MSD has not been provided with supporting evidence that satisfies MSD of the date of P’s non-compliance; and
                2. ending on whichever occurs first of the following events:
                  1. P recomplies under section 261C(3) and (4):
                    1. MSD cancels P’s main benefit under section 233A.

                    2. However, if P satisfies MSD within a period that complies with subsection (4)(a), but that does not also comply with subsection (4)(b), that a good and sufficient reason existed as to why P failed to meet the requirements that apply to P under section 236E(4), then MSD must reduce the rate of P’s main benefit to zero under subsection (5) with effect on and after the first day after the prescribed period for the purposes of section 236E(4) (see regulations made under section 418(1)(ie)).

                    3. If the rate of P’s main benefit is reduced to zero under subsection (5),—

                    4. P is no longer required to meet the requirements that apply to P under section 236E(4); and
                      1. P recomplies under section 261C(3) and (4); and
                        1. the 13-week period in section 233A(1)(b) starts when the report job search imposed on P takes effect.

                          1. This section is subject to sections 243AAA, 243, 245 to 248, and 320 to 322.

                          Notes
                          • Section 236F: inserted, on , by section 19 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 25).