Dependent children
A dependent child for a Community Services Card is a child who is:
- primarily the responsibility of the client
- maintained as a member of their family
- financially dependent on the client or
- in the custody of the Chief Executive of Oranga Tamariki but has been returned to their parent's care
A dependent child for a Community Services Card does not include a:
- child getting payments under section 363 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989
- young person getting a Young Parent Payment and their child (see Dependent children, young parents and the child's parent or step parent examples) or
- child for whom an Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit is being paid
In some situations a child may not be living at home but is still considered to be a dependent child.
16 - 17 year olds in tertiary study
16 and 17 years olds who are undertaking tertiary study may be able to get a Community Services Card in their own right.
If the child is still dependent, they can be included in the parent or caregiver's family unit when deciding eligibility for Community Services Card (whether or not the 16-17 year old qualifies for a card in their own right).
Care and protection concerns
If MSD believes any child has been, or is likely to be harmed (physically, emotionally or sexually), ill-treated, abused, neglected, deprived or MSD has concerns about the wellbeing of the child, the case must be referred to Oranga Tamariki.
For more information see:
Legislation
- child and dependent child (definitions) regulation 2 Health Entitlement Cards Regulations 1993
