Matters to consider when providing programmes and services

When the Ministry of Social Development provides programmes and services through the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme, some matters must be considered to determine the need for the programmes and services.

Matters that need to be considered are:

• paid employment offers the best opportunity for clients to achieve social and economic well-being
• the priority for clients of working age should be to find and retain work
• clients for whom work may not currently be an appropriate outcome should be assisted to prepare for work in the future and develop employment focused skills
• clients for whom work is not appropriate should be supported by the Ministry of Social Development
• any key result areas and performance targets
• the principle that employment and work readiness assistance:
  • is available to all people within New Zealand's working-age population, or young persons at risk of long-term benefit receipt, and prioritised for those at greatest risk
  • will be monitored, evaluated, and where practicable, based on evidence of 'what works'
  • resources will be allocated where the potential benefits are greatest
  • should minimise adverse impacts on the labour market and should not substitute or displace people within New Zealand's workforce
• any policy of the Government relating to employment and work readiness assistance or a specified kind of employment and work readiness assistance
• the client or their partners work-related obligations (if any) depending on whether the client or their partner has been granted a main benefit or has a stand-down period and have:
  • full-time work-test obligations or
  • part-time work-test or
  • work preparation obligations
• whether the client left their employment voluntarily or lost employment due to misconduct

and

• whether the client is or may be entitled to any other publicly funded assistance for the same or a similar purpose from the Ministry of Social Development or any other agency

Note when considering the matters above, your decision must be recorded.

For more information see:

• How to make a decision on programmes and services

Clients applying for some types of assistance may need to have income and assets below the relevant limits. For more information see: Income limits and Asset limits

For more information see:

• Employment and Work Readiness Assistance
• Qualifications
• Commencement date
• Employment assistance
• Work readiness assistance
• How to make a decision on programmes and services
• Likelihood of long term benefit receipt [no link find out why] procedures