Qualifications

To qualify for employment and work readiness assistance, clients must:

• be a young person or of working-age
• meet the residence requirements
• not have received the maximum amount payable for any particular kind of employment and work readiness assistance, unless, for that assistance (where applicable), exceptional circumstances exist

Clients are also required to:

• be receiving a main benefit or
• be the partner of another client getting a main benefit or
• have applied for and been assessed as eligible for a main benefit or
• have been receiving a main benefit that has been cancelled because they have moved into employment or
• have applied for a main benefit but need to complete a pre-benefit activity or
• have contacted the Ministry of Social Development or a contracted service provider seeking assistance to obtain or retain employment or
• be applying for Supported Living Payment (health condition, injury, or disability, or total blindness) or
• not currently getting Supported Living Payment (health condition, injury or disability) as the client is working in an employment trial, for a period of time agreed with the Ministry of Social Development or
• be receiving New Zealand Superannuation or a Veteran's Pension as a grandparented non-qualified partner

Clients may also need to:

• meet other eligibility criteria specified in:
  • the schedule to the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme and
  • operational guidelines
• have income and assets under the relevant limits for some assistance
• be at risk of long-term benefit receipt

Any employment and work readiness assistance must not be granted for any employment, training, activity, or service located or provided outside New Zealand.