Gets a main benefit or Student Allowance

To qualify for Bonus Payment, a client must not:

• be getting a main benefit or Student Allowance when they apply and
• have received a main benefit or Student Allowance at any time between the date their Jobseeker Support was cancelled from and when they apply

If a client has applied for a main benefit or Student Allowance when they apply for Bonus Payment, they can qualify if the benefit or allowance has not commenced. However, information provided as part of their application for a main benefit or Student Allowance may indicate they do not meet another Bonus Payment qualification.

A client may apply for a main benefit or Student Allowance because their employment has ended or they know it will end soon. Information from their benefit or allowance application may indicate they are:

• not in employment when they apply for Bonus Payment or
• in employment, but it is not expected to continue for at least 3 months from when they apply for Bonus Payment

A client's eligibility for Bonus Payment is not retrospectively affected if:

• they qualified for and were approved Bonus Payment despite having applied for a main benefit or Student Allowance and
• the benefit or allowance is later granted from a commencement date that is on or before the date they applied for Bonus Payment

Example 1

Aroha started part-time employment and her Jobseeker Support was cancelled from a date while she was enrolled in Community Job Coaching.

Two days before applying for Bonus Payment, Aroha applies for Sole Parent Support because her relationship ended.

When Aroha applies for Bonus Payment, MSD has not made a decision about her Sole Parent Support application.

A week after applying for Bonus Payment, Aroha's Sole Parent Support is granted from a commencement date that is before the date she applied for Bonus Payment.

Aroha may qualify for Bonus Payment if all other qualifications are met because she was not getting Sole Parent Support when she applied for Bonus Payment. The backdated grant of Sole Parent Support does not affect her eligibility for Bonus Payment.

Example 2

Lila started full-time employment and her Jobseeker Support was cancelled from a date while she was enrolled in Community Job Coaching.

A few weeks before applying for Bonus Payment, Lila applied for Jobseeker Support because her employment ended. Her Jobseeker Support application was approved.

Lila applies for Bonus Payment two weeks after her Jobseeker Support commenced.

Lila does not qualify for Bonus Payment because she was getting Jobseeker Support when she applied for Bonus Payment.

Example 3

Sophie started full-time employment and her Jobseeker Support was cancelled from a date while she was enrolled in Community Job Coaching.

Six months later, Sophie left her employment and started full-time study. She started getting Student Allowance.

After studying for 6 months, Sophie left study, stopped getting Student Allowance, and started a new permanent full-time job.

Sophie applies for Bonus Payment 5 weeks later.

Sophie does not qualify for Bonus Payment because she received Student Allowance between the date her Jobseeker Support was cancelled from and when she applied for Bonus Payment.

Example 4

Noah started full-time employment and his Jobseeker Support was cancelled from a date while he was enrolled in Community Job Coaching.

Before applying for Bonus Payment, Noah applied for Jobseeker Support because his employment was due to end in 4 weeks.

When Noah applies for Bonus Payment, his Jobseeker Support has been granted but does not commence for 3 weeks. Noah is not getting Jobseeker Support when he applies for Bonus Payment.

However, information from Noah's Jobseeker Support application indicates that he knows his employment will end in 4 weeks. Noah does not qualify for Bonus Payment because he is not in sustainable employment when he applies.