Obligation to advise of departure from New Zealand (main beneficiaries only)

All clients getting a main benefit must tell the Ministry of Social Development before they leave New Zealand. If the client or partner does not tell the Ministry before they travel overseas, their benefit payments will stop from the day after they leave New Zealand.

Clients who do not continue getting a main benefit while overseas may be still be able to keep getting Employment Transition Assistance, if their absence does not affect the client's eligibility for this assistance and they told the Ministry of their absence before travelling overseas.

They must be returning to employment immediately after their absence from New Zealand and is limited to the first 28 days in any 52 week period.

For more information about absence from New Zealand see:

• Approved travel reasons in relevant main benefit
• Absent from New Zealand more than 28 days in any 52 week period in relevant main benefit

The Ministry of Social Development has an Approved Information Sharing Agreement with New Zealand Customs Service that identifies clients who have left New Zealand if they are getting a main benefit.

Once identified, the client's eligibility to keep getting their benefit payments while they are absent from New Zealand is automatically determined by Ministry systems.

If the client has not told the Ministry they are leaving New Zealand their main benefit will be suspended immediately from the day after they leave New Zealand. As a result, their Employment Transition Assistance will also stop.

The Integrity Intervention Centre will determine if any overpayment has occurred and will establish the debt and advise the client.

If a client challenges the information match this process is managed by the Integrity Intervention Centre.

Clients may contact us from overseas to advise of their travel. When they do this their main benefit may be:

• resumed from the date they told the Ministry of their absence if their travel is allowed or
• backdated to the departure date (in limited circumstances)

For more information see:

• Paying benefit when client failed to advise of absence in relevant main benefit
• Approved travel reasons in relevant main benefit
• Action on return to New Zealand
• Calculating the period of absence