Moving possessions

Clients who get a payment under the travel category may also qualify for support to move their possessions to their new location if they have a genuine need.

The amount the client can get is based on the number of people moving with them and the distance between their principal place of residence and new accommodation. It is not affected by their chosen method of travel or how they move their possessions e.g. hiring a moving truck or paying a company to do it for them.

This is the number of kilometres between the client's principal place of residence and their new accommodation.

The number of kilometres between locations is the number produced by the Google Maps directions function when selecting the recommended driving route between the client's principal place of residence and their new accommodation.

It does not include any variations from the recommended route e.g. to pick up or drop off possessions along the way.

This means the client needs financial assistance to move their possessions that:

• are essential for their employment e.g. tools or equipment needed for their job or
• are essential for a reasonable living situation e.g. a bed and
• they are unable to move themselves e.g. they will not fit in their car

When deciding if a client has a genuine need to move their possessions, MSD must consider the individual circumstances of the client and their immediate family (if any).

Note if a client needs to move their possessions but their employer covers the cost of this, they do not have a genuine need.

Example 1

Tino is a sole parent and has applied for Relocate for Work Support to move from Mount Maunganui to Auckland with their 6-year-old child Riley.

Tino will be driving themself and Riley to Auckland. They have household possessions that also need to be moved, including their beds and living room furniture. Tino cannot fit all of this in their car and needs to hire a moving van.

MSD is satisfied that Tino has a genuine need for financial assistance to move their possessions from Mount Maunganui to Auckland.

MSD approves Tino's Relocate for Work Support application and is granted a sole parent amount to travel by land and an amount to move their possessions.

Example 2

Lucy is a single Jobseeker Support client moving to Wellington from Te Awamutu. Lucy will be driving to Wellington, and she doesn't need to move any large household possessions as her accommodation in Wellington is fully furnished.

Lucy contacts MSD to see if any help is available for moving her possessions. However, MSD determines she does not have a genuine need for financial assistance to move her possessions as she can fit them all in her car.

As Lucy meets all other qualifications, MSD approves her Relocate for Work Support application at a single client amount to move herself by land to Wellington.