Date of first contact
The date a client first contacts us to request financial assistance is their date of first contact. A client may contact the Ministry of Social Development at any time, through various methods, eg at reception in a service centre, via telephone through one of the contact centres, or in writing.
Clients may also apply for financial assistance online.
The client has 20 working days from their date of first contact to complete the application process.
The client does not need to specify, at the date of first contact the type of assistance they may require. Therefore, the date of first contact may apply to more than one type of assistance.
You should send the client a letter (available in CMS) to confirm their date of first contact.
Exception
For young people aged 16 or 17 (without dependent children) or 16 to 19 years (with a dependent child) who are potentially eligible for Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment the letter to confirm their date of first contact does not need to be sent.
This is because they will be advised of what they need to do to complete their application process when they apply online.
Application date for benefit
For the purpose of calculating the commencement date of the benefit, the application date is date of first contact.
Application form lodged without prior contact
If a client lodges an application form without any prior contact with the Ministry, the date this application is received is their date of first contact.
If a client submits an online application form without any prior contact, the date that the client starts completing the online application form is their date of first contact.
For more information on the 20 working day period (and possible exceptions) see:
Client contacts the Ministry more than once
If the client contacts the Ministry more than once within the 20 working day period, the date of first contact does not change unless a change of circumstances has occurred.
If the change of circumstances means that the client requires additional assistance, a new (additional) date of first contact is established for the additional assistance.
Example a client applies for Jobseeker Support while living at home and does not have any accommodation costs. During the application process they move into a flat (sharing expenses). The date the client advises us of their new circumstances becomes their date of first contact for testing their eligibility for, and any subsequent grant of, Accommodation Supplement. The original date of first contact that applies to the application for Jobseeker Support does not change.
Client makes contact after application has lapsed
When a client's application lapses and they still wish to apply for a benefit, they will need to re-start the application process and re-establish their eligibility. The date the client makes contact to do this will become their new date of first contact.
