Introduction
The Ministry has a duty to investigate and decide all applications made where it has the relevant information to do so.
The client is required to make an application and provide the information necessary for the Ministry to investigate and determine entitlement.
When a client contacts the Ministry and makes a request for financial assistance the way you deal with their request (or application for financial assistance) depends on whether the assistance is included in the definition of a benefit.
Application for benefit
These guidelines apply to applications:
- that are included in the definition of a benefit or
- where it is unknown whether the application will be for a benefit
For more information see:
Applications for assistance
These guidelines apply to:
- any applications for assistance that are not included in the definition of a benefit
For more information see:
Re-assessing previous applications
Where a client approaches Work and Income and states that they made an application months or years ago, you will need to determine whether an application was made.
We have the ability to pay a benefit that should have been paid from an earlier date. This is known as correction power and can be used when:
- a client did not make or did not complete an application for a benefit at an earlier date and
- the reason the client did not make or did not complete an earlier application for a benefit was due to an error or omission on the part of the Ministry
For more information see:
