Warrant to arrest criteria

A client's or partner's benefit is no longer payable if you are satisfied (based on information from Ministry of Justice data match) that:

• the client or partner is receiving a specific benefit and
• the client or partner is aged 17 years or over and
• criminal proceedings have been started against the client or partner and a warrant for the client's or partner's arrest has been issued by a New Zealand court because of, or in connection to these criminal proceedings and
• the warrant does not apply to a witness and
• at least 28 days have passed since the date the warrant to arrest was issued and
• the client or partner has been given 10 working day notice period and within this period they have not:
  • resolved the warrant to arrest
  • provided evidence they have taken reasonable steps to resolve the warrant but have been unable to do so because of reasons outside of their control
  • disputed they are the person to whom this warrant applies

Note in special circumstances, the benefit (including the total amount of non-beneficiary assistance) can be suspended immediately from when the police notify Work and Income that the client is a public risk. This is only on request from the police and where they believe on reasonable grounds there is a risk to public safety.

For more information see:

• Age of the warrant
• Challenging a warrant to arrest
• Specific benefits for warrant to arrest
• Risk to public safety
• Warrant to arrest does not apply
• Notice period
• Effect on benefit
• Overview of steps to resolve a warrant