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 go overseas, their benefit payments will stop from the day after they leave New Zealand.

If a client tells us they will be absent from New Zealand, and they have an approved travel reason, they may be able to keep getting their main benefit payments for up to 28 days.

Clients who do not keep getting a main benefit while overseas may still be able to get their Accommodation Supplement, if their absence does not affect the client's eligibility for this assistance and they told the Ministry of their absence before they travelled overseas. They must have ongoing accommodation costs and this assistance is limited to 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 getting a benefit who have left New Zealand.

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 did not tell the Ministry they were leaving New Zealand, their benefit will be suspended immediately from the day after they left New Zealand. As a result, their Accommodation Supplement will also stop.

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

If a client challenges the information match refer them to Integrity Intervention Centre.

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