Payment categories
The amount of an Advance Payment of Benefit should be the least amount required to meet the client's particular immediate need.
Advances should be used to buy the most economical item available, not expensive items of furniture or appliances.
Advances can be paid for new or used appliances. Appliances do not include fridges, fridge-freezers, freezers and washing machines (collectively known as whiteware). These items must be considered under the fridges, freezers and washing machines category.
Advances should generally not be approved if the amount available is insufficient to cover the full cost of the essential item or service. Advances should not be approved to pay a deposit on an item.
Advance category guideline limits
The following list is a guideline only for the amount of an Advance Payment of Benefit. If an essential item or service is not on the list, use a payment of $200 as a guideline.
Further details are listed under each category:
Category | Guideline | ||
$200 | |||
Appliances and furniture (excluding whiteware) | $200 | ||
$200 | |||
$200 | |||
$200 | |||
$200 | |||
$400 | |||
$200 | |||
single client without children | $150 | ||
couple without children | $300 | ||
sole parent or couple with children | $400 | ||
$200 | |||
$1,000 | |||
$200 | |||
$1,000 | |||
$1,000 | |||
Fridges, freezers and washing machines (whiteware) | at rates set in the preferred supplier arrangement | ||
if a client lives in an urban area with a preferred supplier | $280 | ||
if a client lives in a non-coverage area and chooses to use a non-preferred supplier | $1,000 | ||
$200 | |||
$130 | |||
$200 | |||
$200 | |||
School uniforms (for each dependent child) | $300 | ||
$200 | |||
$28 | |||
$200 | |||
*Consider first a non-recoverable Special Needs Grant when the client qualifies for a Special Needs Grant for the cost.
Housing assistance
The "Bond and rent" category was removed on 13 March 2023. If a client needs help to get or retain rental housing, they may qualify for assistance under the Housing Support Programme.
Clients who do not qualify for Housing Support Products due to the type of housing they need assistance for (e.g. non-rental housing), MSD can consider whether the client qualifies for assistance under "Other".
