Absence from New Zealand

Clients (and children that Away from Home Allowance is paid for) can be absent from New Zealand and continue to get payment for the first 28 days of any absence if it does not affect the client's qualification for Away from Home Allowance.

The client and child do not have to travel overseas together to continue Away from Home Allowance. Where one or the other travels overseas ensure that the child continues to meet the definition of dependent child and the caregiver continues to be the principal caregiver.

When the child is overseas you will need to check that the child's accommodation costs are continuing and the course has not finished.

To pay Away from Home Allowance while the client is absent from New Zealand depends on whether the client is also getting a main benefit.

All clients getting a main benefit must advise MSD before they leave New Zealand.

If the client or partner does not advise MSD before their international travel, their benefit payments (including Away from Home Allowance) must stop.

When a client is paid their main benefit while they are absent from New Zealand (either because they meet the criteria for approved travel or the requirement to approved travel does not apply to them) they can continue to receive their main benefit and their Away from Home Allowance for up to 28 days in any 52 week period, unless they meet the criteria to be paid their main benefit for more than 28 days in a 52 week period.

Clients who do not continue to receive main benefit while overseas (because they do not meet the criteria for approved travel) may still be able to continue to receive Away from Home Allowance, if their absence does not affect the client's eligibility for this assistance and they advised MSD of their absence prior to their international travel. This is limited to 28 days in a 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

Clients who are getting Away from Home Allowance and who are not also getting a main benefit:

• are required to advise of their departure from New Zealand and
• can be absent and paid their Away from Home Allowance for up to 28 days per absence where it does not affect the client's eligibility for Away from Home Allowance, that is where they have continuing accommodation costs

When a client getting a main benefit contacts you to advise that they intend travelling overseas you need to obtain the following information:

• date of departure and
• date of return and
• whether the child or young person is remaining in New Zealand

In all cases where you have agreed to the continued payment of benefit for up to the first 28 days of absence, you will need to create a bring-up in BRUPA screen to check that the client has returned. If the client has not returned on the 29th day you can suspend their benefit.

When you have agreed to the continued payment of benefit for the first 28 days of absence, and the client intends to be absent for more than 28 days, you will need to create a future suspension in their SWIFTT record for the 29th day of absence.

Where payment of Away from Home Allowance will not continue because they do not meet the eligibility criteria due to their absence you will need to suspend the benefit from:

• the day after departure

When assessing the period of absence, do not include:

• the date of departure from New Zealand and
• the date of return to New Zealand

For more information about Absence from New Zealand see:

• Calculating period of absence in relevant main benefit