Paying an Emergency Housing Grant when limited circumstances apply

During a 13 week non-entitlement period for emergency housing, a client can only get an Emergency Housing Grant when limited circumstances apply.

If the client meets the criteria for limited circumstances and qualifies for an Emergency Housing Grant, the Emergency Housing Grant should generally be paid for no more than 7 nights at a time.

If there is low availability of emergency housing in the clients region at the time of application for an Emergency Housing Grant, the grant can be paid for up to 14 nights. 

A client who is approved an Emergency Housing Grant when limited circumstances apply cannot get a grant for up to 21 nights. This is because grants of up to 21 nights may only be granted for clients who have met their responsibilities for their previous grant.  

When a client is granted an Emergency Housing Grant under limited circumstances, they are not required to meet the emergency housing responsibilities.

Instead, at each application, the client, or their dependent child (if any) must be assessed against the limited circumstances criteria.

Clients must still pay their Emergency Housing Contribution by the date or dates MSD determines during the limited circumstances period.

If the client does not pay the emergency housing contribution by the date or dates determined by MSD, the unpaid amount will be recovered from the client as an emergency housing debt.

Example:

Alden is getting Supported Living Payment and is on a 13-week non-entitlement period for emergency housing. Alden is granted an Emergency Housing Grant for 7 nights under limited circumstances and his non-entitlement period is paused.

Alden is not required to meet the emergency housing responsibilities; however, he is advised he must still pay the emergency housing contribution. A redirection of benefit is set up for his emergency housing contribution from his Supported Living Payment.

Alden applies for a further Emergency Housing Grant under limited circumstances. He has not paid the emergency housing contribution for the previous grant by the due date, as he had insufficient income to cover the redirection from his benefit.

This does not affect Alden being able to get a further Emergency Housing Grant (as limited circumstances continues to apply) and another 7 nights is approved.

MSD advises Alden that the un-paid amount will be a debt he needs to pay back to MSD from his Supported Living Payment and a debt recovery process is set up.