Cash assets - rural assistance

Cash assets mean assets of that person and partner (if any) that can be easily converted into cash and include:

• building society shares
• bills of exchange or promissory notes
• money in bank accounts, including fixed and term deposits with any bank, friendly society, credit union, or building society
• money invested with or lent to any bank or other financial institution
• mortgage investments and other long term loans
• share, stocks, debentures, bonus bonds, and other bonds
• the client's share in any partnership and
• the net equity held in any property or land not used as the person's home (except the net equity in the Primary Industry is not included in the clients cash assets)

• a caravan, boat, or other vehicle with a net equity of less than $2,000 and which is used by the person or a member of their family for day to day accommodation
• Christchurch mosques attack support payments
• Crown funds provided directly to clients to purchase Support Services and Direct Disability Support payments
• ex gratia payments made to clients that the Ministry of Social Development does not include in calculation of income or cash assets
• funds locked into KiwiSaver and other retirement scheme accounts
• Information share Child Support payments currently being charged as income
• motor vehicle principally used by the client for private use
• MSD lump sum payments for the first 12 months after the payment is made
• Payments of arrears to Special Benefit clients better off on Temporary Additional Support for the first 12 months after the payment is made
• Payments to clients whose Kāinga Ora tenancy was terminated due to methamphetamine contamination for the first 12 months after the payment is made
• personal effects
• Residential Care Subsidy historic review refunds for the first 12 months after the payment is made
• shares that are required to access farming services eg, Ravensdown, Fonterra, Farmlands or Silver Fern Farms
  If you need help to decide a farming service please contact Helpline.
• the proceeds from the sale of capital pastoral stock (whether held or not held in any of the assets above)
• FamilyBoost Tax Credit payments for the first 12 months after payment is received
• Bonus Payment for the first 12 months after the payment is made

Note a bank overdraft facility is not considered a cash asset or resource available to a client.

The normal cash assets exemption applies to rural assistance.