Absence from New Zealand

When a client receiving Temporary Additional Support intends to be absent from New Zealand, you will need to determine if payment of Temporary Additional Support can continue.

Clients can be absent from New Zealand, and continue to receive payment for the first 28 days, if it does not affect the client's eligibility for Temporary Additional Support.

To decide if someone still meets the eligibility for Temporary Additional Support, you will need to decide each case on its own merits taking all of the client's circumstances into account.

To pay Temporary Additional Support while the client is absent from New Zealand depends on whether the client is also receiving a main benefit.

When assessing the period of absence, do not include:

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

All clients getting a main benefit must advise Work and Income before they leave New Zealand.

If the client or partner does not advise Work and Income before their international travel, their benefit payments (including Temporary Additional Support) must stop.

When a client is paid their main benefit while they are absent from New Zealand (either because they qualify for approved travel, or the requirement for approved travel does not apply to them) they can keep getting their main benefit and their Temporary Additional Support.

When a client qualifies they can keep getting payments for up to 28 days in any 52 week period. If a client qualifies they may be paid their main benefit for more than 28 days in a 52 week period.

Clients who do not keep getting their main benefit while overseas (because they don't qualify for approved travel) may still be able to continue to keep getting Temporary Additional Support, if their absence does not affect the client's eligibility for this assistance and they advised Work and Income of their absence before 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 receiving Temporary Additional Support, but do not get a main benefit:

• must advise of their departure from New Zealand and
• can be absent and paid their Temporary Additional Support for up to 28 days per absence when it does not affect the client's eligibility for Temporary Additional Support

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
• date of return
• whether their costs are continuing

When payment of Temporary Additional Support is stopped because the client does 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