Detention in or transfer to a psychiatric hospital

When a person who has been remanded in custody or is imprisoned, is detained in or transferred to a psychiatric hospital, the client can receive either:

• New Zealand Superannuation (paid at full rate for the first 13 weeks after admission to psychiatric hospital and then reduced to the hospital rate)
• Veterans Pension (paid at full rate unless the qualifications for it to be reduced to hospital rate are met)
• Emergency Benefit (paid at hospital rate from date of grant)

Until the New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension is reduced to the hospital rate, Winter Energy Payment can still be paid.

Note in some cases, Veteran’s Pension won’t ever be reduced to the hospital rate.

When the New Zealand Superannuation, Veteran’s Pension or Emergency Benefit reduces to the hospital rate, Winter Energy Payment can still be paid.

Clients in these situations can be paid Winter Energy Payment even if they do not pay for any heating costs. For more information see:

• New Zealand Superannuation Detention in or transfer to a psychiatric hospital
• Veteran’s Pension Detention in or transfer to a psychiatric hospital
• Emergency Benefit Person serving their sentence of imprisonment in a psychiatric hospital
• Paying Winter Energy Payment to clients with a public protection order