Backdating benefit to the day after departure date

A client who leaves New Zealand without advising Work and Income of their travel, can only have their benefit backdated to the day after their departure date if they:

• have a humanitarian reason that justifies their reason for travel and their failure to tell Work and Income before they left
• contacted Work and Income as soon as they could reasonably have been expected to, given their circumstances after they departed and
• meet the criteria to continue to be paid their benefit while overseas (either because they meet the criteria for approved travel, or the requirement that travel be approved does not apply to them)

For more information see:

• Humanitarian reasons for backdating to day after departure
• Contacting Work and Income as soon as the client reasonably can
• Approved travel reasons
• Paying a benefit when a client has not advised before departure
• Action on return to New Zealand