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Emergency Benefit : Contents

Length of travel for an approved travel reason

Clients can travel for up to 28 days on Emergency Benefit for an approved travel reason. Discuss with the client the amount of time that they need to be absent from New Zealand as a result of the approved reason. The client should explain the length of their intended absence.

Consider:

  • the length of time the event or reason for travel will take
  • the duties the client will have as part of their reason (eg if they are travelling for a funeral, do they have responsibilities beyond attending the funeral itself such as estate duties or sorting out the possessions of the deceased?)
  • flight availability and travel time

Remember to advise clients that generally they are only able to continue to be paid their benefit for up to 28 days in a 52 week period. This should be taken into account when deciding the approved travel period.

Client travelling for multiple reasons

Some clients may travel overseas for an approved travel reason but elect to stay longer for another reason that is not an approved travel reason. In this case, the client can generally only receive their main benefit payments for the period of time that the approved travel reason applies to.

For more information see

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