Emergency Benefit : Contents
Clients without citizenship or a residence class visa
To be eligible for a benefit, a client generally must have New Zealand citizenship or a residence class visa. Generally, clients are not entitled to a benefit if they are unlawfully in New Zealand.
However, if a client does not have citizenship or a residence class visa they may be eligible for Emergency Benefit if they are:
- a person recognised as a refugee or protected person in New Zealand or
- a person who has made an application for refugee or protected person status and
- waiting for a decision on their application from Immigration New Zealand or appealing a decline decision to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal and
- lawfully present in New Zealand (i.e. they have a valid temporary entry class visa under the Immigration Act 2009) or
- applying for a residence class visa under the Immigration Act 2009 and are compelled to remain in New Zealand due to some unforeseen circumstances
For more information see:
Legislation
- Refugee or protected person status section 205 Social Security Act 2018
- Recognition of refugees selected outside New Zealand section 126 Immigration Act 2009
- Recognition as a refugee section 129 Immigration Act 2009
- Recognition as protected person under Convention Against Torture section 130 Immigration Act 2009
- Recognition as protected person under Covenant on Civil and Political Rights section 131 Immigration Act 2009
