Dependent child
A dependent child for Emergency Benefit is a child who is:
- primarily the responsibility of the client
- maintained as a member of that family
- financially dependent on that client
- in the custody of the Chief Executive of Oranga Tamariki but has been returned to their parent's care
A dependent child for Emergency Benefit does not include a:
- child getting payments under section 363 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989
- child for whom Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit is being paid and
- young person getting a Young Parent Payment and their child (see Dependent children, young parents and the child's parent or step parent examples)
In some situations, a child may not be living at home but is still considered to be a dependent child.
In some situations a client may not be the natural or adoptive parent of the child but MSD can still regard the child as their own when the child's parents are unable, or in exceptional circumstances unwilling, to look after the child.
Long term care
The care situation should be permanent or long term.
MSD should not grant an Emergency Benefit to a client to care for a child who comes to stay with them for a short period such as the school holidays.
All dependent children should be included in the benefit.
Care and protection concerns
If MSD believes any child has been, or is likely to be harmed (physically, emotionally or sexually), ill-treated, abused, neglected, deprived or MSD has concerns about the wellbeing of the child, the case must be referred to Oranga Tamariki.
For more information see:
Legislation
- dependent child (definition) schedule 2 Social Security Act 2018
