Duration of Emergency Benefit

Emergency Benefit should only be paid for as long as it is needed. You can grant Emergency Benefit for a specified period, depending on the client's circumstances.

For example, a partner is overseas doing job search and hasn't provided any financial support for their family. Emergency Benefit may be granted but only until the partner can be expected to return to New Zealand or arrange financial support for their family.

If the client will be eligible for another benefit in the future, only grant Emergency Benefit until the date they are expected to be eligible for another benefit.

Example a client is getting Emergency Benefit as they are the partner of a New Zealand Superannuation client and the principal caregiver of a dependent child. They do no not qualify for Jobseeker Support because they can't meet the work obligations due to their caring responsibilities. Emergency Benefit can only be paid until the client's child turns 14. They should then qualify for Jobseeker Support.

When adding an expiry date into SWIFTT, you need to consider:

• when the client or partner will qualify for another benefit and
• when their eligibility to Emergency Benefit will be affected

whichever is the later should be added as the expiry date.