Example of equivalent benefit

A client aged 66 years and came to New Zealand to seek employment. They do not meet the residence requirements for New Zealand Superannuation. The client has had difficulty finding employment and has applied for an Emergency Benefit.

The reason why the client is unable to earn a sufficient livelihood is that they were unable to get a job. The equivalent benefit would be Jobseeker Support.

The client then suffered a stroke that prevented him from earning a sufficient income.

The equivalent benefit needs to reflect the client's circumstances and the appropriate benefit is now either:

• Equivalent to Jobseeker Support health condition, injury or disability or
• Equivalent to Supported Living Payment health condition, injury or disability

In this situation, the age of the client was not the reason the client could not earn a sufficient livelihood - it was because they were not able to find work and had a health condition.