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Emergency Benefit : Contents

Not lawfully present or resident for youth support payments

Generally, a single client who is aged 16 or 17 years may be eligible for Young Parent Payment or Youth Payment.

Client does not have two years residence in New Zealand

Where a young person meets all the qualifications for Young Parent Payment or Youth Payment except the requirement to have lived in New Zealand continuously for 2 years or more, Young Parent Payment or Youth Payment on grounds of hardship may be considered.

Client does not have citizenship or residence class visa

If a client does not have New Zealand citizenship or a residence class visa, they may be able to get Emergency Benefit if they are:

  • recognised as a refugee or protected person in New Zealand or
  • awaiting the outcome of their application for refugee or protected person status and are lawfully 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

It is reasonable to consider an Emergency Benefit when MSD is satisfied that the client:

  • cannot get another benefit
  • cannot earn a sufficient livelihood and
  • is in hardship

MSD must also consider whether:

  • they have contributed to their hardship
  • they can change their circumstances to alleviate their hardship and
  • their circumstances justify payment

Note to consider Emergency Benefit for sole parent clients aged 16 or 19 years see: Emergency Maintenance Allowance Sole parents who are 16 to 19 years old.

For more information see:

Legislation

  • General limitation on receiving benefit: persons unlawfully resident or present in New Zealand and persons holding temporary entry class visa section 19 Social Security Act 2018
  • Youth payment: requirements section 49 Social Security Act 2018
  • Young parent payment: requirements section 56 Social Security Act 2018
  • Emergency benefit: discretionary grant on ground of hardship section 63 Social Security Act 2018
  • Emergency benefit for people aged 16 or 17 clause 7 Direction in relation to Emergency Benefit and Benefits on Ground of Hardship
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A residence class visa means a:

A residence class visa allows people to live in New Zealand indefinitely. The visa also lets people work and study in New Zealand. There are different travel conditions based on the type of residence class visa.

Residence class visas are granted by Immigration New Zealand.

For the purpose of deciding if a person meets the residence criteria for financial assistance from MSD, people who ...

A person can be a New Zealand citizen by either:

For New Zealand citizenship, New Zealand includes the self-governing states of:

Citizenship is granted by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Note people born in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, or Tokelau may not automatically be New Zealand citizens. To be considered a New Zealand citizen from birth, a person born on or after 1 January 2006 must have: