Emergency Benefit : Contents
Partner of New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension client and caring for a child
A client may be able to get Emergency Benefit if they are:
- the principal caregiver of a dependent child aged under 14 years and
- the partner of a New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension client and
- not eligible for New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension in their own right and
- not eligible for another benefit (eg because they can't meet Jobseeker Support work obligations)
Note an Emergency Benefit granted for this reason will usually have conditions of grant relating to job search or planning, depending on the age of the child. This is because Jobseeker Support is the equivalent benefit.
Principal caregiver
A principal caregiver is the person who has the day to day responsibility of the child on a permanent basis.
It is up to the couple to decide who the primary caregiver is, and MSD cannot:
- influence this decision in any way or
- ask the couple to choose the New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension client to be the principal caregiver so their partner can qualify for another benefit
Not contributing to own hardship
A non-qualifying partner who is the principal caregiver of a dependent child aged under 14 is not considered to be contributing to their own hardship or preventing themselves from earning a sufficient livelihood.
For more information see:
Legislation
- Emergency benefits for parents who have superannuitant partners clause 8B Direction in relation to Emergency Benefit and Benefits on Ground of Hardship
