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Emergency Benefit : Contents

Person serving their sentence of imprisonment in a psychiatric hospital

If a person who is remanded in custody or serving a term of imprisonment is detained in or transferred to a psychiatric hospital and they are not eligible for New Zealand Superannuation they may be eligible for an Emergency Benefit. The Department of Corrections are not responsible for funding the costs of these clients.

To get an Emergency Benefit the client must meet the basic eligibility criteria. For more information see:

Temporarily hospitalised

People remanded in custody or imprisoned who are temporarily hospitalised for treatment of an injury or health condition are still considered to be in prison and cannot get an Emergency Benefit or any other financial assistance. The Department of Corrections will meet their costs.

Rate of payment

People serving a sentence of imprisonment who are held in or transferred to a psychiatric hospital who are eligible for an Emergency Benefit, are paid at the hospital rate from the date they are transferred to the psychiatric hospital (this rate might be paid from date of grant). You can consider paying a higher rate in some circumstances. For more information see:

Entitlement date

The entitlement date for Emergency Benefit for a person serving their sentence (or part of their sentence) in a psychiatric hospital is generally the date of transfer to hospital. The usual stand-down provisions for prisoners apply when determining the commencement date.

New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran's Pension clients

A person who is serving their sentence of imprisonment in a psychiatric hospital may be eligible for New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension instead if they meet the qualifications.

For more information see:

Legislation

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