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Emergency Benefit : Contents

Would qualify for Jobseeker Support - health condition, injury or disability

This exemption may apply to partners with work obligations.

If a partner meets the qualifications for Jobseeker Support on the ground of a health condition, injury or disability they can be exempt from meeting some or all of their work obligations until their capacity for work improves.

The partner must be limited in their capacity to work because of a health condition, injury or disability and, depending on whether they have part-time or full-time work obligations, be:

  • unable to look for part-time work of at least 15 hours per week or
  • losing earnings because they are unable to work for at least 15 or 30 hours a week

For more information see:

This is a partial exemption and the partner is able to:

  • plan for employment and
  • undertake certain work related activities

If a partner qualifies for a full exemption this means they are unable to meet any of their work obligations, including work planning.

Evidence

To support their exemption, the partner must provide a medical certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant). This is generally a Work Capacity Medical Certificate.

The medical certificate must confirm:

  • a diagnosis (what the illness is) and
  • the impact of the condition on their ability to work and
  • the likely duration of the impact and
  • their capacity for work planning, training and part-time work and
  • any other information that is required

Duration of exemption

The period of an exemption is based on the reassessment date recorded on the medical certificate by a client's health practitioner.

This exemption should then be reviewed. At the review you should discuss the client's circumstances and consider whether it is appropriate to extend the exemption for a further period.

You can ask the client to provide proof that the exemption should be extended.

For more information see:

Legislation

  • Exemption from work-test obligations: work-tested spouses or partners regulation 102 Social Security Regulations 2018
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A Work Capacity Medical Certificate provides information to help determine a person's eligibility for a benefit.

Jobseeker Support - health condition, injury or disability requires a Work Capacity Medical Certificate, or other medical certificate with equivalent information, to determine eligibility and activity obligations.

This medical certificate can also be used to determine if people on other benefits are unable to meet work related obligations or to determine eligibility to Supported Living Payment ...

A medical practitioner is commonly referred to as a doctor. Medical practitioners are health practitioners who are registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand as practitioners of the profession of medicine and hold a current practising certificate.

All medical practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

Medical practitioners don't need to have completed their training in New Zealand but must be registered with the New Zealand ...

Nurse practitioners are health practitioners who are registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and hold a current annual practising certificate.

Nurse practitioners are expert or specialist nurses with advanced education, clinical training and experience. They have demonstrated clinical competence and have the legal authority to practice as independent healthcare providers.

All nurse practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

Some nurse practitioners have specialised ...

A dentist or dental practitioner is a health practitioner who is registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand and cares for any disease, disorder or condition of the teeth and associated structures.

Dentists can only sign medical certificates for conditions that have occurred because of dental work or dental conditions.

A midwife is a health practitioner who is registered with the Midwifery Council of New Zealand and trained to provide necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period up to 6 weeks, to facilitate births and to provide care for the newborn.

Midwives can only sign medical certificates for pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions within the range of the midwives' profession.

This includes signing medical certificates for complications ...