Absence from New Zealand

Clients receiving Jobseeker Support must be:

• available for and seeking full-time work or
• taking steps to become available for it if they are temporarily prevented from doing so by a health condition, injury or disability

Clients receiving Jobseeker Support cannot generally be absent from New Zealand and continue to receive payment of their benefit. The Government's obligation to pay income support usually stops when the client leaves New Zealand.

For more information see:

• Client with work obligations, an exemption or deferral
• Permanent absence

All clients receiving a main benefit must advise Work and Income before they leave New Zealand. If the client or partner does not advise Work and Income prior to their international travel, their benefit payments will stop from the day after they leave New Zealand.

For more information see:

• Obligation to advise of departure from New Zealand

A client or partner not otherwise entitled to be paid their Jobseeker Support may be able to continue to receive their payments for up to 28 days in a 52 week period, while they are absent from New Zealand for:

• Approved travel reasons
• Overseas for medical treatment

Whether a partner of a Jobseeker Support client can be absent from New Zealand and continue to receive payment of their benefit depends on their work or work preparation obligations.

For more information see:

• Partner with work or work preparation obligations

Generally, a benefit cannot be paid for more than 28 days in any 52 week period while the client is absent from New Zealand. However there are limited circumstances where a benefit can be paid for more than 28 days in a 52 week period.

For more information see:

• Absent for more than 28 days in any 52 week period
• Calculating the period of absence
• Payment when client or partner absent from New Zealand