Child leaves care
When a dependent child leaves the client's care, the child should be excluded from the start of the pay period following the date the child leaves care. The client's benefit rate and the rates of any extra help the client gets should be reassessed to the appropriate rate where applicable.
Note different rules apply when a child stops being a dependent child of a sole parent client because of a sudden change of circumstances beyond the control of the client.
Family tax credit and Best Start tax credit
Family tax credit and Best Start tax credit should be stopped from the start of the pay period following the date of event to avoid an overpayment with Inland Revenue for the client.
Young person aged 16 to 19 must meet Parental Assistance Test
When the last child of a young person aged 16 to 19 leaves their care, they must meet the Parental Assistance Test to keep getting Jobseeker Support. This includes a child the client or their partner got Foster Care Allowance, Orphans Benefit or Unsupported Childs Benefit for. MSD must review Jobseeker Support when this happens.
For more information see:
Legislation
- Ending of benefits sections 325-330 Social Security Act 2018
- Jobseeker support: parental income requirement: when specified young person is subject to it section 23A Social Security Act 2018
