Obligation to advise of departure from New Zealand

All clients getting a main benefit must tell the Ministry of Social Development before they leave New Zealand.

If the client does not tell the Ministry before they go overseas, their benefit payments will stop from the day after they leave New Zealand.

If a client tells us they will be absent from New Zealand, and they have an approved travel reason, they may be able to keep getting payments for up to 28 days.

The Ministry of Social Development has an Approved Information Sharing Agreement with New Zealand Customs Service that identifies clients who have left New Zealand if they are getting a benefit.

Once identified, the client's eligibility to keep getting their benefit payments while they are absent from New Zealand is automatically determined by Ministry systems.

If the client did not tell the Ministry they were leaving New Zealand their benefit will be suspended immediately from the day after they left New Zealand.

The Integrity Intervention Centre will determine if there has been an overpayment, establish any debt and advise the client.

If a client questions the information match refer them to the Integrity Intervention Centre.

For more information see:

• Paying a benefit when the client has not advised before departure
• Approved travel reasons
• Backdating benefit to the day after departure
• Action on return to New Zealand
• Examples of applying the Absence from New Zealand policy
• Contacting Work and Income as soon as the client reasonably can