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Jobseeker Support : Contents

Granting on ground of hardship

If a client does not meet the residence qualification of 2 years continuous residence, they must meet the following criteria to be granted Jobseeker Support Hardship:

  • they must be a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder
  • they must be suffering hardship and
  • they do not qualify for any other main benefit and
  • they are unable to earn sufficient income to support themselves, their partner, and any dependent children

Note the client may qualify for Emergency Benefit if they:

  • cannot meet the job search requirements (caring for an ill or confined partner for example) or
  • are under restricted criteria and are in New Zealand on a temporary entry class visa (not a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder)

For more information see:

To decide if a client is suffering hardship see:

Legislation

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Temporary entry class visas are issued to people who have arrived in New Zealand legally, but are only allowed to stay for a temporary period for the duration and purposes indicated on the visa.

A temporary entry class visa means:

Legislation

A residence class visa means a:

A residence class visa allows people to live in New Zealand indefinitely. The visa also lets people work and study in New Zealand. There are different travel conditions based on the type of residence class visa.

Residence class visas are granted by Immigration New Zealand.

For the purpose of deciding if a person meets the residence criteria for financial assistance from MSD, people who ...

A main benefit means one of the following:

Legislation

A person can be a New Zealand citizen by either:

For New Zealand citizenship, New Zealand includes the self-governing states of:

Citizenship is granted by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Note people born in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, or Tokelau may not automatically be New Zealand citizens. To be considered a New Zealand citizen from birth, a person born on or after 1 January 2006 must have: