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Jobseeker Support : Contents

Unable to meet work preparation obligations due to health condition, injury or disability

This exemption may apply to:

  • clients (who have a deferral from their work obligations and are subject to work preparation obligations) and
  • partners with work preparation obligations

A client may be unable to meet their work preparation obligations if their health condition, injury or disability restricts them. For example when a client is:

  • in hospital or
  • is unable to attend an interview with MSD due to their condition

MSD should consider the information on the client's Work Capacity Medical Certificate to see if the registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant) has advised of any restrictions to a client's capacity to plan.

This is a full exemption.

Evidence

To support their exemption, the client must provide a Work Capacity Medical Certificate completed and signed by a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant).

The information required on the medical certificate includes:

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

Duration

This exemption can be granted for up to 13 weeks.

For more information see:

Legislation

  • Exemption from work-preparation obligations regulation 100 Social Security Regulations 2018
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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 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 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 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 ...