Change in living situation

MSD should review the rate of payment of New Zealand Superannuation whenever there is a change in the clients living situation such as:

• change in relationship status e.g. getting married, starting or ending a de facto relationship or a civil union which may affect a grandparented non-qualified partner or a partner getting a main benefit
• death of a partner
• partner enters long term residential care or hospital
• starts or stops living alone
• has a visitor who stays for more than 13 weeks in any 26 week period
• change in the number of children supported (child comes into or leaves their care)

When a child has come into a client’s care, MSD should consider if there are any care and protection concerns.

If MSD believes any child has been, or is likely to be harmed (physically, emotionally or sexually), ill-treated, abused, neglected, deprived or MSD has concerns about the wellbeing of the child, the case must be referred to Oranga Tamariki.

MSD staff must notify Oranga Tamariki if they are aware that the child's sole caregiver has been remanded in custody and/or sentenced to a term of imprisonment.