Outcomes of Mandatory Review

Clients getting New Zealand Superannuation (who have a grandparented non-qualified partner included in their benefit) must respond to the Mandatory Review before their review date, or their payments will suspend.

When a client responds to the review, there are a number of outcomes that can occur. Once MSD has determined if the client qualifies, MSD will either:

• continue paying the benefit at the existing rate
• adjust the rate of benefit so the client is getting the correct rate
• suspend the benefit if there is no rate payable for a period
• cancel the benefit if the client no longer qualifies

The Mandatory Review is completed when MSD makes a decision about whether the client continues to qualify for New Zealand Superannuation (with a grandparented non-qualified partner included) and the rate of benefit payable(if applicable).

MSD may also carry out a separate review of the New Zealand Superannuation at any time, where there is good reason.

When a client responds to the Mandatory Review and confirms they have had no change in circumstances, MSD must generally continue their New Zealand Superannuation at the same rate.

The client's next review date will be set for 52 weeks from the date MSD completed the review.

Exceptions when a client declares no change

When a client responds to their Mandatory Review and confirms they have no change in circumstances, there are some situations when MSD can request further information from the client before deciding whether to continue New Zealand Superannuation.

When a client responds to the Mandatory Review with a change in circumstances, MSD must use the information provided to determine if the client continues to qualify for New Zealand Superannuation with a grandparented non-qualified partner included, or any other benefits they get that are subject to a Mandatory Review (excluding Orphan's Benefit and Unsupported Child's Benefit) and the rate payable.

MSD may request further information from the client if it is not possible to determine if the client continues to qualify for New Zealand Superannuation.

Date of change

When a client declares a change in circumstances, MSD must assess whether the client still qualifies for New Zealand Superannuation and the rate payable and from what date, depending on when the change in circumstances happened or will happen.

Client is also getting other assistance

When the client has provided information as part of the Mandatory Review that could affect their entitlement to and the rate payable of any other assistance (e.g. Temporary Additional Support), MSD may use this information to review that assistance.

When the other assistance is affected by the outcome of the Mandatory Review, MSD must change the rate, suspend or cancel that assistance where appropriate.

For example, if the outcome of the Mandatory Review is that the client is no longer entitled to New Zealand Superannuation, their Temporary Additional Support must be reviewed, and the rate may change or stop if they no longer qualify.

If further information is needed to determine if the client continues to qualify for New Zealand Superannuation (with a grandparented non-qualified partner included) or that the rate of payment is correct, MSD must give a reasonable timeframe for the client to provide it.

The date the client is given to provide the information by becomes the client's new deadline to respond to the Mandatory Review. If the client does not provide the information that was asked for before the deadline, MSD must suspend the New Zealand Superannuation from the new deadline date.

If the client provides the information that was asked for and MSD has determined the client continues to qualify for New Zealand Superannuation (with a grandparented non-qualified partner included) including the rate payable, the future Mandatory Review date is set 52 weeks from the date MSD completed the review.

In some circumstances MSD can still complete the Mandatory Review when a client has a change in circumstances that doesn't affect the client's eligibility for New Zealand Superannuation.

Example

Marama is getting New Zealand Superannuation (with a grandparented non-qualified partner included in her benefit) and Disability Allowance.

Marama has a Mandatory Review due for both New Zealand Superannuation and Disability Allowance.

Marama responds to the Mandatory Review to confirm her circumstances. Marama tells MSD she has a new disability cost but nothing else has changed.

MSD completes the Mandatory Review and continues New Zealand Superannuation and Disability Allowance at the existing rate.

MSD advises Marama that she needs to provide a medical certificate from her medical or nurse practitioner to confirm the additional cost, and she must provide proof of cost to have the new cost included in her Disability Allowance.