Qualifications
To get Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit, the caregiver must:
- be an eligible caregiver (which is either the principal caregiver or the principal temporary caregiver) of the child and
- be aged 18 years or older and
- be a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder (i.e. not be in New Zealand unlawfully or here on a temporary entry class visa)
In addition, both the caregiver and the child must:
- generally be ordinarily resident in New Zealand and either:
- the child must be resident and present in New Zealand or
- the caregiver must have been resident and present in New Zealand for a continuous period of 12 months at any time
To get Unsupported Child's Benefit, the caregiver must not be the child's natural parent, adoptive parent or step-parent and because of a breakdown in the child's family there is no natural parent, adoptive parent or step-parent able to care for or provide fully for the child.
For Orphan's Benefit the caregiver must not be the child's natural or adoptive parent. The child's parents must either be deceased, cannot be found or they suffer from a serious long-term illness or incapacity, which makes them unable to care for their child.
If a child has been legally adopted, the birth parents are no longer considered the natural parents of the child.
Establishment Grant
When an Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit is granted, an Establishment Grant must be considered. This payment must be made for every child included in the caregiver's Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit, if the child qualifies for the Establishment Grant.
School and Year Start-up Payment
When an Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit is granted between the first Monday, after 10th January and the end of February each year, the caregiver must be advised they may be entitled to a School and Year Start-up Payment and how to apply. This payment must be made for every child included in the caregiver's Orphans Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit.
Clothing Allowance for Orphans and Unsupported Children
When an Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit is granted, a Clothing Allowance is also granted automatically.
The Clothing Allowance provides weekly financial assistance for children that Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit is being paid for. It is non-taxable and paid at the same rate as the clothing allowance for children in the care of the Chief Executive Oranga Tamariki.
Clothing Allowance covers a reasonable range of clothing.
Holiday Allowance and Birthday Allowance
The Holiday Allowance and Birthday Allowance are annual, non-taxable payments to caregivers getting Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit. The Allowances are paid automatically each year at half the weekly rate of Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit.
The Holiday Allowance and Birthday Allowance help the caregiver with the costs of preparing a celebration, purchasing gifts, or planning an event or experience for the child, or children in their care.
For more information see:
- Unsupported Child's Benefit - Case manager guidelines for interviews [no link find out why]
- Establishment Grant
- School and Year Start-up Payment
- Clothing Allowance for Orphans and Unsupported Children
- Holiday Allowance and Birthday Allowance
- Extraordinary Care Fund
Legislation
- Orphan's benefit Part 2, subpart 5 Social Security Act 2018
- Unsupported child's benefit Part 2, subpart 6 Social Security Act 2018
- MSD may refuse or cancel benefit if person not ordinarily resident in New Zealand section 204 Social Security Act 2018
- General limitation on receiving benefit: persons unlawfully resident or present in New Zealand and persons holding temporary entry class visa section 19 Social Security Act 2018
- Orphan's benefit Part 4, Schedule 4, Social Security Act 2018
- Unsupported child's benefit Part 5, Schedule 4, Social Security Act 2018
- Orphan's and Unsupported Child's Benefit (Additional Assistance) Programme
- Effect of adoption order section 16 Adoption Act 1955
