Approved travel reasons

Unless they have an approved reason, a client getting Sole Parent Support is generally not able to continue to get their main benefit payments while they are absent from New Zealand if they have:

• work obligations (including those with an exemption)
• work-preparation obligations and have work preparation activities assigned

Approved travel includes:

• travel for a permitted reason
• travel where the absence does not prevent the client from meeting all of their obligations because the absence is at a time they are not required to attend employment, education or training (whichever applies)

Note clients are not required to meet their job search obligations while absent from New Zealand on approved travel.

For more information see:

• Permitted travel reasons
• Absences that do not prevent client meeting their obligations

Clients can travel for up to 28 days on Sole Parent Support for an approved travel reason. Discuss with the client the amount of time that they need to be absent from New Zealand as a result of the approved reason. The client should explain the length of their intended absence.

Consider:

• the length of time the event or reason for travel will take
• the duties the client will have as part of their reason (eg if they are travelling for a funeral, do they have responsibilities beyond attending the funeral itself such as estate duties or sorting out the possessions of the deceased?)
• flight availability and travel time

Remember to advise clients that generally they are only able to continue to be paid their benefit for up to 28 days in a 52 week period. This should be taken into account when deciding the approved travel period.

Some clients may travel overseas for an approved travel reason but elect to stay longer for another reason that is not an approved travel reason. In this case, the client can generally only receive their main benefit payments for the period of time that the approved travel reason applies to.

For more information see:

• Examples of applying the Absence from New Zealand policy
• Travel notifications made while overseas [no link find out why] process
• Travel notifications made on return to New Zealand [no link find out why] process