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Sole Parent Support : Contents

Would qualify for Jobseeker Support - health condition, injury or disability

This exemption may apply to clients with work obligations.

If a client meets the qualifications for Jobseeker Support on the ground of a health condition, injury or disability they can be exempt from meeting some or all of their work obligations until their capacity for work improves.

The client must be limited in their capacity to work because of a health condition, injury or disability, and be:

  • unable to look for part-time work of at least 15 hours per week or
  • losing earnings because they are unable to work for at least 15 or 30 hours a week

For more information see:

This is a partial exemption and the client is able to:

  • plan for employment and
  • undertake certain work related activities

Evidence

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

The medical certificate must confirm:

  • a diagnosis (what the illness is) and
  • the impact of the condition on their ability to work and
  • the likely duration of the impact and
  • their capacity for work planning, training and part-time work and
  • any other information needed

Duration

The duration of an exemption is based on the reassessment date recorded on the client’s medical certificate (often their Work Capacity Medical Certificate).

This exemption should then be reviewed. At the review MSD should consider the client's circumstances and whether it is appropriate to extend the exemption.

MSD can ask the client to provide evidence of the reason why the exemption should be extended.

Live Organ Donor

When a Sole Parent Support client is donating a kidney or liver tissue they can continue getting their current benefit. The client must provide evidence they have been accepted as a live organ donor.

Medical evidence must be signed by a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner.

The medical certificate coverage can be the lesser of either:

  • the period specified by the registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner or
  • up to 12 weeks

For more information see:

Legislation

  • Exemption from work-test obligations: work-tested sole parents receiving jobseeker support regulation 103 Social Security Regulations 2018
  • Exemption from work-test obligations: work-tested sole parent support beneficiaries regulation 104 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 ...

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 ...

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 ...