Absence from New Zealand
Clients getting Supported Living Payment must be:
- both permanently and severely restricted in their capacity for work because of a health condition, or injury or disability from accident, or totally blind, or a condition they have had since birth or
- caring for a person who requires full-time care and attention
Supported Living Payment clients who do not have work preparation activities assigned
Clients getting Supported Living Payment can continue to get their payment when they temporarily leave New Zealand for a period of up to 28 days in any 52 week period.
Note MSD must check that they remain eligible to get Supported Living Payment during any absence. For example, they are taking a short break from caring, and their patient is in respite care.
All clients have an obligation to advise of departure from New Zealand
All clients getting a main benefit must advise the MSD before they leave New Zealand. If the client or partner does not advise MSD prior to their international travel, their benefit payments will stop from the day after they leave New Zealand.
Supported Living Payment client has work preparation activities assigned and needs to be absent from New Zealand
Generally, a client or their partner is not entitled to get Supported Living Payment while absent from New Zealand.
However, in limited circumstances, the Supported Living Payment can be paid for up to 28 days in a 52 week period when a client (or their partner) is absent from New Zealand for:
Special absence reasons for clients getting Supported Living Payment (health condition, injury, or disability)
A client getting Supported Living Payment (health condition, injury or disability) may be able to continue getting their payment for more than 28 days in any 52 week period in some circumstances.
Partner absent from New Zealand
The partner of a Supported Living Payment client may continue getting their benefit while absent from New Zealand. This depends on their work, or work preparation or youth activity obligations.
Payment of benefit while absent for more than 28 days in any 52 week period
Generally, a benefit cannot be paid for more than 28 days absence from New Zealand in any 52 week period. However there are limited circumstances where a benefit can be paid for more than 28 days in a 52 week period.
Mandatory Review while overseas
Clients getting Supported Living Payment who have temporarily left New Zealand must still respond to the Mandatory Review before their review date.
Temporary absence from New Zealand (e.g. personal travel) does not pause or defer the Mandatory Review.
Clients must contact MSD before their review date to talk about their situation if they are unable to respond to their review or if they need more time to do it.
For more information see:
- Clients who do not have work preparation activities assigned
- Permanent absence
- Obligation to advise of departure from New Zealand
- Overseas vocational or disability assistance dog training
- Overseas for medical treatment
- Special Olympics or Paralympics
- Approved overseas disability forum
- Partner with work or work preparation obligations
- Partners of a main beneficiary who have youth activity obligations
- Absent from New Zealand more than 28 days in any 52 week period
- Calculating the period of absence
- Action on return to New Zealand
- Mandatory Review for Supported Living Payment
- Outcomes of a Mandatory Review
- When an extension or exemption can be given
Legislation
- Obligation to notify absence from New Zealand section 114 Social Security Act 2018
- General rule: benefit not payable while beneficiary absent from New Zealand section 219 Social Security Act 2018
- Beneficiary's duty to provide information for review section 310K Social Security Act 2018
- Factors affecting benefits: absence from New Zealand subpart 6 part 4, Social Security Regulations 2018
