Ending payment for client who needs an approved reason to travel (within 28 day maximum)

Where a client (with work preparation activities assigned) or partner (with work obligations or work preparation activities assigned) is receiving their payments while they are absent from New Zealand for an approved reason their payments will suspend automatically on their agreed return date.

For example, a client has been approved travel to attend a job interview in Sydney. They are approved three days. The benefit will suspend automatically on the day they were meant to return.

Where the client or partner is receiving their payments while they are absent from New Zealand because they have an approved travel reason and their return date changes, they must advise Work and Income from overseas, otherwise their payment will be stopped from the day they originally advised they would return to New Zealand.

A client who is continuing to be paid while they are absent from New Zealand for an approved reason may be able to have their benefit backdated if there is an unforeseen reason they cannot notify Work and Income while they are overseas.

For example, a client boards a plane to return home on schedule and the plane is held up due to fog. There is no way the client could notify Work and Income due to an event outside of their control. When the client contacts Work and Income once they are back in New Zealand, their benefit would be resumed from the original date they were due to return (this will be on the itinerary or e-ticket).

For more information see:

• Approved travel reasons
• Client not returned due to an unforeseeable event
• Absent from New Zealand more than 28 days in any 52 week period