Examples of applying the Absence from New Zealand Policy

Carlos contacts MSD on 19 November to advise that he has returned from travelling to Malaysia to be with his dying mother. He left in a hurry and didn't contact MSD before his departure. His Supported Living Payment stopped on 4 November, the day after he left the country. He returned to New Zealand on 14 November, but then had to organise a New Zealand-based funeral for his mother, as a large number of people are based in New Zealand.

Carlos didn't advise MSD of his travel before leaving New Zealand, but he has a humanitarian reason that justifies his for travel and the reason he didn't contact MSD before he left. Given Carlos' circumstances, he contacted MSD as soon as it would have been reasonable to expect him to and he meets the criteria for an approved travel reason. Carlos' Supported Living Payment can be backdated to 4 November.

Sanjay left New Zealand for India on 7 December because his father had become suddenly seriously ill and been hospitalised. While in India, Sanjay's father passed away and Sanjay stayed in India for the funeral. Sanjay returned on 16 December, after staying for 2 weeks for the Hindu funeral and mourning period.

On 19 December, Sanjay contacts MSD to explain that he has been overseas after learning of his father's sudden illness, and that he stayed for the funeral. On return, Sanjay spent time mourning with his own family and has been distraught. He explains that he only realised on last night that he had not informed MSD of his absence.

Sanjay's reason for leaving New Zealand is a humanitarian reason and he meets the criteria for backdating his payment to the day after his departure. Given Sanjay's circumstances, he informed MSD as soon as he reasonably could. Sanjay's Supported Living Payment can be backdated to 8 December, the date it was suspended.

Tusila is getting Supported Living Payment for caring for a person, On 5 October Tuslia calls MSD to tell them she will leave New Zealand on 7 October to help her sister, who just lost her house in a flood. When asked how long she will be gone for, Tusila says that she hasn't bought a return ticket yet and was considering staying on to catch up with family and see how her sister is going.

MSD informs Tusila that she can only keep getting her Supported Living Payment while overseas for 28 days within a 52 week period. Tusila decides she will return on 14 October in order not to use up all of her overseas travel time.

Tobias left New Zealand on 16 August for a holiday. He returns 20 days later on 5 September. 3 weeks after he returned, on 27 September, Tobias asks MSD why he hasn't been getting his Supported Living Payment.

MSD informs him his Supported Living Payment was stopped when he left New Zealand because he did not tell MSD about his travel, and asks if there was a reason why he didn't tell MSD before he left.

Tobias says he just hadn't got around to contacting MSD since he got back.

MSD restarts Tobias' payment from 27 September, as it is more than 14 days after Tobias' return date.