Direction on Advance Payments of Instalments of Benefit

To: The Chief Executive of the Department of Work and Income

Pursuant to section 5 of the Social Security Act 1964, I, Roger Morrison Sowry, Minister of Social Services, Work and Income, give you the following direction.

This direction is saved by clause 2(1) of Schedule 1 of the Social Security Act 2018 as if it were a direction given to MSD under section 7 of the Act.

This direction replaces and revokes the previous directions relating to Advance Payment of Benefits given to the Director-General of Social Welfare and in force, in relation to you, by virtue of section 10 of the Employment Services and Income Support (Integrated Administration) Act 1998.

This direction applies where a Beneficiary makes application for an advance payment of a Benefit under section 347 of the Social Security Act 2018.

In determining under section 82(6C)(a) of the Social Security Act 1964 whether you are satisfied that an applicant for an advance payment of benefit or an applicant's spouse or partner has failed to take reasonable steps to better manage his or her finances, you must have regard to a failure by that person to comply with a request to undertake a budgeting activity made under clause 9.12 of the Special Needs Grants Programme or clause 9.5 of the Recoverable Assistance Programme.

In considering whether an advance payment of a Benefit would best meet the Immediate Needs of a Beneficiary and in exercising your discretion to make such payment, you are to apply the following provisions.

Dated 25 May 1999

Roger Sowry
Minister of Social Services, Work and Income

Analysis

1. Interpretation

2. Identifying Particular Immediate Need

3. Determining whether an Advance would Best Meet the Immediate Needs of the Beneficiary

4. Amount of Advance

5. Repayment of Advance

6. Exercise of Discretion

7. Advances for Particular Needs

List of amendments

Gazette notice: Number 4503, dated 24 June 1999