List of amendments
Unofficial consolidated version of the Away from Home Allowance Programme
-- as at 1 April 2026
Below is a list of amendments to the programme, starting with the most recent.
Source | Notes |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2026 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 April 2026 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2026, amends a number of Ministerial Directions and Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018: Clause 4 and Schedule 1:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2:
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Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (Contributions from Boarders) 2025 Gazette notice: Effective date: 2 March 2026 | This instrument, which comes into force on 2 March 2026, amends three Ministerial directions and three Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018 in response to the amendments made through the Social Assistance Legislation (Accommodation Supplement and Income-related Rent) Amendment Act 2025 (the Amendment Act). The Ministerial directions and Ministerial welfare programmes that are being amended are set out in Schedules 1 and 2 of this Instrument. The changes are necessary as the Amendment Act repeals sections 65(2) and 66(3) of the Social Security Act 2018 (the Act), which define "accommodation costs" and "premises" respectively. Where relevant, references to "accommodation costs" or "weekly accommodation costs" have been replaced by "weekly qualifying accommodation costs" in order to be consistent with the changes made by the Amendment Act. Definitions of "premises" have also been updated in response to the changes in the Amendment Act. These amendments ensure that these Ministerial directions and welfare programmes continue to operate as intended following the changes made by the Amendment Act. The amendments also make minor editorial corrections. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2018 Gazette notice: Effective date: 26 November 2018 | This instrument, which is made under sections 7 and 101 of the Social Security Act 2018 (the Act) and regulations 90 and 211 of the Social Security Regulations 2018 and comes into force on 26 November 2018, amends the Ministerial directions and welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964 (and saved by Schedule 1 of the Act) that are listed in the Schedule of this instrument in the manner set out in that Schedule. The amendments update references to provisions of the Social Security Act 1964 to equivalent provisions of the Act or the Social Security Regulations 2018 and for changes of language in the Act. It also revokes a spent direction and welfare programme. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2013 Gazette notice: Effective date: 15 July 2013 | This instrument, which comes into force on 15 July 2013, amends a number of Ministerial directions and welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964 (the Act). Clause 4 and Schedule 1 primarily updates references to benefits and sections under which those benefits are granted with references to the replacement benefits and sections enacted in the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Act 2013. A number of references to specific benefits are replaced with references to the new definition of the term main benefit under this Act inserted into section 3(1) of the Act. Clause 5 and Schedule 2 creates savings provisions for certain beneficiaries who on 15 July 2013 transfer to jobseeker support or supported living payment under section 40B of the Act from certain former benefits. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No. 3) 2011 Gazette notice: Effective date: 28 September 2011 | This instrument, which comes into effect on 28 September 2011, amends a number of Ministerial directions and welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964:
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Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2011 Gazette notice: Effective date: 9 February 2011 | This instrument amending Ministerial directions and welfare programmes, which comes into effect on the day that it is signed, excludes certain payments from a person's cash assets, which are considered in determining his or her eligibility to the types of social security assistance specified in this instrument. The exclusion is for money paid to a person by the Earthquake Commission or an insurance company in respect of the destruction of or any damage to any property caused by the Canterbury earthquake, or towards the costs of renting accommodation in place of residential premises destroyed or made uninhabitable by the Canterbury earthquake. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No. 3) 2010 Gazette notice: Effective date: 13 September 2010 | This instrument amending Ministerial directions and welfare programmes, which comes into effect on the day that it is signed, excludes certain payments from a person's cash assets, which are considered in determining his or her eligibility to the types of social security assistance specified in this instrument. The exclusion is for payments made in relation to the effects of the Canterbury earthquake from the fund created by donations made to the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal of the New Zealand Red Cross Incorporated and is limited to 12 months from the date of payment. The instrument also updates certain legislative references in two welfare programmes. |
Instrument Amending Ministerial Welfare Programmes 2009 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 January 2010 | This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 January 2010, amends the Away from Home Allowance Programme and the Home Help Programme under the Social Security Act 1964. This instrument has the effect of excluding certain payments from a person's cash assets, which are considered in determining his or her eligibility for the payments under the welfare programmes specified in this instrument. The exclusions are for any amount of income derived by the person from a payment received from the Viet Nam Veterans and Their Families Trust, any payment made to a person on or after 17 August 2007 by the EVSA (Neville Wallace Memorial) Children's & Grandchildren's Trust and any income derived by the person from that payment, and payment made by or on behalf of the Crown to or on behalf of the person because the person is a victim of a crime or a member of the immediate family of a victim. These exclusions are limited to 12 months from the date any such payment is made. |
Instrument Amending Ministerial Welfare Programmes (No. 2) 2008 Gazette notice: Effective date: 3 November 2008 | This instrument, which comes into effect on 3 November 2008, amends two ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964, the Home Help Programme and the Away from Home Allowance Programme, to exempt certain payments from affecting a person's eligibility to assistance under those programmes. These programmes concerned link eligibility for assistance to eligibility for the community services card or the family tax credit, which may be affected by the payments made. The new exemptions apply to compensation and ex gratia payments made by the Crown to a person in recognition of harm or in respect of a claim of harm and to specified payments made to a person by the Viet Nam Veterans and Their Families Trust. The exemptions are limited to 12 months from the date of payment. The instrument also updates references to family support under the Income Tax Act 2004 to the family tax credit under the Income Tax Act 2007. |
Instrument Amending Ministerial Welfare Programmes 2008 Gazette notice: Effective date: 29 April 2008 | This instrument amending the Away from Home Allowance Programme and the Home Help Programme comes into effect on the day after the date on which it is made. This instrument has the effect of excluding certain payments from a person's cash assets, which are considered in determining his or her eligibility for the payments under the welfare programmes specified in this instrument. The exclusions are for: ex gratia payments made by or on behalf of the Crown to a person who was a former patient of the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital and is limited to 12 months from the date of any such payment made on or after 26 October 2007 in both welfare programmes; and the net value of a person's member's interest, on or after 1 May 2008, in a specified non-KiwiSaver scheme in the Home Help Programme. A drafting error in a previous instrument is also corrected. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No. 3) 2007 Gazette notice: Effective date: 26 June 2007 | This instrument amending Ministerial directions and welfare programmes, which comes into effect on the day after the date on which it is published in the New Zealand Gazette excludes certain payments from a person's cash assets, which are considered in determining his or her eligibility to the types of social security assistance specified in this instrument. The exclusion for ex gratia payments made because of personal injury caused by hepatitis C infection contracted through the New Zealand Blood Supply is limited to 12 months from the date of payment. |
