Clause 8. Matters to be applied in exercise of discretion to grant assistance

8

Matters to be applied in exercise of discretion to grant assistance

(1)

In exercising the discretion under clause 6(1), MSD may have regard to an eligible person's cash assets and income (including the cash assets and income of the person's spouse or partner, if any) and must have regard to-

(a)

the principles in section 4 of the Act; and

(b)

any key result areas and performance targets set by the Minister in relation to money appropriated by Parliament that may be used for the purpose of granting special assistance under this programme; and

(c)

the following principles:

(i)

employment or work readiness assistance is available to all people within New Zealand's working-age population or who are young persons who are at risk of long-term benefit receipt, and prioritised to those at greatest risk:

(ii)

employment or work readiness assistance will be monitored, evaluated, and where practicable, based on evidence of 'what works':

(iii)

employment or work readiness assistance resources will be allocated where the potential benefits are greatest:

(iv)

employment or work readiness assistance should minimise adverse impacts on the labour market and should not substitute or displace people within New Zealand's workforce; and

(d)

any policy of the Government relating to employment or work readiness assistance or a specified kind of employment or work readiness assistance; and

(e)

for an eligible person under clause 6(3)(c)(i), the kind of work-related obligations (if any) the person has under the Act depending on whether the person is a work-tested beneficiary, a part-time work-tested beneficiary, or a person who is required to comply with work preparation obligations under section 124 or 125 of the Act; and

(f)

whether section 225 of the Act (which relates to voluntary unemployment) applies to an eligible person or would apply to the person if he or she were a person to whom section 226 of the Act applied; and

(g)

in relation to an eligible person and any specified kind of employment or work readiness assistance, whether the person is or may be entitled to any other publicly funded assistance for the same or a similar purpose under the Act or another enactment.

(2)

In this clause, if MSD decides to have regard to an eligible person's weekly income, the assessment of the applicant's weekly income shall include weekly income calculated under clause 13 and Part 3A of Schedule 3 of the Act.