List of amendments
Unofficial consolidated version of the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme
-- as at 4 September 2026
Below is a list of amendments to the programme, starting with the most recent.
Source | Notes |
Instrument amending Welfare Programmes (Modernisation - Automated Decision-Making - End of School Year) 2026 Gazette notice: Effective date: 4 September 2026 | This instrument, which comes into force on 4 September 2026, amends nine welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018 in response to the amendments made through the Social Security (Modernisation) Amendment Act 2026 (Modernisation Act). The welfare programmes that are being amended are set out in Schedule 1 of this instrument. The instrument inserts provisions into the specified welfare programmes to reflect policy changes for the end of school year review process under the Modernisation Act. Under this process, a dependent child is excluded from being included in a caregiver's benefit or special assistance once the child turns 18, unless the caregiver confirms (and the Ministry is satisfied) that the child is not financially independent and is in school or tertiary education. The child will then continue to be included in the caregiver's benefit or special assistance until the earlier of the child being financially independent, leaving school or tertiary education, or until 31 December following the child's 18th birthday. The instrument incorporates the above policy changes into seven of the specified welfare programmes by inserting a new definition of dependent child in each programme. Under the new definition, the Ministry can include an 18 year old child as a dependent child for the purposes of an application for special assistance under each of the programmes, if either of the following circumstances apply:
The instrument also makes consequential amendments and minor editorial corrections to existing language in the welfare programmes. These amendments ensure that the welfare programmes continue to operate as intended following the changes made by the Modernisation Act. |
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:
|
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2025 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 April 2025 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2025, amends the directions in relation to Special Benefit and Advance Payments of Instalments of Benefit and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018: Clause 4 and Schedule 1:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2:
|
Employment and Work Readiness Assistance (Incentive Payments) Amendment 2025 Gazette notice: Effective date: 31 March 2025 | This instrument, which comes into force on 31 March 2025, amends the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme. The amendment-
|
Employment and Work Readiness Assistance (Flexible Childcare Assistance) Amendment 2024 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 April 2024
| This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2024, amends the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme. From 1 April 2024, Flexible Childcare Assistance will be paid under clause 9A of the Schedule instead of clause 9(1) of the Schedule. The amendment extends the duration of Flexible Childcare Assistance payments to 52 weeks and provides new rates of assistance. The amendment also outlines the transitional arrangements for applicants who have been granted Flexible Childcare Assistance prior to 1 April 2024, or applications that are in the process of being assessed on 1 April 2024. |
Employment and Work Readiness Assistance (Incentive Payments) Amendment 2023 Gazette notice: Effective date: 8 April 2023 | This instrument, which comes into force 28 days after being notified in the New Zealand Gazette, amends the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme. The amendment relates to incentive payments to enter or retain employment, relocate for the purpose of employment, gain employment skills, or enter into study or training. The amendment changes the amount of such incentive payments from a lump sum payment not exceeding $5,000, to $5,000 in total in a 52-week period. |
Employment and Work Readiness (Mana in Mahi) Amendment Programme 2022 Gazette notice: Effective date: 5 August 2022 | This instrument, which comes into effect on 5 August 2022, amends the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme. The amendments shorten the period for which assistance is payable in connection with the Mana in Mahi programme operated by MSD from two years to one year. The existing amounts are grand parented for people who are accepted into the programme prior to this instrument coming into effect. |
Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Amendment (No 2) 2021 Gazette notice: Effective date: 26 October 2021 | This instrument, which comes into force on 26 October 2021, amends the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme. This instrument amends the Schedule by increasing the duration of accommodation assistance available for people offered employment under the New Zealand Seasonal Work Assistance Scheme, to support them to undertake seasonal work in New Zealand. |
Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Amendment 2021 Gazette notice: Effective date: 15 February 2021 | This instrument, which comes into force on 15 February 2021, amends the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme. This instrument amends the Schedule by increasing the amount of assistance available to people under Clause 8 from an amount or amounts not exceeding $1,000 to an amount or amounts not exceeding $5,000. This instrument also makes minor and technical changes relating to the New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme administered under the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme. |
Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Amendment (No 2) 2020 Gazette notice: Effective date: 15 November 2020 | This instrument, which comes into force on the day after it is established and approved, amends the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme. This instrument inserts new definitions related to the New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme. It also amends the Schedule by inserting new kinds of assistance available for people offered employment under the New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme by providing assistance with accommodation costs and incentive payments for eligible people, in order to encourage them to undertake seasonal work in New Zealand. |
Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Amendment 2020 Gazette notice: Effective date: 5 August 2020 | This instrument, which comes into force on 5 August 2020, amends the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme. This instrument inserts a new definition for Mana in Mahi. It also amends the Schedule by inserting new kinds of assistance for Mana in Mahi for:
This instrument also amends clause 2 of the Schedule to allow wage subsidies to be used to help people at risk of long-term benefit receipt to retain unsubsidised employment (in addition to obtaining unsubsidised employment). |
Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Amendment 2019 Gazette notice: Effective date: 16 January 2020 | This instrument, which comes into force on 16 January 2020, amends the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme to restrict funding for course costs for longer education or training courses to courses which are Level 3 or below on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. Clause 3(b) of the Schedule to the EWRA programme is amended by replacing "not being a post-graduate degree course" with "being a course level 3 or below on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework". Clauses 5 and 9 are amended by noting that financial assistance for longer education and training courses under these clauses is solely for courses Level 3 and below on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. |
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. |
Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Amendment 2018 Gazette notice: Effective date: 19 June 2018 | This instrument amends the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme ("programme") under the Social Security Act 1964. It amends the programme so that people with sickness, injury, or disability who have received assistance to enter and retain sustainable employment under the programme can receive assistance to retain the same employment after they turn 65, if they choose to continue in that employment. A reference to legislation in the programme is also updated. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2015 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 April 2015 | This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 April 2015, amends two Ministerial directions and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964. Clause 4 and Schedule 1:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amends:
|
Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Amendment 2014 Gazette notice: Effective date: 27 June 2014 | This instrument, most of which comes into force on 1 July 2014, amends the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme ("the principal programme") as a result of funding for certain programmes of assistance being brought within the coverage of the multi-category appropriation Improved Employment and Social Outcomes Support in Vote: Social Development on that date. It adjusts eligibility criteria and specifications for the kinds of assistance available under the principal programme accordingly, including providing for the revocation of the following welfare programmes and bringing (with amendment) certain criteria and specifications from them under the discretionary provisions of the principal programme:
Also revoked are the remainder of the Ministerial Guidelines for Employment and Training Assistance. The revocations are subject to transitional and savings provisions. The Ministerial Direction in relation to sections 124(1)(d) and (1A) 2012 relating to the Transition to Work Grant Programme is consequentially revoked. This instrument also inserts two new kinds of employment or work readiness assistance in the Schedule of the principal programme, clarifies the chief executive's powers when exercising discretion under the principal programme, inserts additional matters to which the chief executive must (or, in one case, may) have regard when exercising discretion, and makes drafting improvements. |
