Schedule

Kind of assistance

Amount

1

Work confidence and motivation assistance

The purchase for an eligible person of services (whether provided by an instrument of the Crown or a contracted service provider) designed to help people who are at risk of long-term benefit dependency to increase their motivation, confidence, and job searching skills, or for overcoming other factors that impede their entering or continuing employment, or both, including (but not limited to) domestic and social circumstances or drug or alcohol use

Not more than $10,000 in total (GST inclusive) within a 52-week period, subject to clause 12 of this Schedule

2

Wage subsidies

The purchase (by way of a subsidy towards the person's wages or salary for a period agreed with the employer) of an employment place for an eligible person at risk of long-term benefit dependency to assist the person to gain the employment skills required to obtain or retain unsubsidised employment

A weekly amount not more than the minimum rate of wage (as from time to time prescribed under the Minimum Wage Act 1983) payable to an adult worker paid by the hour for employment of 30 hours in a week (GST inclusive), subject to clauses 7(b) and 12 of this Schedule

3

Education and employment-related training

(a)

Short-term training courses

The purchase for an eligible person with specific employment skills deficits of a place in a short-term employment-related training course

The actual and reasonable fees charged by the training provider for the training and (including the amount of any associated grant under clause 5 or 9 of this Schedule) not exceeding $1,000 in a 52-week period

(b)

Longer education or training courses

The purchase for an eligible person at risk of long-term benefit dependency and who has specific employment skills deficits of a place in an educational course or a course of employment-related training being a course level 3 or below on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework

A total amount (including the amount of any associated grant under clause 5 or 9 of this Schedule) not exceeding $5,000 for each year of the course

(c)

Education or training courses for Mana in Mahi

The purchase for an eligible person who has been accepted in Mana in Mahi of a place in an educational course or a course of employment-related training being a course level 7 or below on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (or equivalent international qualification)

A total amount not exceeding $8,000 over one year

4

Job search assistance, employment placement, and in-work support services

The purchase for an eligible person at risk of long-term benefit dependency of services designed to support the person's pre- and post-placement in employment

The contract price for the relevant services agreed under section 373 of the Act

5

Additional costs associated with employment, study, or employment-related training

(1)

Financial assistance to assist an eligible person with the additional costs (including but not limited to transport costs and course costs other than tuition fees) associated with their participation, for a period specified by MSD, in-

The actual and reasonable costs for that purpose (as determined by MSD)

(a)

employment; or

(b)

study in an education course; or

(c)

employment-related training; or

(d)

an activity that in the chief executive's opinion, is likely to improve the person's work readiness

(2)

Financial assistance paid for longer education and training courses under this clause is solely for courses level 3 and below on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework

5A

Additional assistance associated with Mana in Mahi

Financial assistance to assist an eligible person who has been accepted in Mana in Mahi with additional educational support costs (including but not limited to literacy and numeracy training or equipment to work or study from home)

The actual and reasonable costs for that purpose (as determined by MSD) but not exceeding $2,000 in total over one year

5B

Additional accommodation assistance associated with the New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme

Financial assistance to support an eligible person with additional accommodation costs, who has been accepted in the New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme, if that person is required to temporarily relocate their place of residence to enable them to take up an offer of seasonal work.

The actual and reasonable costs for that purpose (as determined by MSD) up to $200 per week, but not exceeding $5,200 over 26 weeks in total in a 52-week period.

6

Assistance to transition into employment

(1)

Financial assistance to assist an eligible person meet the costs of moving into employment including (but not limited to) assistance toward any of-

The actual and reasonable costs for that purpose (as determined by MSD) but not more than $1,500 in a 52-week period

(a)

the cost of any uniform or clothing or special footwear reasonably required for the employment not met by the employer (not being clothing, footwear, or equipment the employer is required to supply to comply with the employer's obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015); and

(b)

the costs relating to participation in any job interview for the employment; and

(c)

except for a full-time student undertaking employment during the period between the end of an academic year and the start of the next academic year and subject to subclause (2), bridging finance for the person's living costs for a period not exceeding 4 weeks between,-

(i)

in the case of an eligible person moving from receipt of a main benefit under the Act to employment, the date the benefit ends and the date of the first payment of wages or salary from the employment; or

(ii)

in the case of an eligible person moving from one employment (employment A) to another (employment B) and who, in the chief executive's opinion, would be at risk of receiving a main benefit under this Act if assistance under this paragraph were not granted, the date on which employment A ceased and the date of the first payment of wages or salary from employment B; and

(d)

the cost of an interpreter; and

(e)

the costs of tattoo removal if the applicant is referred to a tattoo removal service by a medical practitioner; and

(f)

job placement expenses, being costs that an applicant will need to incur to enter employment (other than training costs) including relocation costs if the applicant needs to relocate their place of residence to take up the offer of employment

(2)

If the applicant is receiving work bonus payments under the Work Bonus Programmes established and approved under section 124(1)(d) of the Social Security Act 1964 and saved by clause 21 of Schedule 1 of the Act in respect of the cancellation or termination of a main benefit under the Act, any grant for bridging finance under subclause (1)(c) is affected as follows:

(a)

the grant is not payable if the total amount of the work bonus payments in the first two weeks following the date of the last payment of the main benefit is equal to or more than $500:

(b)

if paragraph (a) does not apply, each dollar of the amount of the grant payable in respect of a week is reduced by each whole dollar amount of the work bonus payment payable in that week

6A

Incentive payments

(aa)

MSD may only grant a person an incentive payment under clause 6A(a) or (b) of the Schedule of this programme for any given period if that person is not receiving a payment under clause 5B or clause 6A(c) of the Schedule for the same period.

(a)

Incentive payments

A payment to an eligible person as an incentive for that person to do one or more of the following activities:

An amount or amounts not exceeding $3,000 in total in a 52-week period

(i)

enter or retain employment:

(ii)

take up an offer of suitable employment:

(iii)

gain employment skills:

(iv)

enter into study or employment- related training

(b)

Incentive payments for Mana in Mahi

Payments to an eligible person who has been accepted in Mana in Mahi as an incentive for that person to continue in that programme

An amount or amounts not exceeding $3,000 in total over one year

(c)

Incentive payments for New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme

A payment to an eligible person under the New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme as an incentive for that person to undertake seasonal work, if that person is required to temporarily relocate their place of residence to enable them to take up an offer of seasonal work.

One or two lump sum payments of $500 (and no more than $1,000 in total) over a 52-week period, paid at milestones as set by MSD in promulgated guidelines, to a person who is currently undertaking seasonal work.

7

Extra or specialist assistance for eligible people with health condition, injury, or disability

(a)

General

Financial assistance, the purchase of services, or both, for an eligible person with a health condition, injury, or disability (whether temporary or permanent) to help the person to take up, return to, or retain paid employment or self-employment (for example, health services, disability services, modifications to the workplace or equipment, additional transport costs, mentoring, and workplace support)

The actual and reasonable costs required for that purpose (GST inclusive) (as determined by MSD)

(b)

Wage subsidies

The purchase (by way of a subsidy towards the person's wages or salary for a period agreed with the employer) of an employment place for an eligible person with a health condition, injury, or disability to assist the person to gain employment skills and to obtain unsubsidised employment

A weekly amount of not more than the amount of the person's wage or salary calculated on a weekly basis before the deduction of income tax (GST inclusive)

8

Assistance to enter self-employment

(a)

Costs for preparing to enter self-employment and to obtain business advice and certain reports

Financial assistance to assist an eligible person to investigate or enter self-employment by meeting the costs of business skills training, developing a business plan, obtaining business advice before and during the start-up period of the person's business, obtaining an independent vetting report, and obtaining a post business start-up financial report

An amount or amounts not exceeding $5,000 in total

(b)

Business start-up costs

Financial assistance to assist an eligible person who is entering self-employment to meet essential business start-up costs. In this paragraph, business start-up costs-

One or more lump sum payments (not exceeding $10,000 in total) set by MSD having regard to the amount of any financial assistance provided by MSD other than under this programme for an income-related purpose of the person

(i)

includes (without limitation) the costs of leasing premises or purchasing or leasing plant or equipment (including legal fees), or obtaining insurance; but

(ii)

does not include any cost for an income-related purpose or of a kind described in paragraph (a)

9

Assistance to access child care or care for people with health condition, injury, or disability or elderly people

(1)

Financial assistance to help an eligible person pay for childcare or care for a person with a health condition, injury, or disability, or who is elderly, and associated costs (for example, transport to the care provider) in order to obtain or remain in paid employment or participate in education or employment-related training

An amount not exceeding the actual and reasonable costs for that purpose (as determined or estimated by MSD) that are in excess of any financial assistance available to the person for that purpose under the Act or from any other publicly funded source

(2)

Financial assistance paid for longer education and training courses under this clause is solely for courses level 3 and below on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework

9A

Flexible Childcare Assistance

(1)

Financial assistance to help a person pay for costs associated with informal childcare in excess of any financial assistance available to the person for that purpose under the Act or from any other publicly funded source in order to obtain or remain in paid employment or participate in employment-related education or employment-related training.

The following rate per week up to a maximum of 52-weeks:

(i) $67.48 for one child:
(ii) $101.22 for two children:
(iii) $134.96 for three children:
(iv) $168.70 for four children:
(v) $202.44 for five or more children.

(2)

Clause 9A is subject to subclause 9(2) of the Schedule.

10

Career guidance and information services

The purchase for an eligible person of services being careers advice or assistance to help the person make informed educational, work, and career-related choices, prepare a curriculum vitae, or improve the person's interview skills

The contract price of the services agreed under section 373 of the Act (GST inclusive)

11

Work experience, activity in the community, and recognised voluntary work

The purchase for an eligible person of an opportunity to gain work experience, undertake activity in the community, or undertake recognised voluntary work

The actual and reasonable costs of purchasing the opportunity (GST inclusive).

11A

Assistance for young people

The purchase for an eligible person who is a young person of youth services or services of the kind referred to in regulation 266 of the Social Security Regulations 2018

The contract price of the services agreed under section 373 of the Act

12

Exceptional circumstances

If MSD considers an eligible person's circumstances to be exceptional, the maximum amount specified in clause 1 or 2 of this Schedule may be exceeded by an amount MSD considers reasonable in those circumstances.