List of amendments

Source

Notes

Instrument amending Welfare Programmes (Modernisation - Automated Decision-Making - End of School Year) 2026

Gazette notice:
Number 2026-sl4414, dated 11 August 2026

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 applicant has an 18 year old child included in their benefit or special assistance as a dependent child under the relevant end of school year provisions of the Social Security Act 2018, or
• the applicant does not receive a benefit or special assistance under the Social Security Act to which the relevant end of school year provisions apply, but they have an 18 year old child who would meet the same criteria to be included as a dependent child in a benefit or special assistance (if those provisions did apply), in that the child is not financially independent and is in school or tertiary education.

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.

Flexible Funding Programme Amendment 2026

Gazette notice:
Number 2026-sl2918, dated 28 May 2026

Effective date: 1 July 2026

This instrument, which comes into force on 1 July 2026, amends the Flexible Funding Programme under the Social Security Act 2018 to extend the expiry date of the programme from 30 June 2026 to 30 June 2027.

Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes (Emergency Housing) 2024

Gazette notice:
Number 2024-sl3594, dated 26 July 2024

Effective date: 26 August 2024

This instrument, which comes into force on 26 August 2024,-

• revokes the provisions in the Special Needs Grants Programme that provide for emergency housing assistance, which will now be provided for under the Emergency Housing Grants Programme; and
• inserts transitional provisions into the Special Needs Grants Programme to ensure that emergency housing assistance, provided under that programme before 26 August 2024, continues to be subject to the terms of the relevant revoked or amended clauses after that date; and
• makes consequential amendments to the Ministerial Direction on the Redirection of Benefit Payments and the Flexible Funding Programme to ensure the amended provisions continue to operate as intended once the Emergency Housing Grants Programme comes into force.

Instrument Amending Ministerial Welfare Programmes 2024

Gazette notice:
Number 2024-sl2499, dated 30 May 2024

Effective date: 28 June 2024

This instrument, which comes into force on 28 June 2024, amends Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018

• The Temporary Accommodation Assistance Programme is amended to extend the expiry date of the programme from 30 June 2024 to 30 June 2025.
• The Flexible Funding Programme is amended to extend the expiry date of the programme from 30 June 2024 to 30 June 2026. It is also amended to explicitly include section 103 of the Social Security Act 2018 in the 'Application of the Act' section. This will allow funding to be available to an eligible household who has a dependent child aged 18 who is in education. This will align the Flexible Funding Programme with the wider social security system.

Instrument amending Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2023

Gazette notice:
Number 2023-sI3555, dated 7 August 2023

Effective date: 4 September 2023 and 6 November 2023

This instrument, the majority of which comes into force 28 days after it is notified in the New Zealand Gazette, amends Ministerial Welfare Programmes under the Social Security Act 2018.

• The Special Needs Grants Programme is amended to:
  • Provide that MSD may only grant an emergency housing grant in respect of an opted-in supplier, except in certain circumstances.
  • Remove eligibility for a recoverable grant under the Special Needs Grants Programme for applicants who are eligible for a recoverable grant under the Housing Support Programme for the same need.
  • Maintain eligibility for a non-recoverable grant under the Special Needs Grants Programme for applicants who are eligible for a recoverable grant under the Housing Support Programme for the same need.
  • Provide clarity that MSD may make recoverable security deposit grants for Emergency Housing outside of an emergency housing grant.
  • Ensure that the same settings, including income limits, apply to eligible people accessing a security deposit grant regardless of whether they access Emergency Housing outside of an emergency housing grant.
  • Revoke the Special Assistance to affected residents of Waihi as this assistance is no longer available.
• The Flexible Funding Programme is amended to extend the expiry date of the programme from 2 November 2023 to 30 June 2024.

Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes (Child Support Pass On) 2023

Gazette notice:
Number 2023-sI3846, dated 18 August 2023

Effective date: 22 August 2023

This instrument, which comes into force on 22 August 2023, amends a Ministerial direction and multiple Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018 to give effect to the Child Support (Pass on) Acts Amendment Act 2023. The Ministerial direction and Ministerial welfare programmes that are being amended are set out in Schedules 1 and 2 of this instrument.

The amendments clarify that when a person's weekly income is calculated, for the purposes of the direction and the welfare programmes outlined in Schedules 1 and 2, their weekly income will include both income calculated under clause 13 and Part 3A of Schedule 3 of the Social Security Act 2018.

These amendments ensure that income calculated under Part 3A of Schedule 3 of the Social Security Act 2018, which relate to any information share child support payment, is explicitly included as weekly income in addition to any weekly income calculated under the general income charging rules under the Act.

The amendments also make minor editorial corrections.