Contents
Home Help Programme : Contents

List of amendments

Unofficial consolidated version of the Home Help 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:
Number 2026-sl1167, dated 4 March 2026

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:

  • makes several minor and technical amendments to the Direction setting approval criteria for specified early childhood education programmes for purposes of social obligations under the Social Security Act 2018 and the Ministerial Direction on Debt Recovery;
  • adjusts the appropriate income limits in relation to Advance Payments of Instalments of Benefit to reflect the 2.91% increase in the net average wage over the previous year;
  • adjusts standard costs, to the Direction in relation to Special Benefit to reflect a 3.11% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index (CPI) from the December 2024 quarter to the December 2025 quarter (calculated using the CPI (All Groups)).

Clause 4 and Schedule 2:

  • makes several minor and technical amendments to the Away from Home Allowance Programme, Emergency Housing Grants Programme, Flexi-wage Employment Assistance Programme and the Special Needs Grants Programme;
  • adjusts certain rates and limits in relation to the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme, Family Start and Early Start (Childcare Assistance) Programme, Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Programme, New Employment Transition Grant Programme, Seasonal Work Assistance Programme, and Training Incentive Allowance Programme to reflect a 3.11% increase in the CPI from the December 2024 quarter to the December 2025 quarter (calculated using the CPI (All Groups));
  • adjusts the appropriate income limits in relation to the Recoverable Assistance Programme and Special Needs Grants Programme to reflect the 2.91% increase in the net average wage over the previous year;
  • amends the Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate, that may be paid to a home helper, in line with the actual 1.91% increase in the adult minimum wage rate from 1 April 2026 (occurring in line with Cabinet's decision to increase the minimum wage by 2.0% and then round to the nearest 5 cents);
  • amend the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2025

Gazette notice:
Number 2025-sl1056, dated 25 February 2025

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:

  • adjusts the appropriate income limits in relation to Advance Payments of Instalments of Benefit to reflect the 3.51% increase in the net average wage over the previous year;
  • adjusts standard costs, in relation to the direction on Special Benefit to reflect a 2.22% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index (CPI) from the December 2023 quarter to the December 2024 quarter (calculated using the CPI (All Groups)).

Clause 4 and Schedule 2:

  • adjusts certain rates and limits in relation to the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme, Family Start and Early Start (Childcare Assistance) Programme, Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Programme, New Employment Transition Grant Programme, Seasonal Work Assistance Programme, and Training Incentive Allowance Programme to reflect a 2.22% increase in the CPI from the December 2023 quarter to the December 2024 quarter (calculated using the CPI (All Groups));
  • adjusts the appropriate income limits in relation to the Recoverable Assistance Programme and Special Needs Grants Programme to reflect the 3.51% increase in the net average wage over the previous year;
  • the Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate, that may be paid to a home helper, in line with the actual 1.5% increase in the adult minimum wage rate from 1 April 2025 (occurring in line with Cabinet's decision to increase the minimum wage by 1.5% and then round to the nearest 1 cent);
  • the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2024

Gazette notice:
Number 2024-sl844, dated 27 February 2024

Effective date: 1 April 2024

This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2024, 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:

  • adjusts the appropriate income limits in relation to Advance Payments of Instalments of Benefit to reflect the 5.28% increase in the net average wage over the previous year
  • adjusts standard costs, in relation to the direction in relation to Special Benefit to reflect a 4.66% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index (CPI) from the December 2022 quarter to the December 2023 quarter (calculated using the CPI (All Groups))

Clause 4 and Schedule 2:

  • adjusts the rate of the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment to align with the highest Childcare Subsidy rate to reflect increased costs of childcare and labour market realities, and to reflect a 4.66% increase in the CPI from the December 2022 quarter to the December 2023 quarter (calculated using the CPI (All Groups))
  • adjusts certain rates and limits in relation to Family Start and Early Start (Childcare Assistance) Programme, New Employment Transition Grant Programme, Seasonal Work Assistance Programme, and Training Incentive Allowance Programme to reflect a 4.66% increase in the CPI from the December 2022 quarter to the December 2023 quarter (calculated using the CPI (All Groups))
  • adjusts the appropriate income limits in relation to the Recoverable Assistance Programme and Special Needs Grants Programme to reflect the 5.28% increase in the net average wage over the previous year
  • the Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate, that may be paid to a home helper, in line with the actual 1.98% increase in the adult minimum wage rate from 1 April 2024 (occurring in line with Cabinet's decision to increase the minimum wage by 2% and then round to the nearest 1 cent)
  • the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2023

Gazette notice:
Number 2023-sl919, dated 9 March 2023

Effective date: 1 April 2023

This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2023, 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:

  • adjusts the appropriate income limits in relation to Advance Payments of Instalments of Benefit to reflect the 6.24% increase in the net average wage over the previous year
  • adjusts standard costs, in relation to the direction in relation to Special Benefit to reflect a 7.22% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index (CPI) from the December 2021 quarter to the December 2022 quarter (calculated using the CPI (All Groups))

Clause 4 and Schedule 2:

  • adjusts certain rates and limits in relation to Family Start and Early Start (Childcare Assistance) Programme, New Employment Transition Grant Programme, Seasonal Work Assistance Programme, and Training Incentive Allowance Programme to reflect a 7.22% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index (CPI) from the December 2021 quarter to the December 2022 quarter (calculated using the CPI (All Groups))
  • adjusts the appropriate income limits in relation to the Recoverable Assistance Programme and Special Needs Grants Programme to reflect the 6.24% increase in the net average wage over the previous year
  • the Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate, that may be paid to a home helper, in line with the actual 7.08% increase in the adult minimum wage rate from 1 April 2023 (occurring in line with Cabinet's decision to increase the minimum wage by 7.2% and then round to the nearest 10 cents)
  • the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals

Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2022

Gazette notice:
Number 2022-s1707, dated 1 March 2022

Effective date: 1 April 2022

This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2022, 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:

  • adjusts standard costs, in relation to the direction in relation to Special Benefit to reflect a 5.95% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2020 quarter to the December 2021 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups)
  • adjusts the appropriate income thresholds in relation to Advance Payments of Instalments Benefit to reflect a 5.95% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2020 quarter to the December 2021 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups)

Clause 4 and Schedule 2:

  • adjusts certain rates and limits in relation to Family Start and Early Start (Childcare Assistance) Programme, New Employment Transition Grant Programme, Recoverable Assistance Programme, Seasonal Work Assistance Programme, Special Needs Grant Programme and Training Incentive Allowance Programme to reflect a 5.95% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2020 quarter to the December 2021 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups)
  • the Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate to reflect a 6% increase in the adult minimum wage
  • the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals

Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes 2021

Gazette notice:
Number 838, dated 8 March 2021

Effective date: 1 April 2021

This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2021, amends the Direction in relation to Special Benefit and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018:

Clause 4 and Schedule 1:

  • adjusts standard costs, in relation to the Direction in relation to Special Benefit to reflect a 1.15% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2019 quarter to the December 2020 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products)
  • amends the definition of 'chargeable income' to exclude the Abatement Threshold (Transitional Assistance) Payment 2021 welfare programme

Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amends:

  • adjusts certain rates and limits in relation to Family Start and Early Start (Childcare Assistance) Programme, New Employment Transition Grant Programme, and Seasonal Work Assistance Programme, to reflect a 1.15% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2019 quarter to the December 2020 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products)
  • the Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate to reflect a 3.09% increase in the adult minimum wage:
  • the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals:
  • the Special Needs Grants Programme to reflect the increase to the abatement thresholds for jobseeker support under the Social Security Act 2018.

Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes 2020

Gazette notice:
Number 974, dated 2 March 2020

Effective date: 1 April 2020

This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2020, amends a Ministerial direction and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018.

Clause 4 and Schedule, amendments to direction:

  • adjusts certain rates, standard costs, and limits in relation to the Direction in relation to Special Benefit to reflect a 1.66% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2018 quarter to the December 2019 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products)
  • amends the Direction in relation to Special Benefit to exclude payments made under the Income Support Package (Transitional Assistance) Programme from the definition of chargeable income.

Clause 4 and Schedule, amendments to welfare programmes:

  • adjusts certain rates, standard costs, and limits in relation to welfare programmes including the Family Start and Early Start (Childcare Assistance) Programme, New Employment Transition Grant Programme, and Seasonal Work Assistance Programme to reflect a 1.66% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2018 quarter to the December 2019 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products)
  • amends the Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate to reflect a 6.78% increase in the adult minimum wage:
  • amends the Special Needs Grant Programme, to adjust the income abatement rate for assistance to Farmers, from $80 to $90, in line with Income Support Package decisions.
  • amends the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes 2019

Gazette notice:
Number 956, dated 1 March 2019

Effective date: 1 April 2019

This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2019, amends a Ministerial direction and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018.

Clause 4 and Schedule 1:

  • adjusts certain rates, standard costs, and limits in relation to the Direction in relation to Special Benefit, Family Start and Early Start (Childcare Assistance) Programme, New Employment Transition Grant Programme, and Seasonal Work Assistance Programme to reflect a 1.69% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2017 quarter to the December 2018 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products)

Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amends:

  • the Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate to reflect a 7.27% increase in the adult minimum wage:
  • the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals:
  • the Special Needs Grants Programme to amend the definition of "dentist" for the emergency dental grant so that it refers to a definition in regulation 3 of the Social Security Regulations 2018.

Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2018

Gazette notice:
Number 5345, dated 26 October 2018

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 Direction and Welfare Programmes 2018

Gazette notice:
Number 1058, dated 5 March 2018

Effective date: 1 April 2018

This instrument, which generally comes into force on 1 April 2018, amends a Ministerial direction and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964.

Clause 4 and Schedule 1:

  • adjusts certain rates, standard costs, and limits in relation to the Direction in relation to Special Benefit, Family Start and Early Start (Childcare Assistance) Programme, New Employment Transition Grant Programme, and Seasonal Work Assistance Programme to reflect a 1.36% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2016 quarter to the December 2017 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products); and
  • amends the definition of chargeable income in the Direction in relation to Special Benefit to exclude payments under the Families Package (Transitional Assistance) Programme and (on and from 1 July 2018) the winter energy payment and include the Best Start tax credit.

Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amends:

  • the Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate to reflect a 4.76% increase in the adult minimum wage:
  • the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals:
  • the Families Package (Transitional Assistance) Programme to correct drafting errors.

Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes 2017

Gazette notice:
Number 1227, dated 16 March 2017

Effective date: 1 April 2017

This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 April 2017, amends a Ministerial direction and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964.

Clause 4 and Schedule 1:

  • adjust certain rates, standard costs, and limits in relation to Special Benefit, Family Start and Early Start (Childcare Assistance) Programme, New Employment Transition Grant Programme, and Seasonal Work Assistance Programme to reflect a 1.10% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2015 quarter to the December 2016 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products).

Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amend:

  • the Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate to reflect a 3.28% increase in the adult minimum wage;

and

  • the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Instrument amending Welfare Programmes 2016

Gazette notice:
Number 1630, dated 24 March 2016

Effective date: 1 April 2016

This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2016, amends three welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964.

Clause 4 and the Schedule amends:

  • the Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate to reflect a 3.4% increase in the adult minimum wage:
  • the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000, to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals:
  • the Work Bonus Programme, to change references to a dependent child aged under five years to a dependent child aged under three years, consequentially on the amendments made by the Social Security Amendment Act (No 2) 2015 on 1 April 2016 to the age of a dependent child for work-testing purposes.

Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2015

Gazette notice:
Number 1608, dated 19 March 2015

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:

  • adjusts certain rates, standard costs, and limits to reflect a 0.51% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2013 quarter to the December 2014 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products).

Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amends:

  • the Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate to reflect a 3.51% increase in the adult minimum wage;
  • the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals:
  • a Ministerial direction and a number of welfare programmes to make consequential amendments resulting from the Veterans' Support Act 2014 replacing the War Pensions Act 1954:
  • a Ministerial direction and two welfare programmes to exempt as cash assets money held to the credit of a person under the Government's short-term housing response scheme in Christchurch

Instrument Amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes 2014

Gazette notice:
Number 1770, dated 20 March 2014

Effective date: 1 April 2014

This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 April 2014, amends a Ministerial direction and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964.

Clause 4 and Schedule 1:

  • adjusts certain rates, standard costs, and limits to reflect a 1.38% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2012 quarter to the December 2013 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products).

Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amends the:

  • Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate to reflect a 3.64% increase in the adult minimum wage;
  • Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes 2013

Gazette notice:
Number 1743, dated 28 March 2013

Effective date: 1 April 2013

This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 April 2013, amends a Ministerial direction and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964.

Clause 4 and Schedule 1:

  • adjusts certain rates, standard costs, and limits to reflect a 0.61% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2011 quarter to the December 2012 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products).
  • revokes an obsolete special benefit standard cost (in clause 2 of the Schedule of the Ministerial Direction in relation to Special Benefit) as no youth support payment recipient is eligible for a special benefit.

Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amends the:

  • Home Help Programme, to adjust the hourly rate to reflect a 1.85% increase in the adult minimum wage, and to revoke provision for an automatic increase in the rates of home help based on increases to the minimum wage - as the hourly rate is adjusted each year for increases to the minimum wage, provision for automatic increase is unnecessary duplication.
  • Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Instrument Amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2012

Gazette notice:
Number 1783, dated 22 March 2012

Effective date: 1 April 2012

This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 April 2012, amends two Ministerial directions and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964.

Clause 4 and Schedule 1 adjusts certain rates, standard costs, and limits to reflect a 1.77% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2010 quarter to the December 2011 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products).

Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amend the:

  • Direction on Advance Payments of Benefits to limit the amount of any advance, or the total of any advance and any prior advances that have not been repaid, to the equivalent of instalments of the benefit payable to the beneficiary and the beneficiary's spouse or partner (if any) over a 6-week period;
  • Home Help Programme to align the hourly rate with a 3.85% increase in the adult minimum wage;
  • Recoverable Assistance Programme, to limit the amount of any grant of special assistance under it, or the total of any grant and any prior grants that have not been repaid, to the equivalent of instalments of an invalid's benefit that would be payable to the Applicant and the Applicant's spouse or partner (if any) over a 6-week period;
  • Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No. 3) 2011

Gazette notice:
Number 6906, dated 6 October 2011

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:

  • to align definitions of cash assets and related clauses with exemptions in the Canterbury Earthquake (Social Security Act) Order (No 3) 2010 and the Social Security (Income and Cash Assets Exemptions) Regulations 2011:
  • to update references to former legislation, a former welfare programme, and bodies with references to current legislation and bodies:
  • to include references to accredited employers within the meaning of the Accident Compensation Act 2001 in certain clauses relating to that Act.

Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2011

Gazette notice:
Number 2033, dated 31 March 2011

Effective date: 1 April 2011

This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 April 2011, amends a Ministerial direction and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964.

Clause 3 and Schedule 1 adjusts certain rates, standard costs, and limits to reflect a 3.75% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2009 quarter to the December 2010 quarter (calculated using the CPI All Groups for the first quarter and the CPI All Groups excluding cigarettes and other tobacco products for the other quarters).

Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amends the:

  • Home Help Programme to align the hourly rate with a 1.96% increase in the adult minimum wage.
  • Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2011

Gazette notice:
Number 1073, dated 24 February 2011

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:
Number 7364, dated 23 September 2010

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 Direction and Welfare Programmes 2010

Gazette notice:
Number 2133, dated 25 March 2010

Effective date: 1 April 2010

This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 April 2010, amends a Ministerial direction and a number of welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964.

Schedule 1 adjusts certain rates, standard costs and limits to take into account a 1.96% increase in the Consumers Price Index.

Schedule 2 lists amendments to the:

  • Home Help Programme to align the hourly rate with a 2.00% increase in the adult minimum wage;
  • Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Instrument Amending Ministerial Welfare Programmes 2009

Gazette notice:
Number 10424, dated 23 December 2009

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 Direction and Welfare Programmes and revoking Care Supplement Programme 2009

Gazette notice:
Number 4707, dated 24 June 2010

Effective date: 31 March 2009 and 1 April 2009

This instrument, which generally comes into effect on 1 April 2009, amends a Ministerial direction and a number of welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964 ("the Act").

Schedule 1 adjusts certain rates, standard costs, and limits to take into account a 3.38% increase in the Consumers Price Index.

Schedule 2 lists amendments to the:

  • Home Help Programme to align the hourly rate with a 4.18% increase in the adult minimum wage;
  • Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Clause 5 revokes the Care Supplement Programme with effect with the close of 31 March 2009. This programme is no longer required because the weekly rates of orphan's benefit and unsupported child's benefit payable under the Act are increased on 1 April 2009 by the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2009 to align with the rates of weekly foster care allowance board payments under section 363 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989. This means that the "top-up" payments provided to former foster parents under the Care Supplement Programme are no longer required.

Instrument Amending Ministerial Welfare Programmes (No. 2) 2008

Gazette notice:
Number 8149, dated 6 November 2008

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:
Number 3138, dated 8 May 2008

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 Direction and Welfare Programmes 2008

Gazette notice:
Number 1932, dated 27 March 2008

Effective date: 1 April 2008

This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 April 2008, amends a Ministerial direction and a number of welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964.

Schedule 1 adjusts certain rates, standard costs and limits to take into account a 3.18% increase in the Consumers Price Index.

Schedule 2 lists amendments to the:

  • Home Help Programme to align the hourly rate with a 6.67% increase in the adult minimum wage;
  • Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No. 3) 2007

Gazette notice:
Number 4480, dated 5 July 2007

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.

Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2007

Gazette notice:
Number 2353, dated 12 April 2007

Effective date: 1 April 2007

This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 April 2007, amends a number of Ministerial directions and welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964 to recognise de facto relationships within the meaning of section 29A the Interpretation Act 1999.

Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes 2007

Gazette notice:
Number 2744, dated 26 April 2007

Effective date: 1 April 2007

This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 April 2007, amends a Ministerial direction and a number of welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964.

Schedule 1 adjusts certain rates, standard costs and limits to take into account a 2.63% increase in the Consumers Price Index.

Schedule 2 lists amendments to the:

  • Home Help Programme to align the hourly rate with a 9.76% increase in the adult minimum wage;
  • Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.

Instrument amending ministerial directions and welfare programmes (No. 2) 2006

Gazette notice:
Number 3762, dated 8 June 2006

Effective date: 9 June 2006

This instrument, which comes into effect on the day after its publication in the New Zealand Gazette, amends a number of Ministerial directions and welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964 to treat people in civil unions in the same way as people in marriages.

Instrument amending Ministerial directions and welfare programmes 2006

Gazette notice:
Number 2154, dated 6 April 2006

Effective date: 1 April 2006

This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 April 2006, amends a number of Ministerial directions and welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964.

Schedule 1 adjusts certain rates, standard costs and limits to take into account a 3.16% increase in the Consumers Price Index.

Schedule 2 lists amendments:

  • to the Assistance to Live Organ Donors Programme and the Social Rehabilitation Assistance Programme identifying the introduction of temporary additional support;
  • to the Home Help Programme to align the hourly rate with a 7.89% increase in the adult minimum wage;
  • to the Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals;
  • to update various cross-references to legislation.

Home Help Amendment 2005

Gazette notice:
Number 4100, dated 30 June 2005

Effective date: 1 July 2005 and 1 April 2007

This amendment to the Home Help Programme:

  • changes, on and from 1 July 2005, the hourly rate that may be paid to a home helper from a maximum of $10.14 including holiday pay to a uniform rate of $10.00 plus an additional 6% for holiday pay;
  • provides for the $10.00 rate to be indexed, on 1 April each year, to increases in the minimum wage rate payable to an adult worker paid by the hour from that applying on 1 April 2005; and
  • increases, on 1 April 2007, the additional 6% for holiday pay to an additional 8%.

Home Help Amendment 2004

Gazette notice:
Number 5391, dated 19 August 2004

Effective date: 20 August 2004

This amendment, which comes into effect on the day after its publication in the New Zealand Gazette, simplifies the financial means test in clause 7 of the Home Help Programme to one based on holding a community services card and having cash assets less than $7,464.00 for a married person or a sole parent, or $4,300.00 in any other case.

The amendment consequentially revokes unnecessary definitions in clause 4 of the programme, and corrects an erroneous reference to the Minister of Social Security in clause 11.
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