Clause 14. Other Emergency Grants

14

Other Emergency Grants

14.1

If MSD considers that special circumstances exist, MSD may make a recoverable or non-recoverable Grant towards the cost of any item or any service if MSD considers that without that item or service, the Applicant, or the Applicant's spouse or partner or a dependent child, would suffer serious hardship.

14.1A

The amount of a grant under clause 14.1 must not exceed $500 unless clause 14.1B applies.

14.1B

MSD may make a grant under clause 14.1 of more than the amount set out in clause 14.1A only if MSD considers exceptional circumstances exist.

14.2

Grants under clause 14.1 may be made in respect of each member of an Immediate Family.

14.3

In deciding whether a Grant made under clause 14.1 will be recoverable or non-recoverable, MSD must have regard to the following matters-

(a)

the purpose of the Grant;

(b)

the nature of the need;

(c)

whether it would be equitable with other Applicants to require or not to require repayment; and

(d)

the effect on the Applicant of requiring or not requiring repayment of the Grant.

14.4

Despite clause 14.3, a grant made under clause 14.1 for the purposes of refilling an applicant's water tank must be a non-recoverable grant.

14.5

This clause applies where an applicant seeks a grant under clause 14.1-

(a)

for the purpose of paying an application fee for a New Zealand birth certificate that is required by MSD as supporting evidence under regulation 166(1)(b) of the Social Security Regulations 2018; or

(b)

for the purpose of paying an application or any other fee for a document of identification that is required by MSD as supporting evidence under regulation 166(1)(b) of the Social Security Regulations 2018.

14.6

Where clause 14.5 applies, clause 4.1 of the programme applies to clause 14.1 as if it did not include reference to section 217 of the Act.

14.7

MSD must not make a grant under clause 14.1 for the purpose set out in clause 14.5(b) unless the applicant's birth is not registered in New Zealand.

14.8

MSD must not make a grant under clause 14.1 to an applicant for any of the housing needs, assistance or costs set out in the Housing Support Programme that the applicant is eligible for.

14.9

MSD must not make a grant under clause 14.1 to an applicant for any need or cost for which assistance under the Emergency Housing Grants Programme is intended to meet.

14.10

Clause 14.9 applies regardless of whether or not the applicant is eligible for any of the assistance set out in the Emergency Housing Grants Programme.

Definitions MSD, partner, spouse, Social Security Act 2018, Schedule 2