Clause 15B. Applicants applying for a residence class visa in New Zealand who have lost the financial support of their sponsors

15B

Applicants applying for a residence class visa in New Zealand who have lost the financial support of their sponsors

15B.1

MSD may from time to time, in its discretion, make non-recoverable Grants on account of hardship to any Applicant-

(a)

who is in New Zealand; and

(b)

who-

(i)

lodged or intended to lodge an application with the Immigration New Zealand for a residence class visa under the Immigration Act 2009 under the Family category on the ground of marriage or civil union or in a de facto relationship or living in a stable de facto relationship; and

(ii)

(revoked)

(iii)

(revoked)

(c)

who is living apart from, and has lost the financial support of his or her partner; and

(d)

whose relationship with the partner ended solely or principally because of family violence by the partner or by any other person who resides with and is in a family relationship with the applicant; and

(e)

(revoked)

(f)

who is the holder of a temporary entry class visa issued under the Immigration Act 2009 that allows the holder to work in New Zealand on the ground that the person is a victim of family violence; and

(g)

whose application for a Grant is supported by a written referral by the New Zealand Immigration Service, which corroborates the matters set out in paragraphs (b) and (f); and

(h)

whom MSD considers is in need of financial support, including financial support for the Applicant's dependent children (if any).

15B.2

For the purpose of clause 15B.1 the following provisions of this programme do not apply and MSD must not take them into account, namely clause 5(b) and clause 6.

15B.3

Grants under clause 15B.1 may be made to an Applicant on a weekly basis from the date of the application for the Grant until the earliest of the following dates:

(a)

if the Applicant receives a residence class visa under the Immigration Act 2009, the date on which that occurs:

(b)

if the Applicant marries or enters into a civil union or enters into a de facto relationship with a partner, the date on which that occurs:

(c)

if the Applicant leaves New Zealand, the date on which that occurs.

(d)

(revoked)

15B.4

The weekly amount of a Grant under clause 15B.1 is the appropriate rate of jobseeker support set out in the Part 1 of Schedule 4 of the Act, and, for the avoidance of doubt, is subject to abatement on account of income in accordance with Income Test 3.

15B.5

MSD may, in its discretion, increase the weekly amount of a Grant under 15B.1 by an amount no more than the weekly amount of an accommodation supplement under the Act that would be payable to the Applicant -

(a)

if the Applicant were a beneficiary; and

(b)

if section 19 of the Act did not apply to the Applicant.

15B.6

For the purposes of clause 15B.1 and 15B.3-

family relationship has the same meaning as in section 12 of the Family Violence Act 2018

family violence has the same meaning as in section 9 of the Family Violence Act 2018

partner, in relation to an Applicant, means a person who is legally married to or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship with the Applicant.

relationship has the meaning in paragraph (b) of the definition of partner

Definitions benefit, Income Test 3, MSD, Social Security Act 2018, Schedule 2