List of amendments
Unofficial consolidated version of the Special Needs Grants Programme
-- as at 4 September 2026
Below is a list of amendments to the programme, starting with the most recent. This doesn't include the approvals granted for rural assistance.
Source | Notes |
Instrument amending Welfare Programmes (Modernisation - Automated Decision-Making - End of School Year) 2026 Gazette notice: 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 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. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2026 Gazette notice: 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:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2:
|
Instrument amending Welfare Programmes 2025 Gazette notice: Effective date: 26 May 2025 and 20 October 2025 | This instrument, the majority of which comes into force on 26 May 2025, amends the Special Needs Grants Programme and the Emergency Housing Grants Programme to clarify that an applicant is not entitled to or eligible for grants under those programmes if the rate of their benefit is reduced by half or to zero (under section 236 of the Social Security Act 2018 (the Act)), if their benefit is suspended (under section 237 of the Act), if a non-financial sanction that MSD imposed on them has effect, or if their benefit is subject to section 239 of the Act. This amendment enacts the policy intent that persons who are subject to sanctions under the Social Security Act 2018 (the Act) are not able to access hardship assistance. The Social Security Amendment Act 2025 introduces the ability for MSD to impose a non-financial sanction, as an alternative to a reduction in the rate of a person's main benefit for a first obligation failure, if certain eligibility requirements are met. The amendments in this instrument enable the non-financial sanctions to be included as sanctions that make an applicant ineligible for Special Needs Grants or Emergency Housing Grants. As the non-financial sanctions in sections 236E and 236H of the Act will only come into force on 20 October 2025, the amendments in Schedule 2 of this instrument (which insert the references to those sections in the relevant clauses of the Programmes), will only come into force on that same date. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2025 Gazette notice: 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:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2:
|
Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes (Emergency Housing) 2024 Gazette notice: Effective date: 26 August 2024 | This instrument, which comes into force on 26 August 2024,-
|
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2024 Gazette notice: 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:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2:
|
Instrument amending Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2023 Gazette notice: 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.
|
Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes (Child Support Pass On) 2023 Gazette notice: 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. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2023 Gazette notice: 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:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2:
|
Special Needs Grants (Dental Treatment) Amendment Programme 2022 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 December 2022 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 December 2022, amends the Special Needs Grants Programme established and approved under section 124(1)(d) of the Social Security Act 1964 and saved by clause 21 of schedule 1 of the Social Security Act 2018 as if it was a special assistance programme under section 101. It removes the requirement for immediate and essential dental treatment to have arisen from an emergency situation. The maximum grant limit for Special Needs Grants for dental treatment is increased from $300 to $1000 and eligible applicants can receive more than one Special Needs Grant per 52 -week period so long as the total of those grants does not exceed $1000 unless exceptional circumstances exist. It also updates the definition of Health Agency. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2022 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2022 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 July 2022, permanently adjusts appropriate income thresholds in relation to the Advance Payments of Instalments of Benefit, the Recoverable Assistance Programme and the Special Needs Grants Programme under the Social Security Act 2018. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2022 Gazette notice: 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:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2:
|
Special Needs Grants (Refugees, Protected Persons, Afghan Interpreters and Afghan Evacuees Re-Establishment Grants) Amendment 2021 Gazette notice: Effective date: 10 December 2021 | This instrument, which comes into force on 10 December 2021, amends the Special Needs Grants Programme made under section 124(1)(d) of the Social Security Act 1964, and saved by clause 21 of Schedule 1 of the Social Security Act 2018, as if it were made under section 101 of that Act. This instrument extends eligibility for re-establishment grants to Afghan evacuees who hold a residence class visa, are New Zealand citizens, or hold an Afghan emergency resettlement visa. It also extends eligibility to Applicants that have applied for an Afghan emergency resettlement visa. This instrument also makes a minor technical amendment to the wording of clause 4. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes (No 3) 2021 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 November 2021 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 November 2021, amends the Direction on Advance Payments of Instalments of Benefit, the Recoverable Assistance Programme and the Special Needs Grants Programme to change the income limits for assistance. In relation to the Special Needs Grants Programme, the income limits for emergency housing grants remain unchanged. These changes are intended to be in place for a 4-month period until 28 February 2022. A further amendment to the Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes will be made for 28 February 2022. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2021 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2021 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 July 2021, amends the specified ministerial directions and welfare programmes under section 101 of the Social Security Act 2018 in response to the removal of the "12 month rule" as facilitated by the Social Security (Financial Assistance for Caregivers) Amendment Bill which also comes into force on 1 July 2021. The 12 month rule refers to the requirement that in order for a caregiver to be eligible to receive the orphan's benefit or the unsupported child's benefit, they must be likely to be the principal caregiver of the child for at least 1 year from the date of the application for the payment. This instrument also amends the Direction in relation to Special Benefit to exclude allowances payable as a result of receiving the orphan's benefit or unsupported child's benefit from being considered "chargeable income". |
Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes 2021 Gazette notice: 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:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amends:
|
Special Needs Grants (Refugees, Protected Persons and Afghan Interpreters Re-Establishment Grants) Amendment (No 2) 2020 Gazette notice: Effective date: 27 November 2020 | This instrument, which comes into force on 27 November 2020, amends the principal programme to ensure that the total amount of a Refugee, Protected Person and Afghan Interpreter Re-Establishment Grant is increased by $100 for every dependent child after an applicant's second dependent child. |
Special Needs Grants (Refugees, Protected Persons and Afghan Interpreters Re-Establishment Grants) Amendment 2020 Gazette notice: Effective date: 9 November 2020 | This instrument, which comes into force on 9 November 2020, amends the Special Needs Grants Programme made under section 124(1)(d) of the Social Security Act 1964, and saved by clause 21 of Schedule 1 of the Social Security Act 2018, as if it were made under section 101 of that Act. This instrument increases the amount of, and makes fully non-recoverable, re-establishment grants for eligible refugees and protected persons. Eligibility has also been extended to Afghan interpreters granted a residence class visa by the Minister of Immigration as an exception to instructions under section 72(3) of the Immigration Act 2009. This instrument also makes a minor technical amendment to the wording of clause 14C.5. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment Programme (No 2) 2020 Gazette notice: Effective date: 19 October 2020 | This instrument comes into force on 19 October 2020. It amends the Special Needs Grants Programme to allow MSD to extend the duration of emergency housing grants in specified circumstances and to require an applicant to pay a contribution of 25% of their and their partner's income [25% of income or 25% of the rate of jobseeker support under the Social Security Act 2018 that would be appropriate if the applicant or their partner were a beneficiary] and family tax credit towards the cost of Emergency Housing. These clauses also make other minor and technical amendments to the structure and wording of clause 14A. This instrument revokes the Special Needs Grants Amendment Programme (No 1) 2020. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes 2020 Gazette notice: 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:
Clause 4 and Schedule, amendments to welfare programmes:
|
Special Needs Grants Amendment Programme 2020 Gazette notice: Effective date: 30 March 2020 | This instrument, which comes into effect on 30 March 2020, amends the Special Needs Grants Programme to allow MSD to extend the duration of emergency housing grants in specified circumstances and to require an Applicant to pay a contribution of 25% of their and their partner's income [25% of income or 25% of the rate of jobseeker support under the Social Security Act 2018 that would be appropriate if the Applicant or their partner were a beneficiary] towards the cost of Emergency Housing. It also makes other minor and technical amendments to the structure and wording of clause 14A. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment Programme (No 1) 2020 Gazette notice: Effective date: 27 March 2020 | This instrument comes into force on 27 March 2020, except for clauses 4 - 6 which come into force on 19 October 2020. Clauses 4 - 6 amend the Special Needs Grants Programme to allow MSD to extend the duration of emergency housing grants in specified circumstances and to require an Applicant to pay a contribution of 25% of their and their partner's income [25% of income or 25% of the rate of jobseeker support under the Social Security Act 2018 that would be appropriate if the Applicant or their partner were a beneficiary] and Family Tax Credit towards the cost of Emergency Housing. These clauses also make other minor and technical amendments to the structure and wording of clause 14A. Clause 7 revokes the Special Needs Grants Amendment Programme 2020. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes 2019 Gazette notice: 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:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amends:
|
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2018 Gazette notice: 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. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment 2018 Gazette notice: Effective date: 13 August 2018 | This instrument amends the Special Needs Grants Programme under the Social Security Act 1964. It revokes provisions allowing for grants for long-acting reversible contraception on 13 August 2018. A transitional provision allows applications made before that date to be considered and granted. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No 2) 2016 Gazette notice: Effective date: 3 November 2016 | This instrument, which comes into force on the 28th day after its publication in the New Zealand Gazette, amends the Special Needs Grants Programme under the Social Security Act 1964 to clarify that income includes New Zealand superannuation and veteran's pension. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No 4) 2016 Gazette notice: Effective date: 13 September 2016 | This instrument amends the Special Needs Programme to ensure that assistance under Part 6 of the programme can continue to be granted until the close of 28 February 2017 to eligible farmers whose land based industries are directly affected by drought in the districts of the following local authorities:
|
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No 3) 2016 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2016 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 July 2016, amends the Special Needs Grants Programme under the Social Security Act 1964 (the Act) to make changes to the recoverability of the emergency housing grant under Part 5 of the Programme. The amendment replaces clause 14A.6 with 4 new clauses. New clause 14A.6 is to the same effect as the current clause 14A.6(b). New clause 14A.6A makes it clear that the full amount of any bond included in an emergency housing grant is recoverable in all circumstances. New clause 14A.6B and 6C also clarify that any amount of an emergency housing grant that is not used for the purpose and period for which it was granted is recoverable. |
Instrument Amending Special Needs Grants Programme 2016 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2016 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 July 2016, amends the Special Needs Grants Programme to include a new type of grant for emergency housing ("emergency housing grant"). The emergency housing grant will cover the actual and reasonable costs of emergency housing. It will be available to applicants who cannot remain in their usual place residence (if any), and who will not have access to other adequate accommodation. This includes applicants who do not meet the usual income and asset limits for accessing special needs grants in cases where there are exceptional circumstances. The initial grant can be for up to seven days of emergency housing. It can be extended if there are exceptional circumstances. The first emergency housing grant in a 52 week period will only be recoverable if it is not used for the intended purpose, or if the applicant is not making a reasonable effort to access alternative assistance. Second and subsequent emergency housing grants will also be recoverable if the applicant has unreasonably contributed to the existence of the need. However, any bond included in the emergency housing grant will also be recoverable. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2015 Gazette notice: 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:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2 amends:
|
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2013 Gazette notice: Effective date: 15 July 2013 | This instrument, which comes into force on 15 July 2013, amends a number of Ministerial directions and welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964 (the Act). Clause 4 and Schedule 1 primarily updates references to benefits and sections under which those benefits are granted with references to the replacement benefits and sections enacted in the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Act 2013. A number of references to specific benefits are replaced with references to the new definition of the term main benefit under this Act inserted into section 3(1) of the Act. Clause 5 and Schedule 2 creates savings provisions for certain beneficiaries who on 15 July 2013 transfer to jobseeker support or supported living payment under section 40B of the Act from certain former benefits. |
Work Bonus Programme Gazette notice: Effective date: 15 July 2013 | This welfare programme under the Social Security Act 1964 (the Act) provides (subject to certain restrictions) for grants of special assistance called a work bonus as an incentive for specified beneficiaries who do not have work-test obligations under the Act to move into employment, or increase their hours of work, and thereby cease to receive a main benefit under the Act. A work bonus payment is not payable if the benefit was suspended or not payable under the Act before it was cancelled, except where it was suspended or not payable because of-
The amount of each work bonus payment is equivalent to the unabated weekly amount of the beneficiary's specified benefit before its cancellation reduced by $100 for each subsequent week of its payment, but is nil if it reduces to less than $10. However, where a specified benefit paid at a work-test married rate was not payable or suspended because of a warrant to arrest of the beneficiary's spouse or partner, the amount payable is half that amount. Clause 11 and the Schedule make consequential amendments to a Ministerial direction and welfare programmes under the Act. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment 2013 Gazette notice: Effective date: 11 March 2013 | This instrument amends the Special Needs Grants Programme to allow rural assistance payments to be made for a period commencing on the date of the approval or a specified date not earlier than the date of the Minister for Primary Industries declaration of adverse climatic event, natural disaster, or biosecurity incursion in respect of the area concerned. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No 2) 2012 Gazette notice: Effective date: 3 December 2012 | This instrument, which comes into effect on the 3 December 2012, amends the Special Needs Grants programme by replacing the definition of land based industry with a definition of primary industry and making consequential referential changes. It also removes provision for grants of rural assistance to bee-keepers who are affected by Varroa Jacobsoni species (honey bee mite). |
Instrument amending Ministerial Welfare Programmes and Directions 2012 Gazette notice: Effective date: 20 August 2012 | This instrument, which comes into effect on 20 August 2012, amends the Ministerial welfare programmes set out in Schedule 1 and the Ministerial directions set out in Schedule 2. These amendments are consequential to, or are a direct result of, the changes brought into effect by the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Act 2012. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment 2012 Gazette notice: Effective date: 20 August 2012 and 15 October 2012 | The instrument amends the Special Needs Grants Programme to introduce a new form of grant to assist with the additional costs associated with subsidised long-acting reversible contraception-
|
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No. 3) 2011 Gazette notice: 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:
|
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2011 Gazette notice: 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. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No 2) 2010 Gazette notice: Effective date: 29 November 2010 | This instrument, which comes into effect at 2.00am on 29 November 2010, amends the Special Needs Programme by updating specified terms and criteria as a consequence of the coming into force of most of the provisions of the Immigration Act 2009 at that time. The instrument also revokes a spent provision of the programme and corrects a reference to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes (No. 2) 2010 Gazette notice: Effective date: 27 September 2010 | This instrument which comes into effect on 27 September 2010, amends the Ministerial Direction on Advance Payments of Benefit and the following welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964 to align them with the amendments to that Act made by the Social Security (New Work Tests, Incentives, and Obligations) Amendment Act 2010:
This instrument also corrects some drafting errors in the Special Needs Grants Programme. |
Instrument amending Special Needs Grants and Recoverable Assistance Programmes and Direction on Advance Payment of Benefits 2010 Gazette notice: Effective date: 27 September 2010 | This instrument, which comes into effect on 27 September 2010, amends the Special Needs Grant Programme and the Recoverable Assistance Programme. The amendments give discretion to the chief executive to request an applicant for assistance under those programmes or an applicant's spouse or partner, or both, to undertake a budgeting activity in certain circumstances that are specified in the new clause 9.13 of the Special Needs Grant Programme and new clause 9.6 of the Recoverable Assistance Programme. They also give discretion to the chief executive to refuse to make a grant or payment under those programmes if the applicant or the applicant's spouse or partner has failed to do any of the following:
|
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No. 3) 2010 Gazette notice: 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 the Special Needs Grants Programme and the Recoverable Assistance Programme 2010 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2010 | This Instrument which generally comes into effect on 1 July 2010, amends the Special Needs Grants Programme and the Recoverable Assistance Programme. Clause 3 and Schedule 1 makes amendments to ensure that the amounts payable for obtaining and renewing a driver licence correspond to the actual cost under the Land Transport (Driver Licensing and Driver Testing Fees) Regulations 1999. Clause 4 which comes into effect on 31 January 2011 and Schedule 2 establishes a payment for the new licence reinstatement fee. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment 2010 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2010 | This instrument, which amends the Special Needs Grants Programme, comes into effect on 1 July 2010 and provides for discretionary financial assistance to persons who are in New Zealand as victims of people trafficking. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment 2009 Gazette notice: Effective date: 2 March 2009 | This instrument, which comes into effect on 2 March 2009, amends clause 15B of the Special Needs Grants Programme to expand the situations in which grants can be made to victims of domestic violence. Clause 4(2) of the instrument allows grants to be paid where an applicant suffers domestic violence from a person, other than their partner, with whom they reside and have a domestic relationship (eg in-laws). Clause 4(4) inserts a definition of domestic relationship. Clause 4(3) removes the requirement that a member of the New Zealand Police provide a written statement that domestic violence has occurred before a grant can be made under clause 15B. In practice, a person must satisfy strict evidentiary requirements that show that domestic violence has occurred before the New Zealand Immigration Service will grant a special work permit for victims of domestic violence. The corroborative evidence provided by the Immigration Service that this permit has been granted on the ground that the person is a victim of domestic violence will be sufficient to satisfy the criteria in clause 15B. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No. 4) 2008 Gazette notice: Effective date: 15 September 2008 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme, which comes into effect on 15 September 2008, allows an applicant to be granted a special needs grant for the purpose of paying the application fee for a New Zealand birth certificate or a document of identification as supporting evidence for an application for a benefit under the Act, before that person is released from prison. A grant for the purpose of paying the application fee for an identification document other than a New Zealand birth certificate is only available where the applicant's birth is not registered in New Zealand. This instrument also makes amendments to the Part of the programme that provides for Special Assistance to the Rural Sector. Criteria that a farmer has made a decision to sell their land-based industry at a price the chief executive considers to be realistic, or is in the process of actively evaluating the ongoing viability of the land based industry before assistance can be granted, are omitted from the programme. The maximum amount of assistance available is also raised from 75 percent to 100 percent of the applicable rate of unemployment benefit and sickness benefit. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No. 3) 2008 Gazette notice: Effective date: 4 September 2008 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme, which comes into effect on the day after it is made, provides for discretionary financial assistance to persons who have been relocated to New Zealand under an arrangement between the New Zealand Government and an International Court or International Tribunal. It also corrects a numbering error in clause 15C.2 of the Programme. Note: The amendment to clause 15C.2 applies only to the instrument signed by the Minister. It does not apply to the published version in the New Zealand Gazette. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No. 2) 2008 Gazette notice: Effective date: 4 August 2008 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme, which comes into effect on 4 August 2008, halves the period of time for which the maximum limits for food grants apply from 52 weeks to 26 weeks. It also increases the limit of grants under the other emergency grants category from $200.00 to $500.00, unless exceptional circumstances exist. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment 2008 Gazette notice: Effective date: 26 June 2008 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme removes the expiry date for the provision of assistance for the repair and maintenance of on-site effluent treatment systems to enable eligible applicants to receive the assistance on and after 1 July 2008. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No. 3) 2007 Gazette notice: Effective date: 24 September 2007 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme, which comes into effect on 24 September 2007, provides that recoverable assistance under clause 17 of the programme is available to persons who have made a written or oral request of the department for financial assistance but have yet to complete the requirements of the application process under section 11D or any requirements under section 96A of the Social Security Act 1964. It also corrects minor drafting errors in clause 17. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No. 2) 2007 Gazette notice: Effective date: 17 August 2007 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme provides for discretionary financial assistance to adults who are the principal caregivers of children involved in custody and access disputes in the child's country of habitual residence where there is no other means of financial support available. The amendment comes into effect on the day after it is made. |
Special Needs Grant Amendment 2007 Gazette notice: Effective date: 2 July 2007 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme, which comes into effect on 2 July 2007, provides for the payment of one non-recoverable grant as compensation for any loss incurred by a beneficiary as a result of the transfer from a fortnightly pay day to a weekly pay day. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No. 3) 2007 Gazette notice: 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. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No. 2) 2006 Gazette notice: Effective date: 30 April 2007 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme revokes clause 11.5. The amendment comes into effect on 30 April 2007. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2007 Gazette notice: 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. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment 2006 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 October 2006 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme extends, until 30 June 2008, the assistance available by way of a non-recoverable grant to those who need to make essential and immediate repairs or carry out maintenance to on-site effluent treatment systems. The amendment came into effect on 1 October 2006. |
Instrument amending ministerial directions and welfare programmes (No. 2) 2006 Gazette notice: 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: 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:
|
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No. 2) 2005 Gazette notice: Effective date: 16 January 2006 | This amendment formally re-titles the Special Needs Grant Programme as the name under which it is more usually known, the Special Needs Grants Programme. It also limits the application of clause 9.4B of the programme, and extends the payment period, enables more than one payment to be made, and clarifies the types of costs for which payments can be made to released, sentenced and remand prisoners. A reference to a penal institution is removed and replaced by a reference to a prison as defined in the Corrections Act 2004, consequentially on that Act repealing the Penal Institutions Act 1954. |
Special Needs Grant Amendment 2005 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2005 | This amendment extends eligibility for special needs grants for re-establishment costs of young persons who leave care under the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 under the transition to care initiative. The upper age limit for such grants is removed, and grants are allowed to young persons whose gross income is less than $442.64 a week. |
Instrument amending Direction on Advance Payment of Benefits, Recoverable Assistance Programme and Special Needs Grants Programme Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2004 | This instrument, which comes into effect on 1 July 2004, amends the Direction on Advance Payment of Benefits, Recoverable Assistance Programme and Special Needs Grants Programme to provide that grants for travel for stranded persons who are beneficiaries are made as benefit advances, and for non-beneficiaries, as recoverable assistance payments. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No 3) 2003 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 December 2003 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme takes effect on 1 December 2003. Clause 5 provides for re-establishment grants for young persons aged 16 or 17 who leave care under the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 to live independently under the Transition from Care to Independence Initiative operated by the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services. Clause 3 inserts new definitions in clause 3.1 of the programme for the purpose. Clause 4 inserts a new restriction in clause 9 of the programme. This provides that the assistance available under clause 17 of the programme is the only assistance available to certain persons, unless the chief executive considers a grant under another provision of the programme should be made because the person is in extreme hardship or because of an emergency situation. Clause 17 provides for recoverable assistance for:
It also provides for non-recoverable assistance for persons becoming sick during a non-entitlement period. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No 2) 2003 Gazette notice: Effective date: 29 June 2003 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme, which comes into effect on the day after it is approved, provides that emergency grants made under clause 14.1 of the programme for the purposes of refilling an applicant's water tank are non-recoverable. |
Special Needs Grant Amendment 2003 Gazette notice: Effective date: 15 May 2003 and 1 July 2003 | This amendment to Part 6 of the Special Needs Grant Programme (Special Assistance to the Rural Sector) introduces an abatement free zone of $80.00 a week. Where farmers earn in excess of $80.00 a week, the grant abates dollar for dollar. This amendment also consequentially amends the programme to take account of the Local Government Act 2002, the relevant sections of which come into force on 1 July 2003. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No. 3) 2002 Gazette notice: Effective date: 30 August 2002 | This amendment allows non-recoverable special needs grants for relocation assistance to be made to residents of Waihi who move from homes that have been identified as being at high or medium risk of land subsidence. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No. 2) 2002 Gazette notice: Effective date: 8 July 2002 | This amendment includes payments under the New Employment Transition Grant Programme and the Seasonal Work Assistance Programme as an applicant's income |
Special Needs Grants Amendment 2002 Gazette notice: Effective date: 28 March 2002 | This Amendment revokes the provisions of the programme relating to Emergency Relocation Costs other than the clause relating to recoverability. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No. 4) 2001 Gazette notice: Effective date: 31 December 2001 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme increases the maximum amounts of grants for applying for a driver licence or renewing an existing driver licence to take account of changes to driver licensing fees. The amendment also brings the age groups in the programme into consistency with those in the Land Transport (Driver Licensing and Driver Testing Fees) Amendment Regulations 2001. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No. 3) 2001 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 October 2001 | This Amendment to the Special Needs Grants Programme, under section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, continues indefinitely the availability of special needs grants to certain people who are not New Zealand residents and who have lost the support of their partners because of the partner's domestic violence, and extends eligibility on that ground to persons who married or entered into a relationship in the nature of marriage after they came to New Zealand. It also makes amendments to clause 17 of the programme that are consequential on Part 3 of the Social Security Amendment Act 2001. Beneficiaries who are sanctioned with a non-entitlement period for a third failure to comply with a work test obligation may participate in a re-compliance programme and are eligible immediately for a conditional benefit, making the availability of a special needs grant unnecessary. The amendments remove the provisions that reference a non-entitlement period. In addition, clause 17.1.1 (a) was removed in error in its entirety by a previous amendment to the programme. This Amendment reinstates eligibility to be considered for a special needs grant for a person whose spouse is not entitled to a benefit because of a benefit stand down. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No 2) 2001 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2001 and 6 July 2001 | |
Special Needs Grants Amendment 2001 Gazette notice: Effective date: 11 March 2001 | This amendment to the Special Needs Grant Welfare Programme is consequential to changes to New Zealanders' eligibility for social security benefits in Australia. The amendment provides that the maximum period during which living expenses grants can be made under the emergency relocation provisions of the programme is 12 months for applicants who are relocated after 26 February 2001. |
Special Needs Grant Amendment (No 10) Gazette notice: Effective date: 14 November 2000 | These amendments, to the Special Needs Grant Programme under section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, allow special assistance equivalent to the rate of a community wage and accommodation supplement for a single person, or a single person with a dependent child or children, to be granted on account of hardship to certain people who are not New Zealand residents and have lost the support of their partners because of their partner's domestic violence. The Department of Work and Income administers the programme. |
Special Needs Grant Amendment (No 9) Gazette notice: Effective date: 21 September 2000 | This amendment, which comes into effect on the day after the date on which the Minister gives his approval to it, amends Part 6 of the Special Needs Grant welfare programme (in relation to Special Assistance to the Rural Sector) by inserting a specific provision enabling certain beekeepers whose bee-keeping businesses are affected by the honey bee mite, to apply for non-recoverable grants under Part 6 of the programme. The amendment also provides that non-recoverable grants may, in relation to these beekeepers, be made for a period of up to 2 years, and makes 2 consequential changes. |
Special Needs Grant Amendment (No 8) Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2000 | This amendment, which comes into effect on 1 July 2000, revokes the mandatory referral for budgeting advice provisions of the Special Needs Grant welfare programme. |
Special needs grant amendment No. 7 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 April 2000 | |
Special needs grant welfare programme - Amendment No. 6 Gazette notice: Effective date: 23 December 1999 | These amendments, to the Special Needs Grant Programme under section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, allow additional payments equivalent to the accommodation supplement to be granted on a discretionary basis to certain refugee claimants who were released from custody under section 128A of the Immigration Act 1987, pending the disposal of court proceedings. The Department of Work and Income administers the programme. |
Special Needs Grant Programme Amendment (No. 5) Gazette notice: Effective date: 10 December 1999 | These amendments, to the Special Needs Grant Programme under section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, allow special assistance equivalent to the single rate of a community wage to be granted on account of hardship to certain refugee claimants who were released from custody under section 128A of the Immigration Act 1987, pending the disposal of court proceedings. The Department of Work and Income administers the programme. |
Special Needs Grants Amendment (No. 3) Gazette notice: Effective date: 15 October 1999 | |
Special Needs Grant Amendment (No. 4) Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 October 1999 | |
Special Needs Grant Amendment (No. 2) Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 1999 | The amendments delete the clauses of the special needs grant welfare programme relating to transition to work payments. A new welfare programme for work start grants replaces them. |
Special Needs Grant Amendment Gazette notice: Effective date: 25 June 1999 | These amendments, approved by the Minister of Social Services, Work and Income under section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, are to the special needs grant welfare programme approved by the Minister on 18 December 1998. The amendments to the programme allow recoverable assistance to be provided for people holding a driver licence to obtain the equivalent new photographic driver licence, and for people seeking to obtain a Learners Licence, Restricted Licence, or a Full Licence. |
