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Dependent child for exempt tenants

A dependent child is either

  • a child under 18 who is:
    • the tenant or their partner's responsibility
    • maintained as a member of the tenant's family and
    • financially dependent on the tenant or their partner

The above includes a child under 18 for whom Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit is paid to the tenant or their partner or:

  • a child or young person (as defined under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989) who is:
    • placed in the care of the tenant or their partner and
    • for whom a Foster Care Allowance is paid to the tenant or their partner

Child 16 - 17 years

A child is not a dependent child when they are:

  • 16 - 17 and
  • financially independent

Child turns 18

If a dependent child turns 18, they are still considered to be a dependent child for a limited period if they are:

  • continuing in education and
  • not financially independent

Care and protection concerns

If MSD believes any child has been, or is likely to be harmed (physically, emotionally or sexually), ill-treated, abused, neglected, deprived or MSD has concerns about the wellbeing of the child, the case must be referred to Oranga Tamariki.

For more information see:

Legislation

  • dependent child (definition) clause 4 Ministerial Direction on Application of Reviews of Continued Eligibility for Social Housing
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A dependent child is a child who is:

A dependent child does not include a:

...

The Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 is also known as the Children's and Young People's Well-being Act 1989. It was previously known as the:

Oranga Tamariki-Ministry for Children is known as "Oranga Tamariki". It came into existence on 1 April 2017, and replaced what was known as "Child, Youth and Family" or CYF.

Its original name, from 1 April 2017 until 18 January 2018, was the "Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki".