Death of a client with a partner or child

Jobseeker Support can continue to be paid for 28 days after the death of a client when there is a surviving partner or child, and the surviving partner is not entitled to a survivor's grant from ACC.

Jobseeker Support can also continue to be paid for 28 days following the death of a single client who is a:

• liable person and paying Child Support payments or
• caregiver getting Unsupported Child's Benefit or Orphan's Benefit

Continuing payments after the date of death is known as terminal benefit.

When terminal benefit is being paid to a couple, both the deceased person and the surviving person's portion of the benefit continues to be paid.

The total benefit, including the surviving person's portion, plus any ongoing extra help continues for 28 days.

Sometimes the surviving person, or the caregiver of the child would get more money (based on their new circumstances) on:

• a new main benefit or
• their existing benefit at a higher rate

instead of getting their portion of their current assistance for 28 days.

If the surviving person's benefit is reviewed and they qualify for a new benefit at a higher rate, they may be granted the new benefit instead of terminal benefit from the day after a client's death.

If the deceased person qualified for terminal benefit their portion will continue to be paid.

If the surviving persons current benefit is reviewed and they qualify for a higher rate, their benefit rate increases from the day after their partner's death. MSD pays this instead of their portion of the terminal benefit as they will get more money.

If the deceased person qualified for terminal benefit their portion of the benefit will continue to be paid.

When the death of a person was the result of an accident, entitlement to a survivor's grant from ACC needs to be decided before terminal benefit can be paid.

If the surviving person or child are entitled to a survivor's grant from the ACC, there is no entitlement to terminal benefit.

If Jobseeker Support Student Hardship payments have continued after the date of death, an overpayment is established and the debt should be recovered from the estate.

A child will not be excluded from the parent or caregiver's Jobseeker Support Student Hardship when the child turns 18 during the 28-day continuation of payment period.

The review of circumstances for Jobseeker Support Student Hardship when their child turns 18 is not required when the client has died.