Paying benefit when client failed to advise of absence

Generally, clients receiving a main benefit must advise Work and Income of their intention to leave New Zealand prior to their departure to be eligible to continue to receive their payments.

If a client contacts Work and Income after they have left New Zealand, their benefit can only be resumed from:

• the date that they notified us of their absence and
• only if the travel is allowed

Where a client does not advise Work and Income of their intention to travel overseas before they leave New Zealand their benefit may be backdated to their departure date if they:

• have a humanitarian reason that justifies their reason for travel and their failure to tell Work and Income before they left and
• contacted Work and Income as soon as reasonably possible after they departed (taking into account the circumstances of the client) and
• meet the criteria to continue to be paid their benefit while overseas (either because they meet the criteria for approved travel, or the requirement that travel be approved does not apply to them)

Note this only applies if a client has contacted Work and Income while overseas. Payments cannot be back dated if the client advises Work and Income once they return from overseas.

For more information see:

• Approved travel reasons
• Humanitarian reasons for backdating to day after departure
• Client with work obligations, exemption or deferral
• Partner with work or work preparation obligations or an exemption