Sole Parent Support - widows and widowers residing in Denmark

Under the agreement with Denmark a widow or widower can be paid the New Zealand Sole Parent Support when they are living in Denmark.

Clients can apply for Sole Parent Support as a widow or widower to be paid in Denmark before their departure from New Zealand, or from Denmark. Payment cannot be backdated so clients should be encouraged to apply before they leave New Zealand.

To get Sole Parent Support as a widow or widower paid in Denmark, a client must:

• be entitled to or getting Sole Parent Support as a widow or widower with dependent children under 14
• be ordinarily resident in Denmark or New Zealand and present in Denmark or New Zealand at the time they apply for payment overseas
• have the intention of remaining ordinarily resident in Denmark for at least 26 weeks and
• have resided continuously in New Zealand for at least 12 months since the age of 20

If a client leaves New Zealand intending to live in Denmark for 26 weeks or more, they have up to 26 weeks to take up residence in Denmark. Clients may go to other countries before they get to Denmark, but they must arrive in Denmark within 26 weeks from the date they left New Zealand to be considered as ordinarily resident in Denmark on the date they left New Zealand.

Example

A client may want to have a three-month holiday in the United Kingdom before taking up residence in Denmark.

In this example, the client would be considered to be ordinarily resident in Denmark for the purposes of deciding their application for payment of Sole Parent Support in Denmark.

Clients have an obligation to advise MSD of any changes in their circumstances that may affect their entitlement to Sole Parent Support paid to widows and widowers in Denmark or the rate payable (e.g., change in income or if they intend to leave Denmark to live in another country).

When the client reaches the qualifying age for New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension, they will no longer be eligible for Sole Parent Support as a widow or widower and must apply for New Zealand Superannuation or Veterans Pension.

A client's Sole Parent Support will cease to be payable once the last dependent child turns 14. Clients cannot transfer to Jobseeker Support once their child has turned 14 as Jobseeker Support is not included as a benefit payable under the Agreement with Denmark.

If a client is still getting Sole Parent Support at the time they reach the qualifying age for New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension they will no longer be eligible for Sole Parent Support as a widow or widower and must test their entitlement to New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension.

For more information contact International Services.