Admission to hospital in New Zealand

When a client has been in a public hospital for more than 13 weeks the New Zealand benefit or pension is reduced to the hospital rate. A Veteran's Pension is an exception to this and is not reduced if they are admitted to a public hospital and are in for longer than 13 weeks.

The Maltese pension is still treated as a direct deduction from the hospital rate of the New Zealand benefit or pension.

International Services receives reports from SWIFTT of clients admitted to hospital and will suspend the New Zealand benefit or pension when a client has been in hospital for 13 weeks and the Maltese pension is more than the hospital rate of the New Zealand benefit or pension.

When the client has a partner and the rate of a Maltese pension for one partner is more than the hospital rate of New Zealand benefit or pension, the excess amount of the Maltese pension is deducted from the other partner's New Zealand benefit or pension payment.

Note clients admitted to private hospitals do not have their benefit or pension reduced to the hospital rate.