Approved travel reasons
A client receiving Young Parent Payment is generally not able to continue to receive their main benefit payments while they are absent from New Zealand unless they meet the criteria for approved travel.
Approved travel includes:
- travel for a permitted reason
- travel where the absence will not prevent the client from continuing to meet all of their youth activity obligations
Clients are not required to meet their youth activity obligations while absent from New Zealand for approved travel.
Length of travel for an approved travel reason
Clients can travel for up to 28 days on Young Parent Payment for an approved travel reason. Discuss with the client the amount of time that they need to be absent from New Zealand as a result of the approved reason. The client should explain the length of their intended absence.
Consider:
- the length of time the event or reason for travel will take and
- flight availability and travel time
Remember to advise clients that generally they are only able to continue to be paid their benefit for up to 28 days in a 52 week period. This should be taken into account when deciding the approved travel period.
Client travelling for multiple reasons
Some clients may travel overseas for an approved travel reason but elect to stay longer for another reason that is not an approved travel reason. In this case, the client can generally only receive their main benefit payments for the period of time that the approved travel reason applies to.
For more information see:
- Permitted travel reasons
- Absences that do not prevent client meeting their obligations
- Examples of applying the Absence from New Zealand policy
- Travel notifications made while overseas [no link find out why] process
- Travel notifications made on return to New Zealand [no link find out why] process
Legislation
- Obligation to notify absence from New Zealand section 114 Social Security Act 2018
- Effect of absence of beneficiary from New Zealand section 219 Social Security Act 2018
- Factors affecting benefits: absence from New Zealand regulations 139-153 Social Security Regulations 2018
- Criteria for discretionary payment of certain benefits in respect of absences of up to 4 weeks in 52-week period regulation 145 Social Security Regulations 2018
