Ending payment for client who needs an approved reason to travel (within 28 day maximum)
Where the client is receiving their payments while they are absent from New Zealand because they have an approved travel reason and their return date changes, they must advise Work and Income from overseas, otherwise their payment will be stopped from the day they originally advised they would return to New Zealand.
They may be able to have their benefit backdated if there is an unforeseen reason they cannot notify us.
For example, a client boards a plane to return home on schedule and the plane is held up due to fog. There is no way the client could notify Work and Income due to an event outside of their control. The benefit would be resumed from the original date the client was due to return (this will be on the itinerary or e-ticket).
For more information see:
Legislation
- Obligation to notify absence from New Zealand section 114 Social Security Act 2018
- If exception to general rule applies, beneficiary must notify MSD of absence regulation 141 Social Security Regulations 2018
- Discretion to pay benefit in respect of absences longer than total of 4 weeks in 52-week period regulation 148 Social Security Regulations 2018
