Exemptions from activity obligations
Exemptions from activity obligations recognise that there are a number of common reasons why it is unreasonable to expect a young person to meet their activity obligations for a specified period.
Young people getting Young Parent Payment can be granted a full or partial exemption from their activity obligations for the following reasons on the recommendation from their service provider or Ministry of Social Development 'in-house' service:
- Caring for a child with special needs
- Caring for foster child under 12 months old
- Caring full-time for a partner with a health condition, injury or disability
- Court imposed conditions
- Family violence
- Recent bereavement of their partner
- Recent separation from their partner
- Would qualify for Jobseeker Support - health condition, injury or disability
- Would qualify for Supported Living Payment - health condition, injury or disability
The young person can be granted a temporary exemption from some or all of their activity obligations. Proof may be required before an exemption is granted.
For more information see:
YSSU role in exemptions
The YSSU will make the decision to decline or approve any exemption.
Duration of the exemption
Each exemption has a specific period of time it can be granted for. In some cases these can be extended if appropriate.
For an overview of the exemptions see:
Note the maximum duration for a young person who has an exemption due to a health condition, injury or disability is based on a health practitioner’s recommendation in the medical certificate of when they should next be medically reassessed.
Getting an incentive payment
If the young person is getting an incentive payment, and then qualifies for an exemption you will need to decide if they can continue to get the payment.
For more information see:
- Obligations Incentive payments can continue
Legislation
- Exemptions: work-preparation, work-test, and other obligations section 157-161 Social Security Act 2018
- Procedure for grant of exemption regulation 97 Social Security Regulations 2018
- MSD may review, and extend, vary, or revoke, exemption regulation 98 Social Security Regulations 2018
- Exemption from obligations under Act of certain young people subpart 9, section 105-107 Social Security Regulations 2018
