Special circumstances justifying delay in activity obligation

A young person may have special circumstances that justify not having to attend a Teen Parent Unit when their youngest dependent child is 6 months old even if there is a suitable place available.

Special circumstances include, but are not limited to:

• the young person's child has an uncontrolled health condition, such as asthma, or the child has special needs
• an illness or post natal depression affecting the young person's ability to return to school
• the young person is struggling with the challenge of being a new parent (supported by information received from their Well Child/Tamariki Ora or health practitioner) and returning to education or training will be detrimental to the young person and/or their child
• the young person is having difficulty bonding with their child (supported by information received from their Well Child/Tamariki Ora or health practitioner) and returning to education or training will be detrimental to the young person and/or their child
• the dynamics of the other participants of the Teen Parent Unit makes the young person's attendance at the Teen Parent Unit inappropriate

Where the service provider or Work and Income "in-house" service are satisfied that there are special circumstances that justify the delay in the obligation to return to education at the Teen Parent Unit, the obligation to be in education, training or work-based learning would apply from when:

• a suitable place becomes available
• there are no longer special circumstances that delay the obligation to return to education at the Teen Parent Unit
• the young person's youngest dependent child reaches the age of 12 months

whichever is earlier.

Where there are no special circumstances that justify the delay in obligations for the young person to return to education at a Teen Parent Unit, the young person must attend.

For more information see:

• Deciding if suitable place at Teen Parent Centre available