Personal cash assets
Where the client was granted permanent residence because they had personal cash assets you will need to obtain information from the Immigration New Zealand to confirm the reason for granting permanent residence. Ensure you have the consent of the client before contacting the Immigration New Zealand.
Once confirmed, assess Youth Payment or, if the client does not meet the 2 years continuous residence criteria, Youth Payment on grounds of hardship in the usual manner taking into account all other information provided by Immigration New Zealand.
If there is a significant drop in the client's cash assets declared, confirmation for the following should be requested:
- what cash assets were they referring to and
- what has happened to these cash assets
It is not acceptable for these cash assets to be used to purchase capital items such as a house, furniture or motor vehicle.
Settlement funds can be used to purchase capital items, as these are not the same as cash assets declared as personal resources.
Note if the client has resided in New Zealand for 2 years assess the client's entitlement to the Youth Payment in the usual manner.
For more information see:
Legislation
- Youth payment: discretionary grant on ground of hardship section 53 Social Security Act 2018
