Youth activity obligations

Young people getting Youth Payment have the following activity obligations. They must:

• be enrolled in and undertaking, or be available for, a full-time course of secondary or tertiary education, or approved training or work-based learning leading to a NCEA level 2 qualification or an equivalent or higher qualification
• when required to, participate in and complete an approved budgeting programme
• report to their service provider or Work and Income "in-house" service on progress in meeting their education and budgeting obligations (above) as often as required
• when required to, attend and participate in any interview with their service provider or Work and Income "in-house" service and
• when asked, provide within 20 working days, to their service provider or Work and Income “in-house” service, details of the young person’s accommodation costs, service costs and lawful debts or other liabilities
• co-operate with their service provider or Work and Income "in-house" service in managing the spending of their Youth Payment and
• attend and participate in regular discussions on budgeting at any discussion, or when asked, provide details of:
  • accommodation costs and service costs such as power and phone
  • lawful debts and liabilities
  • how they spent any in-hand allowance and any money credited to their payment card or any other device

Young people who fail without good and sufficient reason to comply with their activity obligations may be sanctioned.

Young people getting Youth Payment can earn incentive payments for education and budgeting obligations if they meet certain criteria.

For more information see:

• Deciding education, training or work-based learning activities
• Approved budgeting programme activity
• Report to service provider or Work and Income on progress
• Earning incentive payments
• Youth money management activity
• Activity obligations failures