Articles tagged with Social Security
Government Tightens Welfare Eligibility to Support Sustainability and Target Need
6 days ago | 177 viewsThe Government has introduced the Social Security Amendment Bill to improve fiscal sustainability by tightening eligibility for Jobseeker Support for 18- and 19-year-olds and adjusting the Accommodation Supplement calculation for homeowners. The Bill requires young beneficiaries to meet the Parental Assistance Test unless they have dependent children, aiming to reduce long-term benefit dependency and better target assistance to those most in need. Additionally, the Accommodation Supplement changes, the first in 33 years, focus support on vulnerable groups by requiring homeowners to contribute a higher share of income toward housing costs before receiving subsidies.
Tags: Louise Upston Social Development Employment Minister Jobseeker Support Accommodation Supplement Welfare system Budget 2025 Parental Assistance Test New Zealand Government Social Security Amendment BillGovernment Amends Law to Ensure Fair Treatment of ACC and Welfare Payments
2 months ago | 431 viewsThe Government has passed legislation to clarify the impact of ACC payments on welfare entitlements, addressing an unfair discrepancy between those receiving weekly ACC payments and those receiving lump sum payments while their ACC claims are considered. The Social Security Amendment Act ensures equal treatment for all ACC recipients, correcting a court-interpreted anomaly that previously favored one group over another. This change aims to create a fair and equitable process, with transitional provisions for individuals seeking review before the Bill's introduction.
Tags: Government legislation ACC payments welfare entitlement Social Development Employment Minister Louise Upston Social Security Amendment Act MSD benefit Appeal AuthorityGovernment Introduces Bill to Clarify ACC Payments Impact on Welfare Entitlement
3 months ago | 492 viewsThe Government is introducing the Social Security (Accident Compensation and Calculation of Weekly Income) Amendment Bill to clarify how ACC payments affect welfare entitlements and ensure fair treatment between different recipient groups. The bill aims to align the law with longstanding policy by authorizing MSD to retrospectively adjust benefits when backdated ACC payments reduce welfare to zero and to prevent inequities where some recipients receive dual income support for the same need. This legislation responds to court rulings and will not apply retrospectively to cases filed before the bill’s introduction, promoting fairness and certainty in the welfare system.
Tags: Louise Upston Government MSD Social Security ACC Social Development and Employment Social Services and Community Select Committee Social Security Appeal Authority High Court Winter Energy PaymentNew Legislation Ensures Fair Treatment of Boarder and Rental Payments for Housing Subsidies
10 months ago | 1734 viewsLegislation fixing the inconsistent treatment of boarder and rental payments has been passed into law in Parliament today. The Social Assistance Legislation (Accommodation Supplement and Income-related Rent) Amendment Bill and the supporting legislation of the Social Security (Mandatory Reviews) Amendment Bill has addressed the inconsistent treatment of board and rent payments around housing subsidies. “This has been an unnecessarily complicated and confusing system,” says Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston.
Tags: Amendment bill Louise upston Mandatory reviews Related rent Social assistance legislation Social development and employment Social security Social securitydatory reviews Sulement