work ready or already working
income levels for part-time or full-time work
Young people can work part-time and earn up to a certain amount while receiving payments from us. Once they earn too much or gain full-time employment, payments must immediately stop.
You will need to make sure young people know:
- how much they can earn before their payments are affected
- the impact income has on their payments, and
- how to declare their income in MyMSD.
Earning income while receiving payments
Young people can earn some money and still receive payments. How much they can earn, and how it affects their payments depends on their circumstances. How much they can earn is adjusted annually. You can see how their income affects their payments in MAP:
Youth Payment - charging income | MAP
Young Parent Payment - charging income | MAP
When a young person is earning too much to receive payments
If a young person earns too much, payments will be suspended. If they continue to earn too much for eight weeks in a row their benefit will be cancelled and they will need to exit Youth Service.
If the young person has a fixed term placement that is longer than eight weeks, you can contact YSSU to request the young person's payments remain suspended, rather than be canceled.
This way they won't have to reapply for YP/YPP if they aren't able to move into sustainable employment after the placement.
when a young person gets a job offer
If a young person gets a job offer, you should help them navigate accepting the role. This is important because it can help young people turn that job into sustainable employment. Make sure the young person and the employer are on the same page when it comes to expectations and conditions. Talk to the young person to make sure they understand the:
- position description, employment agreement and employee rights
- working conditions, health and safety, working environment
- pay, wages and salary, probation period
- hours of work, and
- anything else you think is important. This might include skills development, career pathway, performance incentive, promotion, other positions within company, further training, industry qualifications, apprenticeships.
when a young person gets full-time work
When a young person gets a full-time job, you will need to notify YSSU via ART. You should also:
- attach supporting documents to the appropriate ART tasks, including the contractual employment agreement letter, outlining the job offer, hours, duration, etc.
- check if the young person is eligible for financial support for entering the workforce (we'll go through these next).
financial support for young people entering the workforce
This is a list of payments that taiohi may be eligible for when they are starting in employment.
Transition to Work Grant
Transition to Work Grant is here to help with the reasonable costs of finding work or starting a new job.
transition to work grant and dress for success | Youth Service providers
Relocate for Work Support
Relocate for Work Support is a payment that can help young people aged 18 or over and their immediate family to relocate for a job, if they haven't been able to find one where they currently live.
relocate for work support | Youth Service providers
Course Participation Assistance
Course Participation Assistance can help young people take part in training and work related skills development.
course participation assistance and training incentive allowance | Youth Service providers
Flexi-wage
Flexi-wage is a wage subsidy and extra assistance to support employers in taking on people who do not meet the entry-level requirements of the job.
Flexi-wage – job seeker information | Work and Income
Extra help while working
Whether they're starting full-time work or already working, young people may be able to get Extra Help from Work and Income for things like accommodation, childcare or health and disability.
Help while you're working - Work and Income
Young people with children may also be able to get Working for Families payments through Inland Revenue.