review of entitlement to benefit payment

This process can be used to stop a young person's payments.

back to youth activity obligations
What you need to do if follow if you have reason to review a young parent's entitlement to a benefit payment.

when you should review a young person's entitlement to a benefit payment

This process should be followed when:

  • a young parent has not recomplied after being sanctioned for four weeks
  • when you believe a young parent may not be eligible for the the rate of payment they are receiving, or
  • when a young person continuously refuses to engage with you as their youth coach.

You should always consider using an obligation failure first before using this process. 

This process is outlined in section 304 of the Social Security Act 2018

the review of entitlement to benefit payment process

Before you start  this process you should contact YSSU. They'll be able to walk you through this process to make sure it goes smoothly. If they give you the all clear here's what will happen.

Step one – make sure the young person's ART profile is up to date

You'll need to have good notes about your attempts to contact the young person in ART and any other relevant information recorded.

Step two – email YSSU and arrange for them to send the young person an entitlement review letter

Email youthservice@msd.govt.nz and ask YSSU to send a Review of Entitlement Letter to the young person.

The entitlement review letter will let the young person know:

  • msd is reviewing their entitlement to financial assistance
  • the appointment date, time and Youth Coach they will be seeing, and
  • if they do not attend this meeting or contact us, their benefit may be stopped.

What if the young person can't make it?

If the young person gets in touch to tell you they can't make the appointment arrange another time for the interview and ask YSSU to send a confirmation letter.

Step three – the appointment

When the young parent attends the appointment, some of the things you should be checking are:

  • any changes in their accommodation costs
  • if they have received any income or other help
  • if they have started to live with a partner, entered a civil union, married or separated
  • if any children have left home or started to live with them
  • if they have moved or left the area or country (even for a short time)
  • if they have changed their name or bank account.

You'll then write up your notes and send them to YSSU.

What if the young person doesn't show up?

If the young person does not attend this appointment or make contact, YSSU will need to send a second letter.

The second letter tells the young person:

  • they have missed their appointment to review their entitlement to financial assistance
  • their new appointment date, time and youth coach they will be seeing
  • if they do not attend or make contact by the appointment date, their payments will be stopped on the Monday following their appointment date.

What if the young person contacts you after the second letter to let you know they can't make the appointment?

If the young person gets in touch to tell you they can't make the appointment arrange another time for the interview and ask YSSU to send a confirmation letter.

If the young person continues to reschedule the appointments without a good and sufficient reason you then need to consider whether they are entitled to benefit. 

What is the young person doesn't show up to the second appointment?

If the young person does not attend their second appointment or make contact, their benefit payment must be stopped from the date as advised in their second letter.

Step four – record the information in ART

After the meeting you'll send notes and your recommendation to YSSU.

If the young person shows up and you are satisfied that they can get back on track with their youth activity obligations then the process ends here. The young person's payments won't be affected and you will continue supporting them to meet their youth activity obligations.

You'll recommend for YSSU to suspend the young parent's benefit when you have followed the above process and you:

  • feel you have sufficient information to determine that the young person is not entitled to a benefit payment, or
  • you have not been provided with enough information to determine if they are still entitled to a benefit payment.