Social Security (Jobseeker Support and Accommodation Supplement) Amendment Bill

: general

applicable parent is defined in section 23E for the purposes of the parental income requirement provisions
calculation year is defined in section 23D for the purposes of the parental income requirement provisions
child exclusion date—
is defined in section 310X for the purposes of subpart 3B of Part 6; and
is defined in section 310ZI for the purposes of subpart 3C of Part 6
foster care allowance is defined in section 23D for the purposes of the parental income requirement provisions
MSD income tax deduction or payment is defined in section 23D for the purposes of the parental income requirement provisions
parental income—
is defined in section 23D for the purposes of the parental income requirement provisions; but
for the purposes of clauses 16A and 17 of Schedule 3, has the meaning in section 23D as modified by clause 16A(5) of Schedule 3
parental income limit is defined in section 23D for the purposes of the parental income requirement provisions
parental income requirement is defined in section 23D for the purposes of the parental income requirement provisions
parental income requirement provisions is defined in section 23D for the purposes of those provisions
relevant benefit is defined in section 23D for the purposes of the parental income requirement provisions
required information—
is defined in section 310ZB for the purposes of subpart 3B of Part 6; and
is defined in section 310ZL for the purposes of subpart 3C of Part 6; and
is defined in section 310ZT for the purposes of subpart 3D of Part 6
specified young person is defined in section 23D for the purposes of the parental income requirement provisions

, and parental income

and parental income

and parental income

14A Parental income requirement: how parental income is calculated: applications and reapplications
Application
(1) This clause applies if a relevant benefit is applied for, or if a relevant benefit is reapplied for—
before, on, or after its expiry date (as defined in section 331); and
under section 336 and regulations made under section 441(1).
Duty to check if specified young person meets parental income requirement
(2) MSD must check whether a specified young person (A) meets the parental income requirement if A is—
subject to it under section 23A(1); and
not required to be taken to meet it under section 23B(2).
How parental income calculated for calculation year
(3) In checking whether A meets the parental income requirement, MSD must calculate an applicable parent’s parental income for the calculation year by completing the following:
determining the representative weeks; and
calculating that parent’s parental income for the representative weeks that MSD determines (see also clause 14D); and
if the number of the representative weeks that MSD determines is not 52, annualising that parent’s parental income for those weeks (see clause 14E).
Representative weeks that MSD determines
(4) The representative weeks that MSD determines must be—
the 1 week, or the 2, 3, 4, 26, or 52 weeks, before the application or reapplication; and
those that MSD is satisfied best represent the parent’s ability to financially support the young person in the period during which the relevant benefit is payable and must continue to be paid.
14B Parental income requirement: how parental income is calculated: discretionary reviews under section 304
Application
(1) This clause applies if MSD is considering whether a beneficiary was, or would be, entitled to a relevant benefit—
in, or as a result of, a discretionary review under section 304; and
after MSD becomes aware of a change in the beneficiary’s circumstances or of a change in the circumstances of a parent of the beneficiary (for example, because that change is notified under section 113(1) or (1A)); and
in the period during which the beneficiary’s benefit that is the subject of the review (whether a relevant benefit or any other benefit) is payable and must continue to be paid.
Duty to check if specified young person meets parental income requirement
(2) MSD must check whether a specified young person (A) meets the parental income requirement if A is—
subject to it under section 23A(1); and
not required to be taken to meet it under section 23B(2).
How parental income calculated for calculation year
(3) In checking whether A meets the parental income requirement, MSD must calculate an applicable parent’s parental income for the calculation year by completing the following:
determining the representative weeks; and
calculating that parent’s parental income for the representative weeks that MSD determines (see also clause 14D); and
if the number of the representative weeks that MSD determines is not 52, annualising that parent’s parental income for those weeks (see clause 14E).
Representative weeks that MSD determines
(4) The representative weeks that MSD determines must be either—
the 1 week, or the 2, 3, 4, 26, or 52 weeks, before the change of circumstances (if the applicable parent’s parental income has not earlier been assessed under this clause during the duration of the benefit grant); or
the 1 week starting on the day after of the change of circumstances (in any other case).
14C Parental income requirement: how parental income is calculated: reviews under subparts 3B to 3D of Part 6
Application
(1) This clause applies if MSD is considering whether a beneficiary was, or would be, entitled to a relevant benefit in, or as a result of, a review required by—
subpart 3B of Part 6 (child leaves care because of sudden uncontrollable change of circumstances); or
subpart 3C of Part 6 (child leaves care for other reason); or
subpart 3D of Part 6 (beneficiary or spouse or partner turns 18).
Duty to check if specified young person meets parental income requirement
(2) MSD must check whether a specified young person (A) meets the parental income requirement if A is—
subject to it under section 23A(1); and
not required to be taken to meet it under section 23B(2).
How parental income calculated for calculation year
(3) In checking whether A meets the parental income requirement, MSD must calculate an applicable parent’s parental income for the calculation year by completing the following:
determining the representative weeks; and
calculating that parent’s parental income for the representative weeks that MSD determines (see also clause 14D); and
if the number of the representative weeks that MSD determines is not 52, annualising that parent’s parental income for those weeks (see clause 14E).
Representative weeks that MSD determines
(4) The representative weeks that MSD determines must be—
the 1 week, or the 2, 3, 4, 26, or 52 weeks, before (as applicable)—
the child exclusion date (if subpart 3B or 3C of Part 6 applies); or
the 18th birthday referred to in subpart 3D of Part 6; and
those that MSD is satisfied best represent the parent’s ability to financially support the specified young person in the period during which the relevant benefit is or would be payable and must continue to be paid.
14D Further provisions about calculation of parental income
General
(1) MSD must calculate the applicable parent’s parental income for the representative weeks that MSD determines under clause 14A, 14B, or 14C, based only on the extent to which it was received, acquired, paid, provided, or supplied in those weeks.
Discretion to disregard certain parental income
(2) Subclause (3) applies in calculating the applicable parent’s parental income for the representative weeks that MSD determines under clause 14B if—
those weeks are the 1 week starting on the day after of the change of circumstances (see clause 14B(4)(b)); and
but for subclause (3), whichever of the following applies would be more than the parental income limit:
A’s 1 applicable parent’s parental income for the calculation year; or
A’s 2 applicable parents’ combined parental income for the calculation year.
(3) MSD may disregard income that is not likely to continue for the duration of the benefit grant.
14E How parental income annualised
Application
(1) This clause applies if the number of the representative weeks that MSD determines under clause 14A, 14B, or 14C is not 52.
How income annualised
(2) MSD annualises an applicable parent’s parental income for those weeks by multiplying that income by—
2, if the number of those weeks is 26; or
13, if the number of those weeks is 4; or
17.33333, if the number of those weeks is 3; or
26, if the number of those weeks is 2; or
52, if the number of those weeks is 1.

or of parental income

16A Effect of deprivation of parental income of applicable parent
(1) This clause applies if MSD is satisfied that—
a specified young person’s applicable parent has, directly or indirectly, deprived the applicable parent of parental income:
the deprivation results in either of the following:
the specified young person’s qualifying for a relevant benefit; or
the specified young person’s spouse or partner qualifying for a relevant benefit at a rate of benefit that is payable other than as specified in section 23C(3) or (4).
(2) For the purposes of this clause and of rules under clause 17, deprivation of parental income, by a specified young person’s applicable parent, excludes that parent doing all or any of the things specified in clause 16(1A)(a) to (e).
(3) Subclause (2) does not apply to, and does not limit the application of section 9 (UCB beneficiaries must apply for formula assessment) of the Child Support Act 1991 to,—
an applicant for an unsupported child’s benefit; or
the spouse or partner of that applicant; or
a UCB beneficiary; or
the spouse or partner of that UCB beneficiary.
(4) MSD may refuse to grant a benefit, or cancel or reduce a benefit already granted.
(5) In this clause and clause 17, parental income excludes, for 12 months after the date of the applicable parent’s receipt of the amount, an amount that—
MSD considers is, or might have been, derived by an applicable parent from—
an impairment lump sum under Schedule 1 of the Accident Compensation Act 2001; or
a lump sum payment of an independence allowance under Part 13 or Part 4 of Schedule 1 of the Accident Insurance Act 1998; and
is paid to, and received by, the applicable parent, on or after 2 November 2026.
(6) This clause—
overrides any provisions to the contrary in this Act (under clause 2(3)), Part 6 of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014, or the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001; but
is subject to any rules prescribed by rules under clause 17.

or of parental income

or 16A

relating to either or both of the following:
the deprivation of income, property, or both:
the deprivation of parental income; and

(1A) Rules under this clause relating to the deprivation of income, property, or both are subject to clause 16(1A) (under which deprivation of income, property, or both, excludes specified conduct by a person who is an applicant for a benefit, or the spouse or partner of that applicant).
(1B) Rules under this clause relating to the deprivation of parental income are subject to clause 16A(2) (under which deprivation of parental income excludes specified conduct by an applicable parent).

70% of the amount by which an applicant’s weekly qualifying accommodation costs exceeds 40% of the base rate, but not more than—
$305 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 1:
$220 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 2:
$160 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 3:
$120 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 4
70% of the amount by which an applicant’s weekly qualifying accommodation costs exceeds 30% of the base rate, but not more than—
$305 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 1:
$220 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 2:
$160 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 3:
$120 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 4
70% of the amount by which an applicant’s weekly qualifying accommodation costs exceeds 40% of the base rate, but not more than—
$235 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 1:
$155 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 2:
$105 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 3:
$80 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 4
70% of the amount by which an applicant’s weekly qualifying accommodation costs exceeds 30% of the base rate, but not more than—
$235 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 1:
$155 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 2:
$105 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 3:
$80 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 4
70% of the amount by which an applicant’s weekly qualifying accommodation costs exceeds 40% of the base rate, but not more than—
$165 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 1:
$105 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 2:
$80 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 3:
$70 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 4
70% of the amount by which an applicant’s weekly qualifying accommodation costs exceeds 30% of the base rate, but not more than—
$165 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 1:
$105 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 2:
$80 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 3:
$70 a week, if the applicant resides in Area 4
In clauses 4 to 6AA, specified person means a person, or the spouse or partner of a person, who is receiving—
supported living payment on the ground of restricted work capacity or total blindness; or
supported living payment on the ground of caring for another person; or
emergency benefit, but only if the equivalent benefit under section 63(4) is—
supported living payment on the ground of restricted work capacity or total blindness; or
supported living payment on the ground of caring for another person; or
New Zealand superannuation; or
veteran’s pension.