Emergency Benefit obligations

There are things you need to do when you're getting Emergency Benefit. If you don't do them, your benefit could reduce or stop.

Full-time work obligations

You'll generally be expected to look for work of at least 30 hours a week, unless you have a health condition or disability that means you can't work full-time.

If you have full-time work obligations, you need to:

be available for and take reasonable steps to get a suitable job
take any offer of suitable full-time, part-time or temporary work, or work that is seasonal or subsidised
attend and take part in any suitable job interviews we ask you to
take and pass any drug test potential employers or training providers require
attend and take part in interviews with us as required
work with us to plan how you'll find a suitable job
take part in any other activities we refer you to that will improve your work readiness or help you get work, such as:
- job training courses
- work experience, or
- work assessments (including rehabilitation, but not medical treatment)
let us know how you're meeting your work obligations as often as we reasonably require.

Part-time work obligations

If you have a health condition, injury or disability that means you can only work part-time, you'll need to look for work of at least 15 hours a week.

If you have part-time work obligations, you need to:

be available for and take reasonable steps to get a suitable part-time job
take any offer of suitable part-time or temporary work, or work that is seasonal or subsidised
attend and take part in any suitable job interviews we ask you to
take and pass any drug test potential employers or training providers require
attend and take part in interviews with us as required
work with us to plan how you'll find a suitable job
take part in any other activities that we refer you to, such as attend any job training courses, seminars, work experience or work assessments (including rehabilitation, but not medical treatment) that will improve your work readiness or help you get work
let us know how you're meeting your work obligations as often as we reasonably require.

Work preparation obligations

If you have a health condition, injury or disability that means you're unable to work, or can only work fewer than 15 hours a week, you won't be asked to meet work obligations until your situation changes.

In the meantime, you have the following work preparation obligations to:

take reasonable steps to prepare and plan for work
attend and take part in work preparation interviews, where we ask you to
attend and take part in work related activities or programmes such as a work assessment, a programme or seminar to increase particular skills or enhance motivation where we ask you to
attend and take part in any other activity that we require you to (including rehabilitation but not medical treatment, voluntary work or activity in the community).

You must tell us or your Contracted Service Provider (if you have one assigned to you) immediately if you:

have a change in work situation, e.g. start part-time, casual or full-time work, whether paid or unpaid
become self-employed/start to run a business
plan to travel overseas
start or finish study, either part-time or full-time
have a change of personal details, e.g. your:
- name
- address
- contact details
- bank account number
have changes to your living situation, e.g:
- marriage or separation
- starting or ending a civil union
- starting or ending a de facto relationship
- change in the number of children you support
- change in accommodation costs
are imprisoned or held in custody on remand
are admitted to or discharged from hospital
are granted an overseas pension
have any other change that may affect your benefit entitlement or rate.

You're expected to take reasonable steps to meet social obligations as a parent or a caregiver. These are to ensure your dependent child(ren) (including any child you get Orphan's or Unsupported Child's Benefit for) are:

enrolled with a health practitioner or a medical practice that's part of a Primary Health Organisation (PHO)
enrolled in and attending one of the following from the age of 3 until they start school:
- an approved early childhood education programme, eg,
  - Kohanga Reo, Punanga Reo, Aoga and other programmes with a language and culture focus
  - parenting and early childhood home education programmes
  - kindergartens
  - preschools
  - childcare centres
  - playcentres
  - home-based care services, or
- Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu - The Correspondence School, or
- another approved parenting and early childhood home education programme
up to date with their core Well Child/Tamariki Ora checks if aged under 5, at a Well Child/Tamariki Ora provider, eg:
- Plunket
- Maori health provider
- Pacific health provider
enrolled in and attending school from the age of 5 or 6 (depending on when they start school).

You may be required to meet with us to discuss how you're meeting your obligations as a parent or a caregiver.

If there’s any reason why you can’t meet your obligations, talk to us straight away. If you don't meet your obligations without good and sufficient reason, your benefit could be reduced or stopped.

We have a traffic light colour system to help you stay on track with your work-related and social obligations. It lets you know where you're at and what you need to do.

Go to the 'Traffic light system' page to find out what happens if you don't meet the following obligations:

find or prepare for work
take part in Work Ability Assessments
take part in activities with our service providers
social obligations (when taking care of dependent children).

Go to the 'When you don't meet your benefit obligations' page to find out what happens if you don't meet your obligation for telling us if something changes.

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