When you don't meet your benefit obligations

While you're getting Jobseeker Support Student Hardship or Emergency Benefit, there are things you and your partner need to do. If you don't do them and you don't have a good and sufficient reason, you may get a debt or your benefit could reduce or stop.

Not meeting work-related or social obligations

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.

The traffic light system is for the following obligations:

find or prepare for work
take part in Work Ability Assessments, to help us understand what kind of work you can do
take part in activities with our service providers, to find a job or prepare for work
social obligations (when you're taking care of dependent children).

You can find out about the traffic light system on our '' page. Stay on this page to find out what happens if you don't meet your other obligations.

Not meeting other obligations

Find out what happens when you or your partner don't meet your other obligations.

If you or your partner don't tell us about changes in your life that might affect your benefit entitlement, or rate, then:

your benefit may be reviewed and cancelled
you may have to pay back the total amount of any overpayment that you've received
we may impose a penalty (up to 3 times the value of the overpayment)
you may be prosecuted and fined and/or imprisoned.

Going overseas

If you or your partner intend to travel overseas and don't let us know before you leave New Zealand, your benefit will be stopped the day after you leave New Zealand.

Going overseas

If your partner doesn't complete their youth activities (if required) without a good and sufficient reason:

for the first time within a year, your benefit will be reduced by 50%
for the second time within a year, your benefit will continue to be paid at 50% (if you have dependent children), or stop (if you don't have dependent children). Your benefit will restart if your partner undertakes the activity they failed to do.
for the third time within a year, your benefit will continue to be paid at 50% (if you have dependent children), or stop (if you don't have dependent children). Your benefit will restart if your partner agrees to take part in an approved activity for at least 6 weeks and you're still entitled to your benefit. If your partner doesn't agree to take part in the activity, you won't be able to get another benefit for 13 weeks.

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