A person who is a principal caregiver in respect of a dependent child shall be entitled to receive an unsupported child’s benefit in respect of the child if—
that person is not the natural parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent of the child; and
because of a breakdown in the child’s family, no natural parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent of the child is able to care for the child or to provide fully for the child’s support; and
the applicant is likely to be the principal caregiver in respect of the child for at least 1 year from the date of application for the benefit; and
the applicant is aged 18 years or over; and
either—
the child is both resident and present in New Zealand; or
the applicant has been both resident and present in New Zealand for a continuous period of 12 months at any time.
Section 29: replaced, on 1 April 1991, by section 6 of the Social Security Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 1).