Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2020

Reprint as at 12 December 2020

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2020

(LI 2020/13)

Patsy Reddy, Governor-General

Order in Council

At Wellington this 24th day of February 2020

Present:
Her Excellency the Governor-General in Council

Note

Changes authorised by subpart 2 of Part 2 of the Legislation Act 2012 have been made in this official reprint.

Note 4 at the end of this reprint provides a list of the amendments incorporated.

This order is administered by the Ministry of Social Development.

This order is made under sections 452, 452A, and 453 of the Social Security Act 2018 and sections 15 and 16 of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council.

Order

1 Title

This order is the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2020.

2 Commencement

(1)

This order comes into force on 1 April 2020.

(2)

Subclause (1) applies with the following exceptions:

(a)

clause 3 comes into force as stated in clause 3(2):

(b)

clause 4 comes into force as stated in clause 4(2):

(c)

clause 5 comes into force as stated in clause 5(2):

(d)

clause 6 comes into force immediately after the commencement of clauses 3, 4, and 5.

Order: confirmed, on 12 December 2020, by section 11 of the Subordinate Legislation Confirmation Act 2020 (2020 No 66).

Clause 2(2)(d): amended, on 27 March 2020, by clause 4 of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) (COVID-19 Recovery Package) Amendment Order 2020 (LI 2020/49).

3 Mandatory adjustments under section 452A of Social Security Act 2018

(1)

In each provision of the Social Security Act 2018 listed in the first column of Part 1 of Schedule 1 of this order, replace, in each place, the amount set out opposite to that provision in the second column with the amount set out opposite to that provision in the third column.

(2)

By virtue of section 452A(5) of the Social Security Act 2018, this clause—

(a)

comes into force on 1 April 2020; and

(b)

applies to benefits (within the meaning of that Act) payable on and after that date.

4 Mandatory adjustments under section 453 of Social Security Act 2018

(1)

In each provision of the Social Security Act 2018 listed in the first column of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of this order, replace, in each place, the amount set out opposite to that provision in the second column with the amount set out opposite to that provision in the third column.

(2)

By virtue of section 453(5) of the Social Security Act 2018, this clause—

(a)

comes into force on 1 April 2020; and

(b)

applies to benefits (within the meaning of that Act) payable on and after that date.

5 Mandatory adjustments under sections 15 and 16 of New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001

(1)

In each provision of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 listed in the first column of Part 3 of Schedule 1 of this order, replace the amount set out opposite to that provision in the second column with the amount set out opposite to that provision in the third column.

(2)

By virtue of section 15(6) of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, this clause—

(a)

comes into force on 1 April 2020; and

(b)

applies to New Zealand superannuation payable on and after that date.

6 Discretionary increases under section 452 of Social Security Act 2018

(1)

In each provision of the Social Security Act 2018 listed in the first column of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of this order, replace the amount set out opposite to that provision in the second column with the amount set out opposite to that provision in the third column.

(2)

In each provision of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 listed in the first column of Part 2 of Schedule 2 of this order, replace the amount set out opposite to that provision in the second column with the amount set out opposite to that provision in the third column.

(3)

In each provision of the Social Security Act 2018 listed in the first column of Part 3 of Schedule 2 of this order, replace the amount set out opposite to that provision in the second column with the amount set out opposite to that provision in the third column.

(4)

In each provision of the Social Security Act 2018 listed in the first column of Part 4 of Schedule 2 of this order, replace the amount set out opposite to that provision in the second column with the amount set out opposite to that provision in the third column.

Clause 6(3): inserted, on 27 March 2020, by clause 5 of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) (COVID-19 Recovery Package) Amendment Order 2020 (LI 2020/49).

Clause 6(4): inserted, on 27 March 2020, by clause 5 of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) (COVID-19 Recovery Package) Amendment Order 2020 (LI 2020/49).

Schedule 1 Mandatory adjustments

cls 3, 4, 5

Part 1 Average weekly earnings wage adjustments to social security benefits and allowances

Provision amendedOld amount ($)New amount ($)
Schedule 4, Part 1 (Jobseeker support)
Clause 1(a)145.98150.48
Clause 1(b)182.47188.10
Clause 1(c)228.07235.11
Clause 1(d)218.98225.74
Clause 1(e)339.69350.17
Clause 1(f)339.69350.17
Clause 1(g)(i)182.47188.10
Clause 1(g)(ii)195.50201.53
Clause 1(h)(i)182.47188.10
Clause 1(h)(ii)208.53214.96
Clause 1(i)(i)182.47188.10
Clause 1(i)(ii)208.53214.96
Clause 1(j)(i)364.94376.20
Clause 1(j)(ii)391.00403.06
Clause 2182.47188.10
Clause 3(i)182.47188.10
Clause 3(ii)195.50201.53
Schedule 4, Part 2 (Sole parent support)
Clause 1339.69350.17
Schedule 4, Part 3 (Supported living payment)
Clause 1(a)221.48228.31
Clause 1(b)273.70282.14
Clause 1(c)385.60397.50
Clause 1(d)(i)228.07235.11
Clause 1(d)(ii)241.10248.54
Clause 1(e)(i)228.07235.11
Clause 1(e)(ii)254.12261.96
Clause 1(f)(i)228.07235.11
Clause 1(f)(ii)254.12261.96
Clause 1(g)(i)456.14470.22
Clause 1(g)(ii)482.20497.08
Clause 1(h)(i)228.07235.11
Clause 1(h)(ii)254.12261.96
Clause 2358.07380.11
45.6347.03
Clause 7(a)228.07235.11
Clause 7(b)254.12261.96
Schedule 4, Part 6 (Rates and component of youth payment and young parent payment, and criteria for incentive payments)
Clause 1182.47188.10
Clause 2172.03177.34
Clause 3339.69350.17
Clause 4182.47188.10
Clause 5(a)208.53214.96
Clause 5(b)195.50201.53
Schedule 4, Part 10 (Rates of generally abolished former widows’ benefits under section 21 of Social Security Act 1964 as saved by clause 55 of Schedule 1 of Social Security Act 2018 for reciprocity agreement applicants or recipients)
Clause 1339.69350.17
Clause 2228.07235.11
Schedule 4, Part 11 (Rates of generally abolished former DPB for solo parents under section 27B of Social Security Act 1964 as saved by clause 55 of Schedule 1 of Social Security Act 2018 for reciprocity agreement applicants or recipients)
Clause 1339.69350.17
Clause 2228.07235.11

Schedule 1 Part 1: amended, on 27 March 2020, by clause 6 of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) (COVID-19 Recovery Package) Amendment Order 2020 (LI 2020/49).

Part 2 CPI adjustments to social security benefits and allowances

Provision amendedOld amount ($)New amount ($)
Schedule 4, Part 4 (Orphan’s benefit)
Clause 1(a)233.71237.59
Clause 1(b)215.53219.11
Clause 1(c)197.27200.55
Clause 1(d)172.84175.71
Schedule 4, Part 5 (Unsupported child’s benefit)
Clause 1(a)233.71237.59
Clause 1(b)215.53219.11
Clause 1(c)197.27200.55
Clause 1(d)172.84175.71
Schedule 4, Part 12 (Rates of benefits payable to long-term hospital patients)
Clause 145.2846.03

Part 3 Adjustments to superannuation entitlements

Provision amendedOld amount ($)New amount ($)
Schedule 1 (New Zealand superannuation entitlements)
Clause 1(a)475.42483.66
Clause 1(b)437.14444.69
Clause 1(c)360.42366.73
Clause 2(b)682.86694.96

Schedule 2 Discretionary increases

cl 6

Part 1 Increases to social security income limits, allowances, and asset limits

Schedule 2 Part 1 heading: amended, on 27 March 2020, by clause 7(1) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) (COVID-19 Recovery Package) Amendment Order 2020 (LI 2020/49).

Provision amendedOld amount ($)New amount ($)
Schedule 4, Part 6 (Youth payment and young parent payment income limits)
Clause 11220.90224.58
270.90274.58
Clause 12220.90224.58
320.90324.58
Schedule 4, Part 9 (Child disability allowance and disability allowance)
Clause 148.4549.26
Clause 264.2965.36
Clause 340.1040.77
Schedule 5, Part 1 (Asset limits)
Clause 11,095.161,113.36
Clause 21,824.831,855.15
Clause 31,437.991,461.89
Clause 41,544.681,570.35
Schedule 5, Part 2 (Income limits)
Clause 5500.23508.54
Clause 6574.91584.46
Clause 7835.04848.92
Clause 8697.63709.22
Clause 9734.99747.20
Schedule 5, Part 3 (Disability allowance income limits)
Clause 10540.59549.57
Clause 11661.30676.61
Clause 12983.121,006.82
Clause 13753.94766.47
Clause 14794.34807.54

Schedule 2 Part 1: amended, on 27 March 2020, by clause 7(2) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) (COVID-19 Recovery Package) Amendment Order 2020 (LI 2020/49).

Schedule 2 Part 1: amended, on 27 March 2020, by clause 7(3) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) (COVID-19 Recovery Package) Amendment Order 2020 (LI 2020/49).

Part 2 Increases to superannuation entitlements

Provision amendedOld amount ($)New amount ($)
Schedule 1 (New Zealand superannuation entitlements)
Clause 1(a)483.66490.73
Clause 1(b)444.69451.29
Clause 1(c)366.73372.27
Clause 2(a)720.84744.54
Clause 2(b)694.96705.26
Clause 345.2846.03
Clause 440.1040.77

Part 3 COVID-19 Recovery Package increases to social security benefits

Schedule 2 Part 3: inserted, on 27 March 2020, by clause 7(4) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) (COVID-19 Recovery Package) Amendment Order 2020 (LI 2020/49).

Provision amendedOld amount ($)New amount ($)
Schedule 4, Part 1 (Jobseeker support)
Clause 1(a)150.48175.48
Clause 1(b)188.10213.10
Clause 1(c)235.11260.11
Clause 1(d)225.74250.74
Clause 1(e)350.17375.17
Clause 1(f)350.17375.17
Clause 1(g)(i)188.10200.60
Clause 1(g)(ii)201.53214.03
Clause 1(h)(i)188.10200.60
Clause 1(h)(ii)214.96227.46
Clause 1(i)(i)188.10200.60
Clause 1(i)(ii)214.96227.46
Clause 1(j)(i)376.20401.20
Clause 1(j)(ii)403.06428.06
Clause 2188.10200.60
Clause 3(i)188.10200.60
Clause 3(ii)201.53214.03
Schedule 4, Part 2 (Sole parent support)
Clause 1350.17375.17
Schedule 4, Part 3 (Supported living payment)
Clause 1(a)228.31253.31
Clause 1(b)282.14307.14
Clause 1(c)397.50422.50
Clause 1(d)(i)235.11247.61
Clause 1(d)(ii)248.54261.04
Clause 1(e)(i)235.11247.61
Clause 1(e)(ii)261.96274.46
Clause 1(f)(i)235.11247.61
Clause 1(f)(ii)261.96274.46
Clause 1(g)(i)470.22495.22
Clause 1(g)(ii)497.08522.08
Clause 1(h)(i)235.11247.61
Clause 1(h)(ii)261.96274.46
Clause 2380.11392.61
47.0359.53
Clause 7(a)235.11247.61
Clause 7(b)261.96274.46
Schedule 4, Part 6 (Rates and component of youth payment and young parent payment, and criteria for incentive payments)
Clause 1188.10213.10
Clause 2177.34202.34
Clause 3350.17375.17
Clause 4188.10200.60
Clause 5(a)214.96227.46
Clause 5(b)201.53214.03
Schedule 4, Part 10 (Rates of generally abolished former widows’ benefits under section 21 of Social Security Act 1964 as saved by clause 55 of Schedule 1 of Social Security Act 2018 for reciprocity agreement applicants or recipients)
Clause 1350.17375.17
Clause 2235.11260.11
Schedule 4, Part 11 (Rates of generally abolished former DPB for solo parents under section 27B of Social Security Act 1964 as saved by clause 55 of Schedule 1 of Social Security Act 2018 for reciprocity agreement applicants or recipients)
Clause 1350.17375.17
Clause 2235.11260.11

Part 4 COVID-19 Recovery Package increases to winter energy payment

Schedule 2 Part 4: inserted, on 27 March 2020, by clause 7(4) of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) (COVID-19 Recovery Package) Amendment Order 2020 (LI 2020/49).

Provision amendedOld amount ($)New amount ($)
Schedule 4, Part 8 (Winter energy payment)
Clause 1(a)450900
Clause 1(b)7001,400
Clause 1(c)7001,400

Michael Webster,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2012.

Date of notification in Gazette: 27 February 2020.

Reprints notes
1 General

This is a reprint of the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2020 that incorporates all the amendments to that order as at the date of the last amendment to it.

2 Legal status

Reprints are presumed to correctly state, as at the date of the reprint, the law enacted by the principal enactment and by any amendments to that enactment. Section 18 of the Legislation Act 2012 provides that this reprint, published in electronic form, has the status of an official version under section 17 of that Act. A printed version of the reprint produced directly from this official electronic version also has official status.

3 Editorial and format changes

Editorial and format changes to reprints are made using the powers under sections 24 to 26 of the Legislation Act 2012. See also http://www.pco.parliament.govt.nz/editorial-conventions/.

4 Amendments incorporated in this reprint

Subordinate Legislation Confirmation Act 2020 (2020 No 66): section 11

Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) (COVID-19 Recovery Package) Amendment Order 2020 (LI 2020/49)