Social Security Amendment Regulations 2022

2022/27

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Social Security Amendment Regulations 2022

Cindy Kiro, Governor-General

Order in Council

At Wellington this 21st day of February 2022

Present:
Her Excellency the Governor-General in Council

These regulations are made under sections 424, 427, and 428 of the Social Security Act 2018 on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council.

Regulations

1 Title

These regulations are the Social Security Amendment Regulations 2022.

2 Commencement

These regulations come into force on 1 April 2022.

3 Principal regulations

These regulations amend the Social Security Regulations 2018.

4 Regulation 55 amended (Funeral grants: amounts)

In regulation 55, replace “$2,152.66” with “$2,280.72”.

5 Regulation 71 amended (Allowable costs)

(1)

In regulation 71(3)(a), replace “$27.24” with “$28.86”.

(2)

In regulation 71(3)(b), replace the table with:

Payments for essential household items
Column 1Column 2Column 3
Essential household itemMaximum number of itemsMaximum weekly amount ($)
Beds (including mattresses)33.99
Combined refrigerator-freezer126.89
ororor
Separate refrigerator and separate freezer1 of each if separate items26.89 in total if separate items
Dining suite133.99
Lounge suite133.99
Portable heaters18.39
Washing machine126.89
Stove126.89
Television set125.47

(3)

In regulation 71(3)(d), (9), and (10), replace “$25.38” with “$26.89”.

(4)

In regulation 71(3)(h) and (i), replace “$68.60” with “$72.68”.

6 Schedule 2 replaced

Replace Schedule 2 with the Schedule 2 set out in the Schedule of these regulations.

7 Schedule 8 amended

In Schedule 8, after clause 18(2)(a)(xi), insert:

(xii)

payments received on or after 1 April 2022 but before the close of 31 March 2023, $3.89 per hour; and

Schedule Schedule 2 replaced

r 6

Schedule 2 Rates of childcare and OSCAR subsidies

rr 36, 44

ItemCaregiverRate
1For a principal caregiver or temporary OB or UCB caregiver with 1 dependent child where household income before the deduction of income tax is—
(a)less than $838 a week$5.69 per hour
(b)$838 or more but less than $1,257 a week$4.53 per hour
(c)$1,257 or more but less than $1,361 a week$3.17 per hour
(d)$1,361 or more but less than $1,466 a week$1.77 per hour
(e)$1,466 or more a weekNil
2For a principal caregiver or temporary OB or UCB caregiver with 2 dependent children where household income before the deduction of income tax is—
(a)less than $963 a week$5.69 per hour
(b)$963 or more but less than $1,445 a week$4.53 per hour
(c)$1,445 or more but less than $1,560 a week$3.17 per hour
(d)$1,560 or more but less than $1,675 a week$1.77 per hour
(e)$1,675 or more a weekNil
3For a principal caregiver or temporary OB or UCB caregiver with 3 or more dependent children where household income before the deduction of income tax is—
(a)less than $1,079 a week$5.69 per hour
(b)$1,079 or more but less than $1,613 a week$4.53 per hour
(c)$1,613 or more but less than $1,749 a week$3.17 per hour
(d)$1,749 or more but less than $1,885 a week$1.77 per hour
(e)$1,885 or more a weekNil

Michael Webster,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

Explanatory note

This note is not part of the regulations, but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These regulations, which come into force on 1 April 2022, are made under the Social Security Act 2018 (the Act). They amend the Social Security Regulations 2018 by increasing—

  • the amount payable under the Act as a funeral grant; and

  • the limits on certain allowable costs for which temporary additional support may be granted under the Act; and

  • the rates of childcare and OSCAR (out-of-school care and recreation) subsidies available under the Act to certain caregivers with dependent children; and

  • payments to an educator for providing a home-based education and care service for a child.

The increases reflect a 5.95% increase in the New Zealand Consumers Price Index from the December 2020 quarter to the December 2021 quarter (calculated for all quarters using the New Zealand Consumers Price Index (All Groups)).

Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2019.

Date of notification in Gazette: 24 February 2022.

These regulations are administered by the Ministry of Social Development.