Formal Definition Required
Gregory Soar made this Official Information request to Ministry of Social Development
The request was partially successful.
From: Gregory Soar
Dear Ministry of Social Development,
Your website and managers have provided me with the following information regarding mortgages whilst on a benefit:
“
A homeowner is able to claim mortgage repayments as accommodation costs.
They are able to claim the minimum mortgage repayment only as an accommodation cost. This is to prevent people raising their repayments to qualify for a higher rate of Accommodation Supplement.”
1, Please supply the formal legal working definition in full and legal totality as used by MSD of “minimum mortgage repayment” stated therein.
2. Does the “minimum mortgage repayment” mean the lowest interest rate always?
3. Does the minimum mortgage repayment mean “not” the lowest rate available but whatever rate of interest is taken the least required to service it? Example...rates of 2.49 available but a rate of 2.99 over longer period also available. Is the client permitted to take the longer rate ( rates may rise thus a savings made ) at 2.99 and must pay the minimum of that.
4. What rights does a beneficiary have regarding choosing the rates they feel will save the most money?
5 can a recipient of special benefit take a mortgage interest rate term of 5 years even if higher than 12 month terms if they feel rates will rise above the set interest rate before 5 years expires thus saving money as required on SPecial Benefit?
Yours faithfully,
Gregory Soar
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tçnâ koe Gregory Soar
Thank you for your email received 14 January 2021, under the Official
Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate
officials at National Office to respond. You can expect a decision as soon
as reasonably practicable, and in any case not later than 20 working days
after the day on which the request was received.
Please be advised that within the standard 20 working days the following
days are not counted as working days:
1. 25 December 2020 – 15 January 2021 – Summer Holidays
2. 2 January 2021 – Day after New year’s Day
Nâ mâtou noa, nâ
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and
independent
Ko ta mâtou he whakamana tangata kia tû haumaru, kia tû kaha, kia tû
motuhake
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From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
Tçnâ koe Gregory Soar
Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information
Act request.
Nâ mâtou noa, nâ
Official and Parliamentary Information team | Ministerial and
Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau.
------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------
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