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Grandparenting Special Benefit with Studylink

Lee M. made this Official Information request to Ministry of Social Development

Response to this request is long overdue. By law Ministry of Social Development should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.

From: Lee M.

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

Please advise me under the OIA;

1) Whether or not Special Benefit can be grandparented in regards to a free Wintec course where a Studylink application needs to be made as the potential student is receiving a solo-parent benefit (DPB payment) from WINZ (with accommodation supplement and Special Benefit payments also being applicable)?

2) What legislation applies to assessing grandparented Special Benefit in the above circumstances?

Yours faithfully,

Lee M.

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From: Lee M.

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

My apologies, I forgot to note in above request that the study course is full time.

Yours faithfully,

Lee M.

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From: Natalie Hansen
Ministry of Social Development

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Dear Lee M

 

Thank you for your email of 21 July 2016 requesting information under the
Official Information Act about the Grand-parenting of Special Benefit with
Studylink.

 

Clients who were granted Special Benefit prior to 1 April 2006 continue to
receive Special Benefit until they no longer qualify.

 

For further information please see link attached
[1]http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/inc...

 

Information about cancelling special benefit due to a change of
circumstances can be found at this link:
[2]http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/inc...

 

Please click on the following link to access Section 61G (23) of the
Social Security Act – Temporary Additional Support Savings in respect of
existing special
benefits:[3]http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/leg...

 I hope you find this information useful.

Kind regards

 

Natalie Hansen

 

Senior Advisor | Office of the Deputy Chief Executive Service Delivery  PO
Box 1556, Wellington | Desk-to-Desk 49935 |   DDI 04-903 3935  | email
[4][email address]

 

[5]cid:image001.jpg@01D1CBCB.C8C3CD90

 

 

 

 

 

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From: Lee M.

Dear Natalie Hansen,

You have not answered my two very specific questions. You have clearly 'fudged' this valid and legitimate information request. Please provide me with the requested information without further delay.

Yours sincerely,

Lee M.

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From: Natalie Hansen
Ministry of Social Development

Hello Lee

Thank you for your response to my email. I apologise that you feel your questions were not responded to fully.

A client who is currently receiving Special Benefit will need to test their eligibility to continued grandparented payment for Special Benefit when their circumstances change such as in the circumstance you describe below where their eligibility to Sole Parent Support ends as they become a student and they are applying for student assistance. Consideration will need to be given to their full circumstances in determining whether they are still eligible. The following link which was provided in my email below takes you to information about Special Benefit and there are further links on this page which take you to the qualification and the factors that are taken into account when determining eligibility:

http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/inc...

The legislation for Special Benefit was also provided to you in my first email: http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/leg...

If you are not happy with a decision that has been made regarding Special Benefit you can apply for a review of decision. This link takes you to further information on our website: http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/about-w...

Kind regards

Natalie Hansen

Senior Advisor | Office of the Deputy Chief Executive Service Delivery PO Box 1556, Wellington | Desk-to-Desk 49935 | DDI 04-903 3935 | email [email address]

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From: Lee M.

Dear Natalie Hansen,

Referring to your reply, you state a client currently receiving Special Benefit will need to test their eligibility, however, you have not told me who will need to do this --- WINZ or Studylink?

Yours sincerely,

Lee M.

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From: Natalie Hansen
Ministry of Social Development

Hi Lee

Generally, students would send their review information directly to StudyLink or make an appointment to see a StudyLink Outreach staff member in your area.

Kind regards

Natalie Hansen

Senior Advisor | Office of the Deputy Chief Executive Service Delivery  PO Box 1556, Wellington | Desk-to-Desk 49935 |   DDI 04-903 3935  | email [email address]

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