Special Needs Grant Amendment Pursuant to section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, I, Roger Morrison Sowry, Minister of Social Services, Work and Income, approve the following amendments to the Special Needs Grant welfare programme (as originally approved on 18 December 1998), which are to be considered part of the programme. Dated 25th day of May 1999. ROGER MORRISON SOWRY, Minister of Social Services, Work and Income. Amendments 1. Special Assistance with Driver Licence Costs 1.1 Clause 3.1 of the programme is amended by inserting, after the definition of the term ``district'', the following definition: `` `Driver Licence' has the same meaning as in the Land Transport Act 1998:'' 1.2 Clause 9.6 of the programme is amended by adding the words ``or Clause 17A.''. 1.3 The programme is amended by inserting, after Clause 17.7, the following Clauses: ``17A Grants for Driver Licences ``17A.1 Renewals of existing driver licences ``17A.1.1 The Chief Executive may make a recoverable Grant to an Applicant for the actual cost of applying under the Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999 for a renewal of a Driver Licence if (a) The Applicant (i) Is the holder of an unexpired Driver Licence; or (ii) Has been the holder of a Driver Licence which the Applicant failed for a good or sufficient reason to renew before its expiry; and (b) The Applicant is applying for a Driver Licence of the same or equivalent class. ``17A.1.2 The maximum amount of any Grant made under Clause 17A.1.1 must not exceed (a) For an Applicant under the age of 76 years, $29.50; (b) For an Applicant between the age of 76 and 80 years, $37.50; (c) For an Applicant over the age of 80 years, $77.00. ``17A.1.3 The Chief Executive may make one Grant under Clause 17A.1.1 to each of the Applicant and his or her spouse during a 52 Week Period. ``17A.1.4 A Grant under Clause 17A.1.1 must not be made to an Applicant who is disqualified from holding or obtaining a Driver Licence under any enactment. ``17A.2 New driver licences ``17A.2.1 The Chief Executive may make a recoverable Grant to an Applicant, who (a) Has not previously been the holder of a Full Licence; and (b) Has an immediate and Essential Need to obtain a Driver Licence, for the actual cost of applying and being tested for a Learner Licence, a Restricted Licence, or a Full Licence. In this Clause and in Clauses 17A.2.4 and 17A.2.5, `Full Licence, `Learner Licence, and `Restricted Licence' have the same meanings as in the Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999. ``17A.2.2 An Essential Need for the purposes of Clause 17A.2.1 exists where the Chief Executive is satisfied that it is necessary for the Applicant to obtain a Driver Licence (a) To undertake any Organised Activity of a kind that the Applicant will be required to participate in at least once every fortnight; (b) To apply for Employment for which a Driver Licence is an essential requirement; (c) To undertake an Employment opportunity available to the Applicant; (d) Where the Applicant or any member of his or her Immediate family has a disability, to provide transport to enable that person to undertake daily living activities (including receiving treatment for the disability, or undertaking education or Employment); or (e) For any other special reason. ``17A.2.3 In considering whether a Driver Licence is necessary, the Chief Executive must have regard to: (a) The availability and suitability of public transport or other transport options; and (b) The particular circumstances of the Applicant and his or her Immediate family. ``17A.2.4 The maximum amount of any Grant made under Clause 17A.2.1 must not exceed (a) For an Applicant applying for a Learner Licence, $63.50; (b) For an Applicant applying for a Restricted Licence, $74.50; (c) For an Applicant applying for a Full Licence, $105.00. ``17A.2.5 The Chief Executive may, to each of the Applicant and his or her spouse during a 52 Week Period, make one Grant under Clause 17A.2.1 in relation to each of the categories of Learner Licence, Restricted Licence, or Full Licence. ``17A.2.6 A Grant under Clause 17A.2.1 must not be made to an Applicant who (a) Is disqualified from holding or obtaining a Driver Licence under any enactment; or (b) Has failed without good and sufficient reason to renew his or her Driver Licence before its expiry.'' Explanatory Note This note is not part of the welfare programme but is intended to indicate its general effect. These amendments, approved by the Minister of Social Services, Work and Income under section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, are to the special needs grant welfare programme approved by the Minister on 18 December 1998. The amendments to the programme allow recoverable assistance to be provided for people holding a driver licence to obtain the equivalent new photographic driver licence, and for people seeking to obtain a Learners Licence, Restricted Licence, or a Full Licence.