Under sections 5 and 124(1)(d) of the Social Security Act 1964, I make the following instrument amending the direction and welfare programmes set out in Schedules 1 and 2 and revoking the Care Supplement Programme.
HON PAULA BENNETT, Minister for Social Development and Employment.
Dated at Wellington this 14th day of March 2009.
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I n s t r u m e n t
1. Title-This instrument is the Instrument amending Ministerial Direction and Welfare Programmes and revoking Care Supplement Programme 2009.
2. Commencement-(1) This instrument, except for clause 5, comes into effect on 1 April 2009.
(2) Clause 5 comes into effect with the close of 31 March 2009.
3. Amendments relating to change in Consumers Price Index-The direction and welfare programmes set out in Schedule 1 are amended in the manner set out in that Schedule.
4. Amendments relating to other matters-The welfare programmes set out in Schedule 2 are amended in the manner set out in that Schedule.
5. Revocation of Care Supplement Programme-The Care Supplement Programme (as established and approved on
22 June 1999)1 is revoked.
Schedule 1
Clause 3
Direction and welfare programmes amended
Direction in relation to Special Benefit (given on 10 February 1999)2
Schedule
Omit from each provision set out in column 1 of the following table the amount set out opposite to it in column 2 and substitute the amount set out in column 3.
Column 1
Provision amended Column 2
Amounts omitted
$ Column 3
Amounts substituted
$
Clause 1(a) 78.70 81.36
Clause 1(b) 109.68 113.39
Clause 1(c) 205.78 212.74
Clause 2 78.70 81.36
Clause 4(a) 104.86 108.40
Clause 4(b) 148.80 153.83
Clause 4(c) 271.46 280.64
Clause 5 115.94 119.86
Clause 6(a) 104.86 108.40
Clause 6(b) 148.80 153.83
Clause 6(c) 115.94 119.86
Clause 7(a) 149.03 154.07
Clause 7(b) 149.03 154.07
Clause 7(c) 271.87 281.06
Clause 9 173.36 179.22
Clause 10 250.08 258.53
Clause 13 194.74 201.32
Clause 15 271.46 280.64
Family Start and Early Start (Childcare Assistance) Programme (as established and approved on 12 September 2005)3
Omit from clause 8(3) "$6.55" and substitute "$6.77".
New Employment Transition Grant Programme (as established and approved on 9 December 1998)4
Omit from clause 5.1.1 "$59.50" and substitute "$62.00".
Omit from clause 5.2 "$595.00" and substitute "$620.00".
Seasonal Work Assistance Programme (as established and approved on 7 July 2002)5
Omit from clause 7(3) "$730.00" and substitute "$760.00".
Omit the table in Schedule 1 and substitute:
"Total period of work missed (per week) For a single applicant with
no dependent children
$ For any other applicant
$
8 hours or less 42.00 76.00
More than 8 and not more than 16 hours 84.00 152.00
More than 16 and not more than 24 hours 126.00 228.00
More than 24 and not more than 32 hours 168.00 304.00
More than 32 hours 210.00 380.00"
Training Incentive Allowance Programme (as established and approved on 30 November 1998)6
Omit from clause 6.1.1 "$93.40" and "$3,736.00" and substitute "$96.56" and "$3,862.40" respectively.
Omit from clause 6.4.2 "$3,736.00" and substitute "$3,862.40".
Schedule 2
Clause 4
Welfare programmes amended
Home Help Programme (as established and approved on 6 May 2004)7
Schedule
Omit from clause 1(a) "$12.63" and substitute "$13.16".
Omit from clause 1A "2008" and substitute "2009".
Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 (as established and approved on 13 November 2000)8
Omit from the Schedule "193.00", "177.00", "125.00", "255.00", "220.00" and "183.00" and substitute respectively "240.00", "230.00", "140.00", "308.00", "350.00" and "200.00".
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Explanatory Note
This note is not part of the instrument, but is intended to indicate its general effect.
This instrument, which generally comes into effect on 1 April 2009, amends a Ministerial direction and a number of welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964 ("the Act").
Schedule 1 adjusts certain rates, standard costs, and limits to take into account a 3.38% increase in the Consumers Price Index.
Schedule 2 lists amendments to the:
- Home Help Programme to align the hourly rate with a 4.18% increase in the adult minimum wage;
- Special Transfer Allowance Programme 2000 to adjust average regional rents to reflect movements in rentals.
Clause 5 revokes the Care Supplement Programme with effect with the close of 31 March 2009. This programme is no longer required because the weekly rates of orphan’s benefit and unsupported child’s benefit payable under the Act are increased on 1 April 2009 by the Social Security (Rates of Benefits and Allowances) Order 2009 to align with the rates of weekly foster care allowance board payments under section 363 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989. This means that the "top-up" payments provided to former foster parents under the Care Supplement Programme are no longer required.
Notes:
1New Zealand Gazette, 24 June 1999, No. 75, page 1691
2New Zealand Gazette, 16 December 1999, No. 193, page 4600
3New Zealand Gazette, 15 December 2005, No. 207, page 5275
4New Zealand Gazette, 17 December 1998, No. 200, page 4769
5New Zealand Gazette, 11 July 2002, No. 78, page 2079
6New Zealand Gazette, 10 December 1998, No. 198, page 4695
7New Zealand Gazette, 13 May 2004, No. 52, page 1290
8New Zealand Gazette, 16 November 2000, No. 154, page 3995