Pursuant to 124(1)(d) of the Social Security Act 1964, the Minister for Social Development makes the following instrument.
I n s t r u m e n t
1. Title-This instrument is the Recoverable Assistance Programme Amendment 2014.
2. Commencement-This instrument comes into force on the day after it is made.
3. Principal Programme-This instrument amends the Recoverable Assistance Programme (as established and approved on 15 February 1999)1 (the principal programme).
4. Clause 11.1 amended (Dentures, Spectacles etc., and Hearing Aids)-Replace clause 11.1.1 with:
"11.1.1 The Chief Executive may grant a Payment of up to the following amount to an Applicant for any of the following purposes:
(a) $1,000 towards the cost of obtaining and fitting dentures including any examination required:
(b) $1,000 toward the cost of obtaining and fitting a hearing aid including any examination required:
(c) unless paragraph (d) applies, $1,000 towards the cost of obtaining spectacles including any eye examination, fitting, and adjustment required:
(d) if section 124(1BA) of the Act applies to the Applicant, the price determined by the contract with the preferred supplier under section 125AA(3) of the Act for the supply of a spectacle frame, lenses, care products, spectacle protection, eye examinations, fitting, and adjustment."
Dated at Wellington this 13th day of May 2014.
PAULA BENNETT, Minister for Social Development.
Explanatory Note
This note is not part of the instrument, but is intended to indicate its general effect.
This instrument, which comes into effect on the day after it is made, amends the Recoverable Assistance Programme under the Social Security Act 1964 ("Act") to recognise that certain items for which recoverable assistance is available for optical needs may be supplied by a preferred supplier with whom the Ministry has entered into a contract under section 125AA of the Act. It also removes the ability to grant assistance towards the purchase of contact lens as assistance for that purpose is available through Ministry of Health funding.
1New Zealand Gazette, 25 February 1999, No. 23, page 567