Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698830279299.pdf (New Zealand)
Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Government Bill Explanatory note General policy statement A fairer system for social assistance This Bill amends the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989, the Education Act 1989, the Income Tax Act 1976, the Income Tax Act 1994, the Income Tax Act 2004, the Income Tax Act 2007, the Social Security Act 1964 (the Social Security Act) and the War Pensions Act 1954.
It puts into effect the package of proposals to implement the manifesto commitments made by the Government prior to the election and introduce an unrelenting focus on work.

The main objective of the changes is to ensure a fairer system of social assistance with an unrelenting focus on work.
This will be achieved by— • requiring people receiving certain benefits who can work to seek and accept offers of suitable work as a first priority: providing financial support that reflects the individual’s cir- cumstances and needs: providing for the CPI adjustment of social assistance rates in legislation.

• • 125—1 2 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Explanatory note The changes reflect and reinforce the principles that underpin the Social Security Act.
These are that— • work in paid employment offers the best opportunity for people to achieve social and economic well-being: the priority for people of working age should be to find and retain work: people for whom work may not currently be an appropriate outcome should be assisted to plan for work in the future and develop employment-focused skills: people for whom work is not appropriate should be supported in accordance with the Social Security Act.
• • • Underlying the proposed changes are three key aims.

These are to— • • • get people back to work as soon as possible: reduce dependency on the benefit system: make it clear that people who receive support from the State are expected to meet certain obligations.
The Bill achieves these objectives by— • introducing a part-time work test for solo parents on domestic purposes benefit once their youngest child turns 6 years old: introducing a part-time work test for people on sickness benefit who are assessed as being able to work part-time: requiring people receiving unemployment benefit to reapply every 12 months and undertake a comprehensive work assess- ment at that time: ensuring that obligations are work-focused where this is ap- propriate: introducing a graduated sanction regime for work-tested bene- ficiaries and independent youth beneficiaries: increasing both abatement thresholds for people subject to the part-time abatement regime to provide a greater incentive to work: increasing the abatement threshold for people receiving the non-qualified spouse or partner rates of New Zealand super- annuation and veteran’s pension: providing for the consumers price index annual adjustment of social assistance rates in legislation rather than by convention: clarifying some areas of current policy.
• • • • • • • • Explanatory note Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 3 Context The legislative changes that this Bill introduces support measures being taken in order to achieve a fair social assistance system that is work-focused.

The Bill is part of a package of changes to the way that welfare is delivered.
Non-legislative changes include improved assessment for eligibility for certain benefits, and improved provi- sion of assistance and support in relation to training and access to work opportunities and childcare.

The emphasis in the measures be- ing introduced is to reduce benefit dependency by encouraging and assisting people into work.

Legislative change is necessary to sup- port this outcome.
At the same time the Bill also introduces measures to ensure that people who are in receipt of income support are treated fairly.

Summary of main measures to provide a fairer social assistance system with an unrelenting focus on work Part time work test for domestic purposes benefit—solo parents At present the work test requirements in the Social Security Act do not apply to a solo parent receiving domestic purposes benefit (DPB).
After 27 September 2010, solo parents on DPB with a youngest child aged 6 years or over will be required to look for and accept suitable part-time work of at least 15 hours a week.

There will be a limited number of circumstances that may exempt a solo parent from the work test requirements, such as having the care of a child with spe- cial needs.

Solo parents on DPB with a child under 6 years old will continue to be subject to the provisions under which they may be re- quired to plan for a return to work.
Part time work test for sickness benefit At present people on sickness benefit are subject to provisions under which they may be required to plan for a return to work, but do not have to seek or accept offers of part-time work regardless of any capacity for work that they might have.
Commencing 2 May 2011, a person on sickness benefit assessed as having the capacity to work part-time may be required to look for and accept offers of suitable part-time employment of at least 15 hours a week and undertake the other obligations of the work test.

4 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Explanatory note Reapplication process for people on unemployment benefit At present unemployment benefit (UB) is not time-limited, although a person’s entitlement to a benefit can be reviewed at any time.
Com- mencing 27 September 2010, a person who has been on UB for 12 months will have to reapply for the benefit and undergo a compre- hensive work assessment.

Emphasising focus on work Under the Social Security Act at present, the obligations that are or may be placed on benefit recipients can be the result of negotiation and can include aspects of personal development.
To ensure that in the future the focus of the system is on work, commencing 27 Sep- tember 2010, the following changes will be made: • removing the negotiated job seeker agreement provisions so that a person on a work-tested benefit can be directed to spe- cified work-related activities by the Ministry of Social Devel- opment: ensuring that obligations are focused on work as a first priority: removing the need for activities to be agreed in the activity test for 16- and 17-year-olds on independent youth benefit and for participation in education and training to be the preferred activity: bringing all the work test obligations into one place in the Act and ensuring that these have an emphasis on work: changing work test exemptions so they will be exemptions from some or all work test obligations instead of exemptions from the work test (and therefore all work test obligations): changing personal development and employment plans for non-work-tested benefits to employment plans and refocusing them so that they are plans about returning to work when the person’s circumstances allow.
• • • • • Sanctions At present, when a person fails the work test (or an independent youth beneficiary does not comply with his or her obligations) for the first time, the person’s benefit payment is suspended until the person re- complies.

For a second failure in 12 months, it is again suspended, and after a third failure it is cancelled for 13 weeks.
During the Explanatory note Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 5 period the benefit is suspended or cancelled, the person is not able to access supplementary assistance (accommodation supplement, tem- porary additional support, or special benefit).

Commencing 27 September 2010, a graduated sanction regime will be introduced so that a person will have the benefit payment reduced by 50% for a first failure rather than suspended.
The person will still be receiving some benefit payment and will be able to continue to receive 100% of the supplementary assistance the person had been receiving prior to the sanction.

For second and third failures, when the benefit is 100% suspended or cancelled, no supplementary assist- ance is payable.

At present, recompliance requirements do not relate to the original failure.
This is being amended so that a person subject to the work test will have to carry out the same activity or an activity similar to the failed activity—making recompliance more meaningful.

The current 50% protection for sole parents and couples with de- pendent children, where both parents fail the work test, is retained to ensure that families with children continue to receive some support for their children.
The 50% protection rule also means that these fam- ilies continue to receive 100% of the supplementary assistance they had been receiving prior to the sanction.

At present people cannot access third-tier assistance while sanctioned.

This has not changed.

Abatement All main benefits are income-tested.

This means that the benefit rate payable may be reduced (abated) depending on the amount that a person receives.
At present, recipients of domestic purposes bene- fits, widow’s benefit, and invalid’s benefit can receive income of $80 a week (gross) before the benefit starts to abate, and income of be- tween $80 and $180 reduces the benefit payment by 30c for every dollar.

A person aged under 65 years on veteran’s pension can re- ceive employment income of $80 gross a week before the benefit starts to abate, and employment income of between $80 and $180 reduces the benefit payment by 30c for every dollar.
Income (or em- ployment income) over $180 reduces the benefit payment by 70c in the dollar.

Commencing 27 September 2010, these thresholds will increase from $80 to $100, and from $180 to $200.

This means that people on these 6 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Explanatory note benefits, who work part time, will be better off as they will be able to retain more of their benefit payments.
New Zealand superannuation and veteran’s pension are not income-tested but if the qualifying per- son elects to include a non-qualified spouse in the payment then an income test of 70c in the dollar for income over $80 a week is ap- plied.

Commencing 27 September 2010, people in this situation will be able to receive $100 of income a week before the superannuation or pension is abated.
In conjunction with this, the income threshold for disability allowance (for couples only) will be increased by $14 so that couples receiving income-tested New Zealand superannuation or veteran’s pension do not lose entitlement to disability allowance as a result of taking advantage of the increased earning threshold.
Annual adjustment of social assistance rates At present, social assistance rates (including main benefit rates, stu- dent allowance rates, and foster care allowances (minimum board rates) under the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989) are increased each year, by convention, according to move- ments in the all groups consumers price index (CPI).
Legislating for the CPI adjustment for main benefits, student allowances, and fos- ter care allowances provides beneficiaries, students, and foster carers with the same certainty as people receiving New Zealand superannu- ation or veteran’s pension and provides equitable treatment across all these forms of income support.

Other amendments The Bill provides for a number of other amendments.

These are out- lined below.


Introduction of new model for delivery of hardship assistance The Act does not have a regulation-making power allowing for rules to be made in relation to the advance payment of benefits.

Guidance for such payments is provided through Ministerial direction and op- erational guidelines.

There are also no obligations on people who apply for or receive advance payments of benefits.
Commencing 27 September 2010, a new provision will be inserted in the Act to allow the Ministry of Social Development in certain circumstances to refuse an advance payment of benefit.

A new regu- Explanatory note Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 7 lation-making power will also be inserted to provide for rules in re- lation to how advance payments of benefit can be applied for and authorising the Ministry to require applicants for advances to under- take budgeting activities.
Payments to parents for children returned to their care whilst still in the care or custody of Chief Executive or approved organisation under Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 The Family Court has determined that the current practice of the Min- istry of Social Development to treat a child who has been returned to the care but not the custody of his or her parents under the Chil- dren, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 as a dependent child for benefit and tax credit purposes is not supported by the le- gislation.
Legally, the family should not receive assistance through the benefit system or under the income tax system, as the child should continue to be provided for by Child, Youth and Family (CYF) or the approved organisation concerned.

As it is not considered appropri- ate for natural parents to be treated as foster parents, the Bill provides for current practice to continue and for past practice to be validated.

These provisions come into effect from the day after the Bill receives Royal assent.
Accommodation supplement costs At present, service costs (other than water rates included in the rent) are excluded from the costs that are taken into account when calculat- ing a person’s entitlement to accommodation supplement.

A recent High Court decision interpreted accommodation costs as including the total cost of a person’s rent including the costs for any services that are included in that rent.
This change is to clarify the wording in the Social Security Act to make it clear that services such as elec- tricity should not be included.

It comes into effect from the day after the Bill receives Royal assent.

Childcare assistance thresholds At present, there is a legislative requirement for the income thresh- olds for childcare assistance to be increased for cumulative percent- age movements in the CPI of 5% or more.
The thresholds have more 8 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Explanatory note than doubled in the last 5 years.

The highest income threshold (for a family with 3 children) is now $99,320.

Commencing 27 September 2010, the thresholds will be reduced to the 1 April 2008 levels.
People who are receiving childcare assist- ance on that date or who received childcare assistance at any time in the 12 months prior to that date will be able to continue to access childcare assistance at the current thresholds for a further 3 years.

The current legislative provisions for the future indexation of the childcare assistance thresholds are also removed.
Transitional arrangements In order to ensure that agreements in place at the time of transition to the new system remain enforceable until such time as the person’s obligations are amended, the Bill provides for— • any personal development and employment plan in force be- fore the Bill’s commencement to be treated as an employment plan: a job seeker agreement and activities specified in relation to it to continue until such time as the chief executive directs otherwise: current rules about sanctions to apply to any sanctions that are in place or in the process of being imposed at the time of the Bill’s commencement: an exemption from the work test in force at the time of the Bill’s commencement to be treated as an exemption from all work test obligations until it is varied or revoked.
• • • Other related amendments New regulations and amendments to existing regulations will need to be made separately.

These are— • • new regulations in relation to advance payments of benefit: amendments to the Social Security (Exemptions under Section 105) Regulations 1998: amendments to the Social Security (Application of Work Test Obligations) Regulations 2007.

• Explanatory note Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 9 Clause by clause analysis Clause 1 is the title clause.
Clause 2 provides for the commencement of the Bill.

Most of the Bill’s provisions come into force on 27 September 2010.

Clauses 1 to 3, 4(1), 7 to 11, 12, 13(1), 21, 24, 36, and 37 come into force on the day after the Bill receives Royal assent.

Clauses 13(11) to (14) and 16 and Schedule 2 come into force on 2 May 2011.
Part 1 Amendments to Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 Clause 3 provides that Part 1 amends the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 (the principal Act in this Part).

Clause 4 amends section 363.


Under section 363(1), the chief ex- ecutive of the department responsible for administering the principal Act must determine rates of payment to persons or organisations in whose charge a child or young person is placed under section 362, and section 363(2) places a duty on the person or organisation who placed the child or young person to make those payments and any ad- ditional payments to meet the reasonable needs of the child or young person.
Section 363(3) authorises payments at a higher rate than de- termined under subsection (1) subject to any limits set by the chief executive.

Clause 4(1) adds a new subsection (4) to section 363.

This provides that section 363(1) to (3) do not apply, and must be considered to have never applied, in respect of a child or young person to whom section 361 applies, if the child or young person has been placed in the charge of his or her parent under section 362.
Section 361 applies to children and young persons who are placed, or ordered to be detained, in the care or custody of the chief executive, or an iwi social service, or a cultural social service, or the director of a child and family support service, under various provisions of the principal Act.

Clause 4(2) adds new subsections (5) to (8) to section 363.
New subsection (5) requires the minimum rates of payment deter- mined under section 363(1) in respect of the board and lodgings of children and young persons to be adjusted by Order in Council as at 1 April each year for increases in the consumers price index-all groups (CPI) in the preceding calendar year.

10 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Explanatory note New subsection (6) provides that an adjustment under new subsection (5) must not reduce the weekly amounts payable.
New subsection (7) provides that an adjustment under new subsec- tion (5) comes into force, and applies to rates payable in respect of the board and lodgings of children and young persons, on and after 1 April in a year.

New subsection (8) defines the term CPI.

Part 2 Amendments to Education Act 1989 Clause 5 provides that Part 2 amends the Education Act 1989.

Clause 6 amends section 303, which empowers the making of regula- tions providing for student allowances.
The amendments insert new subsections (3B) to (3E).

New subsection (3B) requires the rates of student allowances (ex- cept the rates of allowances provided for accommodation expenses), after the deduction of standard tax, to be adjusted by regulations as at 1 April each year for increases in the consumers price index-all groups (CPI) in the preceding calendar year.

New subsection (3C) provides that an adjustment under new subsec- tion (3B) must not reduce the weekly amounts of student allowances payable.
New subsection (3D) provides that an adjustment comes into force, and applies to student allowances payable, on and after 1 April in the year concerned.

New subsection (3E) defines the terms CPI and standard tax.

Part 3 Amendments to Income Tax Act 1976, Income Tax Act 1994, Income Tax Act 2004, and Income Tax Act 2007 Clause 7 provides that the purpose of Part 3 of the Bill is to make amendments to the definitions of dependent child in the above Acts.
Clauses 8 to 10 amend the definitions of the term dependent child in the Income Tax Act 1976, Income Tax Act 1994, and Income Tax Act 2004 by including as a dependent child, a child or young person Explanatory note Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 11 as defined in the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989, to whom section 361 of that Act applies if the child or young person has been placed under section 362 of that Act in the charge of his or her parent.
Section 361 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 applies to children and young persons who are placed or ordered to be detained in the care or custody of the chief executive, or an iwi social service, or a cultural social service, or the director of a child and family support service, under various provi- sions of that Act.
The amendments apply in relation to the 1991–92 income year and subsequent income years, but only for the purpose of validating payments of family support credits of tax and other tax credits under those Acts.

Clause 11 substitutes the definition of dependent child in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007.
The new definition similarly includes as a dependent child a child or young person as defined in the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989, to whom section 361 of that Act applies, if the child or young person has been placed in the charge of his or her parent under section 362 of that Act.

The new definition applies for the 2008–09 and subsequent income years.
Part 4 Amendments to Social Security Act 1964 Clause 12 provides that Part 4 amends the Social Security Act 1964 (the principal Act in this Part).

Clause 13 amends section 3(1), which is the main interpretation pro- vision.

Clause 13(1) substitutes a new definition of dependent child.

Para- graphs (a), (b), and (d) of the new definition are to the same effect as the current definition.
Paragraph (c) of the new definition treats as a dependent child, a child or young person as defined in the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 to whom section 361 of that Act applies, if, under section 362 of that Act, the child or young person has been placed in the charge of his or her parent.
Section 361 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 applies to children and young persons who are placed or ordered to be detained in the care or custody of the chief executive, or an iwi social service, or a cultural social service, or the director of a child and family support service, under various provisions of that Act.
12 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Explanatory note Clause 13(2) inserts a new definition of employment plan, to have the meaning in section 60O (see the new definition inserted in section 60O by clause 18).
It also inserts a new definition of work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary, to mean a person granted a domestic purposes benefit under section 27B (the domestic purposes benefit for solo parents) whose youngest dependent child is aged 6 years or older and under 18 years, or who is aged 18 years and is a child in respect of whom the benefit is paid, or continues to be paid, under section 63A.

Clause 13(3) and (4) amend the definitions of Income Test 1 and Income Test 2.
The amendments increase the amount of income that a beneficiary subject to one of these income tests and his or her spouse or partner may receive without abating the benefit from $80 to $100 a week.

They also increase the amount of income that a beneficiary and his or her spouse or partner may receive before the benefit is abated at the rate of 70 cents in the dollar from $180 to $200 a week.

Clause 13(5) substitutes a new definition of Income Test 3.
The new definition is to the same effect as the repealed definition except that it increases the amount of income that a beneficiary being paid New Zealand superannuation at a rate stated in clause 2 of Schedule 1 of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 and his or her spouse or partner may receive without abating the bene- fit from $80 to $100 a week.
A superannuitant whose spouse or part- ner is not qualified to receive New Zealand superannuation in his or her own right may elect to receive New Zealand superannuation at a rate stated in clause 2 of that schedule.

Clause 13(6) repeals the definition of Income Test 5 as it is no longer used.

Clause 13(7) amends paragraph (a) of the definition of part-time work-tested beneficiary to include a work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary.
In accordance with paragraph (b) of the definition, a work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary with a youngest depend- ent child aged 6 years or older and under 18 years will be a part-time work-tested beneficiary.

Clause 13(8) repeals the definition of personal development and em- ployment plan.
Clause 13(9) amends the definition of work-tested beneficiary to in- clude a person who is a work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary, Explanatory note Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 13 and clause 13(10) amends the definition of work-tested benefit to in- clude, in relation to a work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary, a domestic purposes benefit under section 27B.
Clause 13(11) inserts a new definition of work-tested sickness bene- ficiary to mean a person granted a sickness benefit who is required under new section 54DA(1) (as inserted by clause 16) to comply with the work test.

Clause 13(12) substitutes the definition of part-time work-tested beneficiary to include a work-tested sickness beneficiary.
Clause 13(13) and (14) amend the definitions of work-tested benefi- ciary and work-tested benefit to include, respectively, references to a work-tested sickness beneficiary, and a sickness benefit in relation to a work-tested sickness beneficiary.
Clause 14 substitutes a new section 27B(2A), which currently relates to the obligations of a person who receives a benefit under that section (the domestic purposes benefit for solo parents) to comply with a requirement under section 60Q, and any obligations under sections 60Q to 60S.

The effect of the amendment is to require the person to comply with the work test instead of those obligations if the person is a work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary.
Clause 15 amends section 54D, which relates to the rates of sick- ness benefit.

The clause repeals section 54D(2), which is an obsolete provision relating to grandparenting of the rates of sickness benefit payable to a person who was formerly in receipt of the community wage, and makes a consequential amendment to section 54D(1).

Clause 16(1) inserts a new section 54DA (sickness beneficiaries may be required to comply with work test) in the principal Act.
The new section 54DA(1) provides that the chief executive may by notice in writing require a person granted a sickness benefit to comply with the work test from the date specified in the notice if the chief executive is satisfied that the person has, while receiving the benefit, the capacity to seek, undertake, and be available for part-time work (a term defined in section 3(1) as employment averaging not less than 15 hours a week).
The chief executive must have regard to the medical certificate and any report obtained under section 54B before making a requirement.

New section 54DA(2) provides that the time specified in the notice may, in the case of a new grant of a sickness benefit, be the date on 14 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Explanatory note which the benefit is first paid, but otherwise may not be before the date the chief executive considers that the person will receive the notice.
New section 54DA(3) provides that the chief executive may, whether on application by the person or otherwise, review a requirement under new section 54DA(1) at any time and may confirm or revoke it.

Clause 16(2) makes consequential amendments to the principal Act as set out in Schedule 2.
In accordance with clause 2(2), clause 16 and Schedule 2, and the corresponding new definition of work-tested sickness beneficiary and amendments to other definitions in section 3(1) made by clause 13(11) to (14), come into force on 2 May 2011.

Clause 17 amends section 60GAB, which states the obligations of a person granted an independent youth benefit.
Subclause (1) removes the requirement in section 60GAB(2)(a) that the person agree in writ- ing to undertake approved activities before he or she may be required by the chief executive to undertake them.

Subclause (2) amends section 60GAB(2)(b) so that the person has the obligation of being available for and taking reasonable steps to obtain full-time employ- ment, as an alternative to undertaking approved activities under sec- tion 60GAB(2)(a), only when the chief executive requires.
Clause 18 amends section 60O, which is the interpretation section for sections 60P to 60Z.

Subclause (1) repeals the definition of personal development and em- ployment plan or plan.

Subclause (2) inserts a new definition of employment plan.

The new definition is to the same effect as the repealed definition of personal development and employment plan, but omits reference to economic and social participation, and capabilities other than employment cap- abilities.
Clause 19 amends section 60P, which sets out the purpose of sections 60Q to 60Z.

It clarifies that the purpose does not relate to work-tested domestic purposes beneficiaries.

Clause 20 amends section 60Q, under which a beneficiary may be re- quired to undertake personal development and employment planning obligations (amended by clause 40 and Schedule 1 to employment planning obligations).
The amendment provides that the section ap- Explanatory note Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 15 • plies to a beneficiary receiving a domestic purposes benefit under section 27B (the domestic purposes benefit for solo parents) if the recipient has a dependent child under the age of 6 years.

Clause 21 amends section 61E, which is the interpretation section for the provisions relating to accommodation supplement.
Subclause (1) repeals paragraph (a) in the definition of accommo- dation costs and substitutes a new paragraph.

The substituted para- graph— • allows a person renting premises to claim the amount payable for rent of the premises as accommodation costs instead of the total cost of the premises; and makes it clear that any service costs included in the rent, and as currently, any arrears, are not accommodation costs.
Subclause (2) makes an amendment to paragraph (b) of the definition of accommodation costs to exclude service costs from the accommo- dation costs that can be claimed by an owner of premises.

Subclause (3) defines the term service costs to mean the costs of any services supplied to or in connection with the premises for the con- sumption or use by the occupants of the premises.

The definition expressly excludes the costs of water supplied to the premises.
Clause 22 inserts a new section 61HA (annual CPI adjustment of rates of certain benefits) in the principal Act.

New section 61HA(1) defines the term CPI to mean the consumers price index-all groups published by the Department of Statistics.

New section 61HA(2) requires the rates of benefits set out in Sched- ules 3, 4, 6, 9, 16, 17, and 26, and clause 1 of Schedule 22, to be adjusted by Order in Council as at 1 April each year for any increase in the CPI in the preceding calendar year.
The rates required to be adjusted as set out in those schedules are the rates of widows’ bene- fits, the maximum rates of orphans’ benefits and unsupported childs’ benefits, the rates of invalids’ benefits, the rates of unemployment benefits and sickness benefits, the rates of domestic purposes bene- fits, and the rates of independent youth benefits.

Schedule 22 sets out the rates of benefit payable under section 75 for persons hospitalised for more than 13 weeks.
New section 61HA(3) and (4) provide that an adjustment under new section 61HA(2) must not reduce the weekly amounts of benefits payable, and that an Order in Council comes into force, and applies 16 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Explanatory note to benefits payable on and after 1 April in a calendar year in which it is made.

New section 61HA(5) provides that section 61H(3) to (6) apply to every Order in Council made under new section 61HA(2) as if the order were made under that section.
Section 61H(3) provides that an Order in Council expires 12 months after it is laid before the House of Representatives unless it is validated and confirmed by Act of Parlia- ment passed before that date.

Section 61H(4) provides that an Order in Council that has been revoked by a subsequent Order in Council in the calendar year following the date on which it was laid before the House is deemed invalid unless it is validated and confirmed by Act of Parliament passed before 31 December of that year.
Section 61H(5) provides that every Order in Council has the force of law as if enacted by the principal Act.

Section 61H(6) provides that the val- idity of an Order in Council is not affected by the repeal of an Act of Parliament validating and confirming it.

Clause 23 amends section 82, which governs the payment of benefits.
Section 82(6) gives the chief executive discretion to make payment in advance of any number of instalments of a benefit if the chief ex- ecutive considers an advance payment of benefit would best meet the immediate needs of the beneficiary.

The clause inserts new subsec- tions (6A) to (6C).


New subsection (6A) authorises the chief executive to pay the whole or any part of an advance payment of benefit to the supplier of any goods or services if the immediate needs of the beneficiary relate to the supply of goods or services to the beneficiary or a member of his or her family.
New subsections (6B) and (6C) authorise the chief executive to refuse to make an advance payment of a benefit, or any subsequent ad- vance payment of a benefit, if the beneficiary (or the beneficiary’s spouse or partner) has failed to take reasonable steps to reduce costs or increase income, better manage finances, obtain other assistance towards costs, or failed to comply with a requirement of the chief executive to undertake a budgeting activity under regulations made under new section 132K (as inserted by clause 37).
Clause 24 inserts a new section 86K in the principal Act.

This vali- dates payments of benefits and other payments under the Act before the commencement of the Bill made to a person in respect of a de- Explanatory note Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 17 pendent child within the meaning of paragraph (c) of the new defin- ition of that term inserted by clause 13(1).
Clause 25 inserts new section 99AA in the principal Act, which relates to expiry of unemployment benefits and requirements for re-grant of an unemployment benefit.

New section 99AA(1) provides that entitlement to an unemployment benefit ceases on the beneficiary’s anniversary date, and the benefit expires, but may be re-granted if the beneficiary reapplies for it.
The term anniversary date is defined in new section 99AA(9) to mean the day that is the 12-month anniversary of the date on which the person’s unemployment benefit commenced.
New section 99AA(2) requires the chief executive to give notice to an unemployment beneficiary at least 20 working days before en- titlement to the unemployment benefit ceases stating— • entitlement to an unemployment benefit will cease unless the benefit reapplies for the benefit and it is re-granted; and the date on which entitlement will cease; and what the beneficiary must do to reapply for the benefit and the time within which the beneficiary must do so.
• • New section 99AA(3) sets out the requirements for a re-grant of a benefit.

The department must have received a completed reappli- cation form, any supporting evidence reasonably required, and the beneficiary must have participated in a comprehensive work assess- ment to the chief executive’s satisfaction.
New section 99AA(4) provides that if the requirements are com- pleted on or before the beneficiary’s anniversary date, the chief executive must re-grant the benefit if satisfied the beneficiary meets or continues to meet the eligibility criteria for it in section 89.

The re-granted benefit commences on the beneficiary’s anniversary date.
New section 99AA(5) provides that if the requirements are completed after the beneficiary’s anniversary date and within 20 working days of that date, the chief executive must re-grant the benefit only if sat- isfied that there were exceptional circumstances why the beneficiary could not complete the requirements on or before the anniversary date, and that the beneficiary meets the eligibility criteria for the benefit in section 89 and continued to be available for and seeking full-time employment after the anniversary date (unless exceptional 18 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Explanatory note circumstances prevented that).
The re-granted benefit commences on the beneficiary’s anniversary date.

New section 99AA(6) gives the chief executive discretion to extend time for completing reapplication requirements (for up to 10 working days after the anniversary date) if the person contacts the department on or before his or her anniversary date.

New section 99AA(7) provides that new section 99AA(4) to (6) over- ride section 11D(2), which would otherwise require an application under it before the benefit could be granted.
New section 99AA(8) provides that an unemployment benefit must not be re-granted under new section 99AA to a person who fails to complete the requirements of new section 99AA(3) within 20 work- ing days after the anniversary date, or completed the requirements within that time and after the anniversary date but without excep- tional circumstances for failing to do so by the anniversary date.
Any reapplication form received from the person must be treated as an ap- plication form for the purposes of section 11D(2).

New section 99AA(9) defines the term anniversary date.

Clause 26 inserts new section 101 in the principal Act which states the purpose of sections 102 to 123D.

Clause 27 repeals section 102 and substitutes new sections 102 and 102A.

New section 102 (application of the work test) is to the same effect as the current section 102(1), (5), and (6).
New section 102A (work test obligations) is to the same effect as cur- rent section 102(2)(a) to (da), (g) and (h), and (2A), (2B), and (3) with some changes.

The obligations in current section 102(2)(g) will from the commencement of new section 102A apply only to a person in re- spect of whom a job seeker agreement was in force immediately prior to that commencement and until the chief executive directs otherwise (see new section 102A(1)(h)).

The new section also contains new obligations.


New section 102A(1)(f) requires a work-tested benefi- ciary, when required by the chief executive, to participate in certain activities corresponding to the activities that the chief executive may define as job seeker development activities under paragraphs (a) to (d) of current section 110(2) (which is repealed by clause 30).
New section 102A(1)(g) contains a new obligation to report to the depart- ment on the beneficiary’s compliance with his or her work test obliga- Explanatory note Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 19 tions.
New section 102A(5) places an obligation on the chief execu- tive to take reasonable steps to arrange for a beneficiary to undertake an activity the chief executive has required the beneficiary to under- take, which is similar to the obligation in current section 111(1) re- lating to job seeker development activities.
Clause 28 amends section 105, which empowers the chief executive to grant exemptions from the work test to people of a category and on grounds specified in regulations made under section 123D.

Subclause (1) amends section 105(1) to allow an exemption to be granted from some or all of a beneficiary’s work test obligations instead of from the work test (and therefore all work test obligations).
Subclause (2) amends section 105(5) so that the power to require a person ex- empted from the work test to attend an interview with an officer of the department applies only to a person exempted from all work test obligations.

Clause 29 repeals sections 105A, 105B, and 105D and the heading above section 105A.

Sections 105A and 105B relate to job seeker agreements and entering into and reviewing job seeker agreements.

Section 105D is a spent transitional provision.


Clause 30 repeals section 110 and the heading above it.

This provi- sion relates to defining job seeker development activities.

Clause 31 amends section 117, which sets out the sanctions arising from failing to perform work test obligations and obligations under section 60GAB (independent youth benefits).
Subclause (1) substitutes new section 117(1)(a) to provide that the sanction for a first failure within a 12-month period is a reduction of 50% of the person’s benefit (and not, as currently, a suspension of the benefit) until the person recomplies.
Subclause (2) adds a new section 117(4), which provides that if an unemployment benefit is subject to a sanction of reduction or sus- pension of benefit and the unemployment benefit is re-granted under new section 99AA, the reduction or suspension continues to apply to the re-granted benefit on and after its commencement until the per- son recomplies.

Clause 32 amends section 119, which relates to calculation of the number of failures for the purpose of imposing sanctions under sec- tion 117.
20 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Explanatory note Subclauses (1) and (2) amend section 119(1) to allow, if the bene- fit being paid in respect of the beneficiary is a work-tested benefit, failures incurred while another work-tested benefit was being paid in respect of the beneficiary to be counted if both work-tested benefits have been paid continuously in respect of the beneficiary.

Subclause (3) inserts a new subsection (3A).


This requires the chief executive, for the purposes of the calculation under subsection (1)(a), to treat an unemployment benefit that expires under new sec- tion 99AA (see clause 25) and any unemployment benefit re-granted under that section as the same benefit.

Subclause (4) amends section 119(5), which defines the term work- ing day for the purpose of section 119.
The amendment corrects a drafting error and replaces a reference to subsection (2) with a refer- ence to subsection (3).

Clause 33 amends section 120, which modifies the effect of sanctions on the rate of benefit payable to people who are married or in a civil union or de facto relationship.

Subclause (1) amends section 120(1) to include the new sanction of reduction of benefit.
Subclause (2) inserts a new subsection (1A) to clarify the effect of sanctions for a couple who have no dependent children where both spouses or partners are subject to sanctions under section 117.

Subclause (3) amends section 120(2) to provide that it applies to a sanction of cancellation of benefit under section 60H.

Clause 34 amends section 122, which defines recompliance for the purpose of ending a sanction of reduction or suspension of bene- fit under section 117.
The amendment substitutes a new paragraph (a), which has the effect of requiring a work-tested beneficiary who wishes to recomply to undertake an activity that is the same as, or substantially similar to, the activity the person failed to comply with under the applicable work-test obligation.
Clause 35 amends section 123D, which is the regulation-making power for regulations specifying the categories of people who may apply for exemption from the work test under section 105, and the grounds on which exemptions may be granted.

The amendment replaces “the work test” with “some or all of their work test obli- gations” and corresponds with the change made to section 105 by clause 28.
Explanatory note Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 21 Clause 36 amends section 132AC, which is the regulation-making power for regulations relating to childcare assistance.

It repeals sub- sections (2) to (4), which are provisions requiring any income limits specified in the regulations to be adjusted for movements in the all groups New Zealand consumers price index of 5% or more.

Clause 37 inserts new section 132K in the principal Act.
The new section allows regulations to be made for the purpose of section 82(6), which relates to advance payments of benefit.

Regulations may specify the manner and form of applications for advance payments of benefit, authorise the chief executive to require an applicant to undertake budgeting activities of a kind specified in the regulations, and define activities that the chief executive may require and their terms and conditions.
Clause 38 repeals Schedule 8, which is an obsolete provision relat- ing to grandparenting of the rates of sickness benefit payable to a person who was formerly in receipt of the community wage.

This amendment is for the same purpose as the repeal of section 54D(2) by clause 15(2).

Clause 39 amends clause 12 of Schedule 31, which sets an income limit for receipt of disability allowance for a person who is married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship with or without dependent children.
The limit is increased from $791.53 to $821.04.

Clause 40 makes consequential amendments to the principal Act, as set out in Schedule 1, relating to the repeal of the definition of In- come Test 5 in section 3(1), the amendments to section 60GAB, the amendments to section 60O (definition of employment plan), the new section 61HA, the substitution of section 102 and repeal of sections 105A, 105B, 105D, and 110, the substitution of section 117(1)(a) and amendments to section 120, and repeal of Schedule 8.
Clause 41 is a transitional provision relating to personal development and employment plans made and in force before the commencement of the Bill.

The personal development and employment plan is to be treated as an employment plan made under section 60Q of the principal Act (as amended by the Bill).

Clause 42 is a transitional provision relating to job seeker agreements and job seeker development activities.
Subclause (1) provides that job seeker agreements in force on the commencement of the Bill continue in force for the purpose of new 22 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Explanatory note section 102A(1)(h) of the principal Act (as substituted by clause 27) until the chief executive directs otherwise under that provision.
Subclause (2) provides that job seeker development activities defined under section 110 (before its repeal by clause 30) continue in force for the purpose of new section 102A(1)(h) of the principal Act.

Clause 43 is a transitional provision relating to sanctions under the former section 117(1)(a) of the principal Act, which is repealed and substituted by clause 31(1).
The former section 117(1)(a) continues in force despite its repeal for the purpose of completing any sanction under it to which a beneficiary was subject when the Bill commenced, or imposing a sanction that a beneficiary had been given notice of under section 113(2) before the Bill commenced.

Clause 44 is a transitional provision relating to exemptions from the work test granted under section 105(1) of the principal Act and in force before the Bill commenced.
On that commencement, and until the exemption is varied or revoked under section 105(6), the exemp- tion must be treated as an exemption from all work test obligations.

Clauses 46 to 48 amend the Social Security (Childcare Assistance) Regulations 2004.
The amendments make changes to the provisions relating to the rates of childcare subsidies and OSCAR subsidies, and replace the Schedule of the regulations setting out the rates of child- care subsidies and OSCAR subsidies with new Schedules 1 and 2 set out in Schedule 3 of the Bill.

New Schedule 1 reduces the maximum income limits for receipt of childcare and OSCAR subsidies at par- ticular rates but makes no changes to those rates.
New Schedule 2 grandparents the current higher income limits for a person who is re- ceiving childcare assistance on the commencement of these amend- ments or received childcare assistance at any time within 12 months before that commencement, until 27 September 2013.

Part 5 Amendments to War Pensions Act 1954 Clause 49 provides that Part 5 amends the War Pensions Act 1954.

Clause 50 amends the definition of Income Test 3 in section 67(1).
The amendment increases the amount of combined income that a veteran’s pensioner with a spouse, a civil union partner, or de facto partner may earn before the benefit starts to abate from $80 to $100.

Explanatory note Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 23 • Clause 51 amends section 74D, which relates to abatement of vet- eran’s pension on account of income for a person who has not attained the New Zealand superannuation qualifying age.
The amendments— increase the amount of employment income that the person • may earn before the veteran’s pension starts to abate from $80 to $100, and increase the amount of employment income the person may earn before the benefit begins to abate at 70 cents in the dollar from $180 to $200 a week: increase the amount of combined income in section 74D(4) that the person and his or her spouse, civil union partner, or de facto partner may receive before the veteran’s pension starts to abate from $80 to $100, and increases the amount of combined income the person and his or spouse or partner may receive before the veteran’s pension begins to abate at 70 cents in the dollar from $180 to $200 a week.
Section 74D(4) relates only to a person receiving a veteran’s pension at a rate in clause 2 of Schedule 11 (the rate for a person with a spouse or partner who is not qualified to receive a veteran’s pension.

Regulatory impact statement In accordance with Cabinet Office Circular CO (09) 08 this explana- tory note does not contain a regulatory impact statement for the Bill.
A copy of the regulatory impact statement for this Bill is available at the following website: • www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-re- sources/regulatory-impact-statements/index.html Hon Paula Bennett Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Government Bill Contents Title Commencement Part 1 Amendments to Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 Principal Act amended Payment to person or organisation providing care Part 2 Amendment to Education Act 1989 Principal Act amended Student allowances Part 3 Amendments to Income Tax Act 1976, Income Tax Act 1994, Income Tax Act 2004, and Income Tax Act 2007 Purpose Amendment to Income Tax Act 1976 Interpretation Amendment to Income Tax Act 1994 Definitions 125—1 Page 4 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 1 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Amendment to Income Tax Act 2004 10 Definitions Amendment to Income Tax Act 2007 11 Definitions Part 4 Amendments to Social Security Act 1964 Principal Act amended Interpretation Domestic purposes benefits for solo parents Rates of sickness benefit New section 54DA inserted 54DA Sickness beneficiary may be required to comply with work test Independent youth benefits: obligations Interpretation Purpose of sections 60Q to 60Z Personal development and employment plans Interpretation New section 61HA inserted 61HA Annual CPI adjustment of rates of certain benefits Payment of benefits New section 86K inserted 86K Validation of benefit payments and other payments in respect of certain children in care New
 section 99AA inserted 99AA Unemployment benefit: expiry and requirements for re-grant New section 101 inserted 101 Purpose of sections 102 to 123D New sections 102 and 102A substituted 102 Application of work test 102A Work test obligations Exemption from obligations Sections 105A, 105B, and 105D and heading above section 105A repealed Section 110 and heading above section 110 repealed Sanctions that may be imposed for failures Calculation of failure rate 26 27 28 29 30
Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Modified effect in some cases of sanctions on rate of benefit for people married or in civil union or de facto relationship Meaning of recompliance Regulations Regulations relating to childcare assistance New section 132K inserted 132K Regulations relating to advance payments of benefit Schedule 8 repealed Schedule 31 amended Consequential amendments Transitional provisions Transitional provision relating to personal development and employment plans Transitional provisions relating to job seeker agreements and job seeker development activities Transitional provisions relating to sanctions under former section 117(1)(a) Transitional provision relating to exemptions from the work test Amendments to Social Security (Childcare Assistance) Regulations 2004 Social Security (Childcare Assistance) Regulations 2004 amended Rate of childcare subsidy New regulation 24 substituted 24 Rate of Oscar subsidy New Schedules 1 and 2 substituted Part 5 Amendments to War Pensions Act 1954 Principal Act amended Interpretation Abatement Schedule 1 Consequential amendments to Social Security Act 1964 Schedule 2 Consequential amendments to the Social Security Act 1964 relating to work-testing of sickness beneficiaries 22 22 23 23 23 23 23 24 24 24 24 24 25 25 25 26 26 26 26 26 26 27 35 3 cl 1 Social
 Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Schedule 3 New Schedules 1 and 2 of Social Security (Childcare Assistance) Regulations 2004 37 The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows: 1 2 (1) (2) (3) 3 Title This Act is the Social Assistance (Future Focus) Act 2010.
Commencement Sections 1 to 3, 4(1), 7 to 12, 13(1), 21, 24, 36, and 37 come into force on the day after the date on which this Act 5 receives the Royal assent.

Sections 13(11) to (14) and 16 and Schedule 2 come into force on 2 May 2011.

The rest of this Act comes into force on 27 September 2010.

Part 1 Amendments to Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 10 Principal Act amended This Part amends the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989.
15 Payment to person or organisation providing care 4 (1) Section 363 is amended by adding the following subsection: “(4) Subsections (1) to (3) do not apply, and must be treated as never having applied, in respect of a child’s or young per- son’s placement with his or her parent (before or after the com- 20 mencement of this subsection) if— “(a) the child or young person is or was a child or young person to whom section 361 applies or applied; and “(b) under section 362, the child or young person is or was placed in the charge of the parent.” 25 Section 363 is further amended by adding the following sub- sections: (2) 4 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 2 cl 6 “(5) The minimum rates of payment determined under subsection (1) in respect of the board and lodgings of children and young persons must be adjusted, by Order in Council, as at 1 April each year so that in each case the new rate is the rate as at that date adjusted by any percentage movement upwards in the 5 CPI between the CPI for the quarter ended with 31 December 1 year before the immediately preceding 31 December and the CPI for the quarter ended with the immediately preceding 31 December.
“(6) An adjustment under subsection (5) must not reduce the 10 weekly amounts payable under subsection (1) in respect of the board and lodgings of children and young persons.

“(7) Every Order in Council made under subsection (5) comes into force or is considered to have come into force on 1 April of the calendar year in which it is made, and applies to the rates 15 payable in respect of the board and lodgings of children and young persons on and after that date.
In this section, CPI means the consumers price index-all groups published by the Department of Statistics.” “(8) 5 6 Part 2 Amendment to Education Act 1989 20 Principal Act amended This Part amends the Education Act 1989.
Student allowances Section 303 is amended by inserting the following subsections 25 after subsection (3A): “(3B) The rates of student allowances set under this section (except the rates of allowances provided in respect of accommodation expenses) must be adjusted, by regulations made under sub- section (1), as at 1 April each year so that in each case the 30 new rate (after the deduction of standard tax) is the rate at that date (after the deduction of standard tax and before the adjust- ment under this section is made) adjusted by an amount equal to the percentage movement upwards in the CPI between the CPI for the quarter ended with 31 December 1 year before the 35 5 Part 3 cl 7 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill immediately preceding 31 December and the CPI for the quar- ter ended with the immediately preceding 31 December.
“(3C) An adjustment under subsection (3B) must not reduce the weekly amounts of student allowances payable.

“(3D) Every adjustment made under subsection (3B) comes into 5 force, or is considered to have come into force, on 1 April of the calendar year in which it is made, and applies to student allowances payable on and after that date.
“(3E) In this section,— “CPI means the consumers price index-all groups published 10 by the Department of Statistics “standard tax means the amount of tax reckoned on a weekly basis that would be withholdable in accordance with tax code ‘M’ stated in section 24B of the Tax Administration Act 1994.” Part 3 Amendments to Income Tax Act 1976, Income Tax Act 1994, Income Tax Act 2004, and Income Tax Act 2007 15 Purpose The purpose of this Part is to make amendments to the def- 20 initions of dependent child in the Income Tax Act 1976, In- come Tax Act 1994, Income Tax Act 2004, and Income Tax Act 2007.
Amendment to Income Tax Act 1976 Interpretation In section 374A, in the definition of dependent child, the fol- lowing is inserted after paragraph (d): “(da) despite paragraph (d), who is a child or a young person (as defined in section 2(1) of the Children, Young Per- sons, and Their Families Act 1989)— “(i) of whom the person is a parent within the mean- ing of that Act; and to whom section 361 of that Act applies; and “(ii) “(iii) who, under section 362 of that Act, is placed in the charge of the person; and”.
25 30 35 7 8 (1) 6 (2) 9 (1) (2) 10 (1) Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 3 cl 10 Subsection (1) applies for the 1991–92 and subsequent in- come years and only for the purpose of validating payments of family support credits of tax made under Part 11A of the Income Tax Act 1976 in relation to any of those income years.
Amendment to Income Tax Act 1994 5 Definitions In section OB 1, in the definition of dependent child, the fol- lowing is inserted after paragraph (d): “(da) despite paragraph (d), who is a child or a young person (as defined in section 2(1) of the Children, Young Per- 10 sons, and Their Families Act 1989)— “(i) of whom the person is a parent within the mean- ing of that Act; and to whom section 361 of that Act applies; and “(ii) “(iii) who, under section 362 of that Act, is placed in 15 the charge of the person; and”.
Subsection (1) applies for the 1995–96 and subsequent in- come years and only for the purpose of validating payments of any credits of tax made under subpart KD of the Income Tax Act 1994 in relation to any of those income years.
20 Amendment to Income Tax Act 2004 Definitions In section OB 1, in the definition of dependent child, the fol- lowing is inserted after paragraph (d): “(da) despite paragraph (d), who is a child or a young person 25 (as defined in section 2(1) of the Children, Young Per- sons, and Their Families Act 1989)— “(i) of whom the person is a parent within the mean- ing of that Act; and to whom section 361 of that Act applies; and “(ii) “(iii) who, under section 362 of that Act, is placed in 30 the charge of the person; and”.
(2) Subsection (1) applies for the 2005–06 and later income years and only for the purpose of validating payments of credits of tax made under subpart KD of the Income Tax Act 35 2004 made in relation to any of those income years.
7 Part 3 cl 11 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Amendment to Income Tax Act 2007 11 (1) Definitions In section YA 1, the definition of dependent child is replaced by the following: “dependent child, for a child and a person,— “(a) means a child— “(i) whose care is primarily the responsibility of the person; and “(ii) who is maintained as a member of that person’s family; and “(iii) who is financially dependent on that person: “(b) does not include a child in relation to whom— “(i) “(ii) a payment is made under section 363 of the Chil- dren, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989: a benefit is being paid under section 28 or 29 of the Social Security Act 1964: “(c) despite paragraph (b)(i), includes a child or a young person, as defined in section 2(1) of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989,— “(i) of whom the person is a parent within the mean- ing of that Act; and to whom section 361 of that Act applies; and “(ii) “(iii) who, under section 362 of that Act, is placed in the charge of the person”.
(2) Subsection (1) applies for the 2008–09 and later income years.

Part 4 Amendments to Social Security Act 1964 Principal Act amended This Part amends the Social Security Act 1964.
Interpretation The definition of dependent child in section 3(1) is repealed and the following definition substituted: “dependent child, in relation to any person,— “(a) means a child— 12 13 (1) 8 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 4 cl 13 “(i) whose care is primarily the responsibility of the person; and “(ii) who is being maintained as a member of that per- son’s family; and 5 “(c) “(iii) who is financially dependent on that person: “(b) does not include a child in respect of whom payments are being made under section 363 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989: despite paragraph (b), includes a child or a young per- son (as defined in section 2(1) of the Children, Young 10 Persons, and Their Families Act 1989)— “(i) of whom the person is a parent within the mean- ing of that Act; and “(ii) to whom section 361 of that Act applies; and “(iii) who, under section 362 of that Act, is placed in 15 the charge of the person: “(d) for the purposes only of Schedules 3, 6, 9, 16, 17, and 18 of this Act, does not include a child in respect of whom an orphan’s benefit or an unsupported child’s benefit is being paid”.
Section 3(1) is amended by inserting the following definitions in their appropriate alphabetical order: “employment plan has the meaning specified in section 60O “work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary means a per- son— “(a) who has been granted a domestic purposes benefit under 20 25 section 27B; and “(b) whose youngest dependent child is aged 6 years or older, but under 18 years, or is aged 18 years and is a child in respect of whom that benefit is paid, or 30 continues to be paid, under section 63A”.
The definition of Income Test 1 in section 3(1) is amended by— (a) (b) omitting “$80” and substituting “$100”: omitting “$180” in each place where it appears and sub- 35 stituting in each case “$200”.

(2) (3) (4) The definition of Income Test 2 in section 3(1) is amended— (a) by omitting “$80” and substituting “$100”: 9 Part 4 cl 13 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill (b) by omitting “$180” in each place where it appears and substituting in each case “$200”.
(5) (6) (7) (8) (9) The definition of Income Test 3 in section 3(1) is repealed and the following definition substituted: “Income Test 3 means that the applicable rate of benefit must 5 be reduced by 70 cents for every $1 of total income of the beneficiary and his or her spouse or partner which is more than,— “(a) if the rate of benefit is a rate of New Zealand super- annuation stated in clause 2 of Schedule 1 of the New 10 Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, $100 a week; or in any other case, $80 a week”.
“(b) The definition of Income Test 5 in section 3(1) is repealed.

Paragraph (a) of the definition of part-time work-tested 15 beneficiary in section 3(1) is amended by inserting “or a work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary” after “work-tested spouse or partner”.

The definition of personal development and employment plan in section 3(1) is repealed.

The definition of work-tested beneficiary in section 3(1) is amended by adding the following paragraph: “(f) a work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary”.
20 (10) The definition of work-tested benefit in section 3(1) is amended by repealing paragraph (e) and substituting the 25 following paragraphs: “(e) a sickness benefit; or an emergency benefit; or in relation to a work-tested spouse or partner— “(i) “(ii) “(iii) an invalid’s benefit; or in relation to a work-tested domestic purposes benefi- ciary, a domestic purposes benefit under section 27B”.
(11) Section 3(1) is amended by inserting the following definition “(f) 30 in its appropriate alphabetical order: “work-tested sickness beneficiary means a person granted a 35 sickness benefit who is required under section 54DA(1) to comply with the work test”.
10 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 4 cl 16 (12) Section 3(1) is amended by repealing the definition of part- time work-tested beneficiary and substituting the following definition: “part-time work-tested beneficiary means— “(a) a person with a youngest dependent child aged 6 or 5 older, but under 18 years, and who is— “(i) “(ii) a person who is a work-tested sickness beneficiary”.
a work-tested spouse or partner; or a work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary; or “(b) (13) The definition of work-tested beneficiary in section 3(1) is 10 amended by adding “; or” and also by adding the following paragraph: “(g) a work-tested sickness beneficiary”.

(14) The definition of work-tested benefit in section 3(1) is amended by adding “; or” and also by adding the following 15 paragraph: “(g) in relation to a work-tested sickness beneficiary, a sick- ness benefit”.
14 Domestic purposes benefits for solo parents Section 27B is amended by repealing subsection (2A) and sub- 20 stituting the following subsection: “(2A) A person who receives a benefit under this section must— “(a) comply with— “(i) “(ii) a requirement under section 60Q; and any other obligation arising under any of sections 25 60Q to 60S; or “(b) comply with the work test if that person is a work-tested domestic purposes beneficiary.” 15 (1) (2) 16 (1) Rates of sickness benefit Section 54D(1) is amended by omitting “, unless subsection 30 (2) applies”.
Section 54D(2) is repealed.
New section 54DA inserted The following section is inserted after section 54D: 11 Part 4 cl 17 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill “54DA Sickness beneficiary may be required to comply with work test “(1) The chief executive may, by notice in writing, require a person who is granted a sickness benefit under section 54 to comply with the work test from a date specified in the notice if the 5 chief executive, having regard to the certificate and any report obtained under section 54B, is satisfied that the person has, while receiving that benefit, the capacity to seek, undertake, and be available for part-time work.
“(2) The date specified in a notice under subsection (1),— 10 “(a) “(b) in the case of a new grant of the benefit, may be the date on which the benefit is first paid; but in any case, must not be a date before the date on which the chief executive reasonably considers the person will receive the notice.
“(3) The chief executive may at any time, whether on the applica- tion of the person or otherwise, review a requirement under subsection (1) and may confirm or revoke it.” The principal Act is consequentially amended in the manner set out in Schedule 2 of this Act.

(2) Independent youth benefits: obligations Section 60GAB(2)(a) is amended by omitting “the person has previously agreed in writing to undertake”.
Section 60GAB(2)(b) is amended by inserting “when required by the chief executive,” before “to be”.

Interpretation The definition of personal development and employment plan or plan in section 60O is repealed.
Section 60O is amended by inserting the following definition in its appropriate alphabetical order: “employment plan means a plan that— “(a) has goals to assist the beneficiary to move towards em- ployment: sets out a plan of action designed to meet the goals re- ferred to in paragraph (a), including the activities that 35 “(b) 15 20 25 30 17 (1) (2) 18 (1) (2) 12 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 4 cl 21 “(c) “(d) will be undertaken by the beneficiary to facilitate the achievement of those goals: includes a statement of the information the department will provide to assist the beneficiary to do 1 or more of the following: “(i) “(ii) “(iii) obtain employment: includes, if agreed to by the chief executive, a statement of the assistance that the department will provide to as- 10 sist the beneficiary to do 1 or more of the things de- scribed in paragraph (c)(i) to (iii)”.
achieve the goals referred to in paragraph (a): improve his or her employment capabilities: 5 Purpose of sections 60Q to 60Z Section 60P(a) is amended by inserting “(other than work- tested domestic purposes beneficiaries)” after “domestic pur- 15 poses beneficiaries”.
Personal development and employment plans Section 60Q(6)(a) is amended by repealing subparagraph (ii) and substituting the following subparagraph: “(ii) a benefit under section 27B (the domestic pur- 20 poses benefit for solo parents) if the recipient has a dependent child under the age of 6 years; or”.
Interpretation The definition of accommodation costs in section 61E(1) is amended by repealing paragraph (a) and substituting the fol- 25 lowing paragraph: “(a) in relation to premises rented by the person, the amount payable by the person for rent of the premises, exclud- ing any service costs included in that rent and any ar- rears:”.

Paragraph (b) of the definition of accommodation costs in section 61E(1) is amended by inserting “any service costs and” after “excluding”.
Section 61E(1) is amended by inserting the following defin- ition in its appropriate alphabetical order: 13 30 35 19 20 21 (1) (2) (3) Part 4 cl 22 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill “service costs, in relation to any premises,— “(a) means the cost as reasonably determined by the chief executive of any services (for example, electricity supply, gas supply, telephone network connection, or broadband Internet connection) provided to or in 5 connection with the premises for consumption or use by the occupants of the premises; but “(b) does not include the cost of water supplied to the premises”.
22 New section 61HA inserted The following section is inserted after section 61H: “61HA Annual CPI adjustment of rates of certain benefits “(1) In this section, CPI means the consumers price index-all groups published by the Department of Statistics.
10 “(2) The rates of benefits set out in Schedules 3, 4, 6, 9, 16, 17, 15 and 26, and in clause 1 of Schedule 22 must be adjusted, by Order in Council, as at 1 April each year so that in each case the new rate is the rate at that date adjusted by any percentage movement upwards in the CPI between the CPI for the quarter ended with 31 December 1 year before the immediately pre- 20 ceding 31 December and the CPI for the quarter ended with the immediately preceding 31 December.
“(3) An adjustment under subsection (2) must not reduce the weekly amounts of benefits payable under those schedules.

“(4) Every Order in Council made under subsection (2) comes 25 into force or is considered to come into force on 1 April of the calendar year in which it is made, and applies to benefits payable on and after that date.
“(5) Section 61H(3) to (6) apply to every Order in Council made under subsection (2) as if that order were made under that 30 section.” 23 Payment of benefits Section 82 is amended by inserting the following subsections after subsection (6): “(6A) Despite subsection (3), if the immediate needs of the benefi- 35 ciary relate to the supply of any goods or services to the bene- ficiary or a member of the beneficiary’s family, the chief ex- 14 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 4 cl 25 ecutive may pay the whole or any part of an advance payment of a benefit under subsection (6) to the supplier of the goods or services.
“(6B) Subsection (6C) applies in respect of an applicant for an advance payment of a benefit under subsection (6) if the chief 5 executive is satisfied that— “(a) the applicant or the applicant’s spouse or partner has failed to take reasonable steps to reduce his or her costs or increase his or her income or better manage his or her finances; or the applicant or the applicant’s spouse or partner has failed to take all necessary steps to obtain any assistance towards his or her costs from any other source from which he or she may be entitled to assistance; or the applicant or the applicant’s spouse or partner has 15 failed to comply with any requirement of the chief ex- ecutive to undertake a budgeting activity under regula- tions made under section 132K.
10 “(b) “(c) “(6C) If this subsection applies, the chief executive may refuse to make an advance payment of a benefit under subsection (6), or 20 any subsequent advance payment of a benefit, to or in respect of the applicant.” 24 New section 86K inserted The following section is inserted after section 86J: “86K Validation of benefit payments and other payments in 25 respect of certain children in care “(1) This section applies to any payment before the commencement of this section of a benefit or other assistance under this Act to a person in respect of a child who is a dependent child within the meaning of paragraph (c) of the definition of that term 30 in section 3(1) (as that definition was substituted by section 13(1) of the Social Assistance (Future Focus) Act 2010).
“(2) The payment must be taken to be, and to always have been, as valid and authorised as if that definition were in force, and applied in respect of the payment, when it was made.” 35 25 New section 99AA inserted The following section is inserted after section 99: 15 Part 4 cl 25 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill “99AA Unemployment benefit: expiry and requirements for “(1) re-grant If it has not ceased earlier, an unemployment beneficiary’s en- titlement to the unemployment benefit ceases on the benefi- ciary’s anniversary date (as defined in subsection (9)), and 5 the benefit expires on that date, but the unemployment benefit may be re-granted if the beneficiary reapplies for the benefit in accordance with subsection (3).
“(2) The chief executive must, not less than 20 working days before an unemployment beneficiary’s anniversary date, give notice 10 to the beneficiary stating— “(a) that entitlement to the benefit will cease unless the bene- ficiary reapplies for the benefit and it is re-granted; and the date on which entitlement to the benefit will cease; and “(b) “(c) what the beneficiary must do to reapply for the benefit and the time within which he or she must do so.
“(3) No unemployment benefit may be re-granted under this sec- tion unless— “(a) the department has received— “(i) a reapplication form (provided by the chief ex- ecutive for the purpose) completed by or on be- half of the beneficiary and his or her spouse or partner (if any) to the chief executive’s satisfac- tion; and any supporting evidence reasonably required by the chief executive; and “(ii) “(b) the beneficiary has participated, to the satisfaction of the chief executive, in a comprehensive work assessment of a kind specified by the chief executive.
If, in relation to a person, the requirements of subsection (3) are completed on or before the anniversary date,— “(a) the chief executive must re-grant the person’s unem- ployment benefit if the chief executive is satisfied that the person meets or continues to meet the eligibility cri- 35 teria for the benefit set out in section 89: if re-granted, the benefit commences on the person’s anniversary date.
“(b) “(4) 16 15 20 25 30 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 4 cl 25 “(5) “(6) If, in relation to a person, the requirements of subsection (3) are completed after, but within 20 working days after, the per- son’s anniversary date and the chief executive is satisfied that there were exceptional circumstances why those requirements could not have been completed on or before that date,— “(a) 5 the chief executive must re-grant the person’s unem- ployment benefit if the chief executive is satisfied that— the person meets the eligibility criteria for the “(i) benefit set out in section 89; and after the person’s anniversary date, and unless 10 exceptional circumstances prevented the person from doing so, the person continued to— “(A) seek, and be available for, full-time em- “(ii) ployment; and “(B) be willing and able to undertake it; and take reasonable steps to find it: “(C) if re-granted, the benefit commences on the person’s anniversary date.
15 “(b) If a person intending to reapply for an unemployment benefit contacts the department on or before the person’s anniversary 20 date,— “(a) the chief executive may set a time (not later than 10 working days after the person’s anniversary date) for completing the requirements of subsection (3); and if those requirements are completed within that time, 25 the chief executive may re-grant the benefit under sub- section (5).

“(b) “(7) Subsections (4) to (6) override section 11D(1).
“(8) An unemployment benefit must not be re-granted under this section to a person, and any reapplication form received from 30 or on behalf of the person must be treated as an application form for the purposes of section 11D(2), if the requirements of subsection (3)— “(a) are not completed within 20 working days after the per- son’s anniversary date; or 35 “(b) were completed within that time but after the person’s anniversary date, and the chief executive is satisfied that there were no exceptional circumstances why those re- 17 Part 4 cl 26 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill quirements could not have been completed on or before that anniversary date.
“(9) In this section, anniversary date, in relation to a person to whom this section applies, means the day that is the 12-month anniversary of the date on which the person’s unemployment 5 benefit commenced.” 26 New section 101 inserted The following section is inserted before section 102: “101 Purpose of sections 102 to 123D The purpose of sections 102 to 123D is— “(a) 10 to ensure that work-tested beneficiaries maintain an un- relenting focus on entering, or returning to, employ- ment: to reinforce the continuing obligation of work-tested beneficiaries to take reasonable steps to support them- 15 selves and their families: to identify the activities that work-tested beneficiaries may be required to undertake to meet their obligations arising from work-tested benefits being paid in respect of them: to provide a work test structure applying to all work- tested beneficiaries that is sufficiently flexible to take account of an individual beneficiary’s circumstances.” 20 “(b) “(c) “(d) 27 New sections 102 and 102A substituted Section 102 is repealed and the following sections are substi- 25 tuted: “102 Application of work test “(1) The work test applies to a person while he or she is a work- tested beneficiary, and unless subsection (2)applies, the per- son is subject to the obligations of the work test set out in sec- 30 tion 102A from the date on which the work-tested benefit is first paid.
“(2) The work test does not apply to a work-tested beneficiary if the chief executive is satisfied that the beneficiary is undertaking employment of the kind required to satisfy the work test for 35 that beneficiary.
“(3) A work test obligation set out in section 102A applies on— 18 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 4 cl 27 “(a) “(b) a day that is a day between Monday and Friday (inclu- sive); or a day of the week on which regulations under this Act provide (in relation to the obligation, obligations that include it, or all obligations) that it applies.
5 “102A Work test obligations “(1) The work test obligations are— “(a) “(b) “(c) to be available for, and take reasonable steps to obtain, suitable employment; and to accept any offer of suitable employment, including 10 temporary employment or employment that is seasonal or subsidised; and to attend and participate in an interview for any oppor- tunity of suitable employment to which the beneficiary is referred by the chief executive; and 15 “(d) when required by the chief executive, to attend and par- ticipate in any interview with an officer of the depart- ment or other person on behalf of the chief executive; and “(e) when required by the chief executive, to undertake plan- 20 ning for employment; and “(f) when required by the chief executive, to participate in or, as the case requires, undertake any of the follow- ing the chief executive considers suitable for the bene- ficiary to improve the beneficiary’s work-readiness or 25 prospects for employment: “(i) any work assessment specified by the chief ex- ecutive: any programme or seminar specified by the chief executive to increase particular skills or enhance 30 motivation: “(ii) “(iii) a work experience or work exploration activity specified by the chief executive: “(iv) employment-related training specified by the “(v) chief executive: any other activity specified by the chief executive (including rehabilitation but not medical treat- ment); and 35 19 Part 4 cl 28 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill “(g) “(h) to report to the department on his or her
 compliance with his or her work test obligations as often, and in the manner, as the chief executive from time to time reasonably requires; and in the case of a person in respect of whom a job seeker 5 agreement was in force immediately before the com- mencement of section 29 of the Social Assistance (Fu- ture Focus) Act 2010, and until directed otherwise by the chief executive,— “(i) to undertake the job-search activities set out in 10 the agreement; and to undertake and complete any job seeker de- velopment activity or recognised community ac- tivity described in the agreement (subject to the chief executive’s taking reasonable steps to ar- 15 range for the person to undertake the activity); and “(ii) “(iii) to undertake and complete any other activities set out in the agreement.
“(2) Subsection (1)(f) applies whether or not a beneficiary is sub- 20 ject to a sanction for failing to comply with the work test.

“(3) A person cannot be required under subsection (1) to under- take activity in the community (whether or not it is included in a job seeker agreement that continues to apply to him or her under subsection (1)(h)).
“(4) The failure by a beneficiary to undertake or complete a recog- nised community activity or activity in the community, as set out in a job seeker agreement that continues to apply to him or her, is not a failure to comply with a work test obligation for the purpose of section 115(1)(a).
If the chief executive requires a beneficiary to undertake an ac- tivity under subsection (1)(f), the chief executive must take reasonable steps to arrange for the beneficiary to undertake that activity.” “(5) 25 30 Exemption from obligations Section 105(1) is amended by omitting “the work test” and substituting “some or all of his or her work test obligations”.
35 28 (1) 20 (2) 29 30 31 (1) (2) “(4) 32 (1) (2) Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 4 cl 32 Section 105(5) is amended by omitting “the work test” and substituting “all of his or her work test obligations”.

Sections 105A, 105B, and 105D and heading above section 105A repealed Sections 105A, 105B, and 105D and the heading above section 5 105A are repealed.

Section 110 and heading above section 110 repealed Section 110 and the heading above section 110 are repealed.
Sanctions that may be imposed for failures Section 117(1) is amended by repealing paragraph (a) and sub- 10 stituting the following paragraph: “(a) for a first failure, the person’s benefit must be reduced by 50% until the person recomplies:”.
Section 117 is amended by adding the following subsection: If a person’s unemployment benefit is reduced or suspended 15 under subsection (1) and the person is re-granted an unemploy- ment benefit under section 99AA, the reduction or suspension continues to apply to the re-granted unemployment benefit on and after its commencement until the person recomplies.” 20 Calculation of failure rate Section 119(1)(a) is amended by omitting “but” and substitut- ing “and”.
Section 119(1) is amended by inserting the following para- graph after paragraph (a): “(ab) if the benefit being paid in respect of the beneficiary is 25 a work-tested benefit (benefit A), may count applicable failures incurred while another work-tested benefit was earlier paid in respect of the beneficiary (benefit B) if benefit A and benefit B have been paid continuously in respect of the beneficiary; but”.
30 (3) Section 119 is amended by inserting the following subsection after subsection (3): “(3A) For the purpose of subsection (1)(a), the chief executive must treat an unemployment benefit that expires under section 21 Part 4 cl 33 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 99AA, and any unemployment benefit re-granted to the bene- ficiary under that section, as the same benefit.” Section 119(5) is amended by omitting “subsection (2)” and substituting “subsection (3)”.
(4) 33 Modified effect in some cases of sanctions on rate of 5 benefit for people married or in civil union or de facto relationship Section 120(1) is amended by omitting “suspension” and sub- stituting “reduction, suspension,”.
Section 120 is amended by inserting the following subsection 10 after subsection (1): (1) (2) “(1A) If the reduction, suspension, or cancellation under section 117 of a benefit payable at a work-test married rate results from failures of both spouses or partners to comply with work test obligations, and they have no dependent children,— “(a) the reduction, suspension, or cancellation in respect of each spouse or partner applies only to 50% of the ap- plicable rate of the benefit before abatement on account of income payable in respect of that spouse or partner; and any amount of the benefit payable to the spouses or part- ners after that reduction, suspension, or cancellation is applied is subject to the appropriate income test but at half the abatement rate under that test.” “(b) (3) Section 120(2) is amended by— (a) omitting “under section” and substituting “under sec- tion 60H or”: inserting “section 60H(3) applying to both work-tested spouses or partners or” after “from”.
(b) 34 Meaning of recompliance Section 122 is amended by repealing paragraph (a) and substi- tuting the following paragraph: “(a) in the case of a work-tested beneficiary, an activity that is the same as, or substantially similar to, the activity that the person failed to comply with under the applic- 35 able work-test obligation; or”.
22 15 20 25 30 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 4 cl 38 35 36 Regulations Section 123D(a) is amended by omitting “the work test” and substituting “some or all of their work test obligations”.

Regulations relating to childcare assistance Section 132AC(2) to (4) are repealed.
5 37 New section 132K inserted The following section is inserted after section 132J: “132K Regulations relating to advance payments of benefit “(1) The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regu- lations for the purpose of section 82(6) (which relates to ad- 10 vance payments of a benefit), including, without limitation, provisions that— “(a) specify the manner and form in which an application for advance payments of a benefit may be made under that section, which may differ depending on the number 15 of times the beneficiary has applied for advance pay- ments of a benefit under that section, or special assist- ance under section 124(1)(d), or for both: authorise the chief executive to require a beneficiary who applies for an advance payment of a benefit, or the 20 beneficiary’s spouse or partner, or both, to undertake to the satisfaction of the chief executive a budgeting activity of a kind specified in regulations made under this section: define the kinds of budgeting activities that the chief ex- 25 ecutive may require a person to undertake under para- graph (b) and the terms and conditions of those activ- ities: “(b) “(c) “(d) prescribe the circumstances in which the power referred to in paragraph (b) may be exercised.
30 “(2) Nothing in subsection (1) limits section 132.” 38 Schedule 8 repealed Schedule 8 is repealed.

23 Part 4 cl 39 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 39 40 41 Schedule 31 amended Clause 12 of Schedule 31 is amended by omitting “$791.53” and substituting “$821.04”.

Consequential amendments The principal Act is amended in the manner indicated in 5 Schedule 1 of this Act.
Transitional provisions Transitional provision relating to personal development and employment plans Any personal development and employment plan made and in 10 force immediately before the commencement of this Act is to be treated as an employment plan made under section 60Q of the principal Act (as amended by this Act).
42 Transitional provisions relating to job seeker agreements and job seeker development activities 15 (1) Despite the commencement of this Act, any job seeker agree- ment in force before the commencement of this Act continues in force for the purpose of section 102A(1)(h) of the princi- pal Act until the chief executive directs otherwise under that paragraph.
(2) Despite the commencement of this Act, any job seeker devel- opment activity defined, and any conditions of any job seeker development activity specified, under section 110 (before its repeal by this Act) continue in force for the purpose of sec- tion 102A(1)(h)of the principal Act .

Transitional provisions relating to sanctions under former section 117(1)(a) In this section, former section 117(1)(a) means section 117(1)(a) of the principal Act as it read before its repeal and substitution by this Act.
This section applies to a beneficiary who,— (a) on the commencement of this Act, is subject to a sanc- tion of suspension of his or her benefit imposed under the former section 117(1)(a); or 43 (1) (2) 24 20 25 30 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 4 cl 46 (3) 44 (b) before the commencement of this Act, has been given written notice under section 113(2) of the principal Act of the chief executive’s decision to impose a sanction of suspension of benefit under the former section 117(1)(a) that specifies that the sanction is to take effect on a date 5 that is on or after the commencement of this Act.
For the purposes of completing or imposing the sanction re- ferred to in subsection (2), the former section 117(1)(a) con- tinues to apply to a beneficiary to whom this section applies as if this Act had not been enacted.
10 Transitional provision relating to exemptions from the work test Every exemption from the work test granted under section 105(1) of the principal Act before the commencement of this Act and in force on that commencement must, until the exemp- 15 tion is varied or revoked under subsection (6) of that section, be treated as an exemption from all work test obligations.
Amendments to Social Security (Childcare Assistance) Regulations 2004 45 Social Security (Childcare Assistance) Regulations 2004 amended Sections 46 to 48 amend the Social Security (Childcare As- sistance) Regulations 2004.
20 46 Rate of childcare subsidy Regulation 18 is amended by revoking subclause (1) and sub- 25 stituting the following subclause: “(1) A childcare subsidy is payable,— “(a) “(b) until the close of 27 September 2013, at the appro- priate rate stated in Schedule 2 to a person who was receiving childcare assistance on or at any time within 30 the period of 12 months before the commencement of this subclause; or if paragraph (a) does not apply to the person, at the appropriate rate stated in Schedule 1.” 25 Part 4 cl 47 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill 47 New regulation 24 substituted Regulation 24 is revoked and the following regulation substi- tuted: “24 Rate of Oscar subsidy An OSCAR subsidy is payable,— “(a) until the close of 27 September 2013, at the appro- priate rate stated in Schedule 2 to a person who was receiving childcare assistance on or at any time within the period of 12 months before the commencement of this subclause; or if paragraph (a) does not apply to the person, at the appropriate rate stated in Schedule 1.” “(b) 5 10 48 New Schedules 1 and 2 substituted The Schedule is revoked and the Schedules 1 and 2 set out hedule 333 of this Act are substituted.
in ScScSchedule hedule 15 Part 5 Amendments to War Pensions Act 1954 Principal Act amended This Part amends the War Pensions Act 1954.

Interpretation The definition of Income Test 3 in section 67(1) is amended by omitting “$80” and substituting “$100”.

20 Abatement Section 74D(3)(a) and (4)(a) are amended by omitting “$80” and substituting in each case “$100”.

Section 74D is amended by omitting “$180” in each place where it appears and substituting in each case “$200”.
25 49 50 51 (1) (2) 26 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Schedule 1 Schedule 1 Consequential amendments to Social Security Act 1964 Part 1 Amendment consequential on repeal of definition of Income Test 5 in section 3(1) s 40 Section 61H(1)(b) Omit “Income Test 4, and Income Test 5” and substitute “and Income Test 4”.

Part 2 Amendment consequential on amendments to section 60GAB Section 60F(5) Insert “educational course or” after “in an”.
Part 3 Amendments consequential on amendments to section 60O (definition of employment plan) 5 10 15 Heading to section 60Q Omit “Personal development and employment” and substitute 20 “Employment”.

Section 60Q(1)(ab) Omit “personal development and”.

Section 60Q(1)(b) Omit “a personal development and” and substitute “an”.

25 Section 60Q(1)(c) and (ca) Omit “personal development and”.
27 Schedule 1 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 3—continued Section 60Q(1)(d) Omit “plan” in each place where it appears and substitute in each case “employment plan”.

Section 60Q(3)(a) Omit “a personal development and” and substitute “an”.

Omit “the plan” and substitute “the employment plan”.

Section 60Q(3)(b) Omit “personal development and”.

Omit “a plan” and substitute “an employment plan”.

Section 60Q(3)(c) Omit “a personal development and” and substitute “an”.
Omit “a plan” and substitute “an employment plan”.

Section 60Q(3A) and (3B) Omit “personal development and” in each place where it appears.

Section 60Q(4) Omit “A personal development and” and substitute “An”.

Heading to section 60R Omit “personal development and”.

Section 60R(1) Omit “A personal development and” and substitute “An”.

5 10 15 20 Section 60R(2) and (3) Omit “a personal development and” and substitute in each case “an”.
Section 60R(3) and (4) Omit “the plan” in each place where it appears and substitute in each case “the employment plan”.

25 28 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Schedule 1 Part 3—continued Section 60R(4) Omit “personal development and”.

Heading to section 60S Omit “personal development and”.

Section 60S(1) Omit “a personal development and” and substitute “an”.

Section 60S(2) and (4) Omit “personal development and”.

Section 60S(4) Omit “other plan” and substitute “other employment plan”.
5 10 Section 60S(5) Omit “a personal development and” and substitute “an”.

Omit “the plan” in each place where it appears and substitute in each case “the employment plan”.

Omit “that plan” in each place where it appears and substitute in each 15 case “that employment plan”.

Section 60S(5A) Omit “plan” and substitute “employment plan”.

Heading to section 60T Omit “personal development and”.

Section 60T Omit “a personal development and” and substitute “an”.
Section 60T(a) and (b) Omit “a plan” and substitute in each case “an employment plan”.

20 29 Schedule 1 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 3—continued Section 60T(c) to (e) Omit “plan” and substitute in each case “employment plan”.

Heading to section 60U Omit “personal development and”.

Section 60U(1)(b) and (2)(a) Omit “personal development and”.

5 Section 60U(3) and (4) Omit “a personal development and” and substitute in each case “an”.
Section 60U(3)(a) and (b) Omit “plan” in each place where it appears and substitute in each 10 case “employment plan”.

Section 60V(3)(c) Omit “personal development and”.

Insert “employment” after “new”.

Section 60W Omit “personal development and” in each place where it appears.

15 Section 60W(3) Omit “beneficiary’s plan” and substitute “beneficiary’s employment plan”.

20 Heading to section 60Y Omit “personal development and”.

Section 60Y(4)(b) Omit “personal development and”.


30 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Schedule 1 Part 3—continued Section 77(4)(b)(i) Omit “personal development and”.

Section 123C(1)(b) Omit “a personal development and” and substitute “an”.

Part 4 Amendment consequential on insertion of new section 61HA 5 Schedule 22: clause 2 Omit “$34.87 a week” and substitute “the amount specified in clause 1”.
10 Part 5 Amendments consequential on substitution of section 102 and repeal of sections 105A, 105B, 105D, and 110 Section 3(1) Definition of employment required to satisfy the work test: repeal and substitute: 15 “employment required to satisfy the work test means,— “(a) “(b) for a part-time work-tested beneficiary, part-time work: for any other work-tested beneficiary, full-time employ- 20 ment”.

Definition of work test: omit “102(2)” and substitute “102A(1)”.

Section 12J(4) Repeal.


Section 88A Definition of job seeker agreement: repeal.

Definition of job seeker development activity: repeal.

25 31 Schedule 1 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 5—continued Section 104A(2)(c) Omit “included in a job seeker agreement signed by the beneficiary”.

Section 105C Omit “, before he or she signs a job seeker agreement,”.

Paragraphs (b) and (d): repeal.

Paragraph (e): omit “the job seeker agreement” and substitute “his or her work test obligations”.
5 Section 111 Subsection (1): insert “(before its repeal and substitution by section 27 of the Social Assistance (Future Focus) Act 2010)”after “section 10 102(2)(f)”.

Add: “(5) This section applies only in respect of a beneficiary to whom section 102A(1)(h) for the time being applies.” Section 112 Repeal.

Section 115(2) Repeal.

Section 115(3) Omit “in the beneficiary’s job seeker agreement”.

Paragraph (a): omit “in the person’s job seeker agreement” and sub- stitute “by the department”.
Paragraph (b): omit “in the agreement” and substitute “by the depart- ment”.

Section 115(4) Insert “activity required under section 102A(1)(f) or” after “com- pleting any”.

Omit “in his or her job seeker agreement”.

32 15 20 25 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Schedule 1 Part 5—continued Section 123B(1)(b)(i) Omit “job seeker development activities” and substitute “activities of the kind referred to in section 102A(1)(f)”.
Section 123C(1)(a) Omit “job seeker agreement” and substitute “work test obligations”.

5 Omit “job seeker activity” and substitute “job search activity”.

Part 6 Amendments consequential on substitution of section 117(1)(a) (sanctions) and amendments to section 120 10 Section 60H(5) Insert “120, 121,” after “sections”.

Section 113(2) Insert “reduce or” after “must not”.

Paragraph (c): omit “suspending” and substitute “reducing, suspend- 15 ing,”.
Paragraphs (d) and (e): omit “suspension” in each place where it appears and substitute in each case “reduction, suspension”.

Paragraph (f): insert “reduce or” after “the decision to”.

Section 113(3) Omit “suspension” and substitute “reduction, suspension,”.

20 Part 7 Amendments consequential on repeal of Schedule 8 Section 3(1) Paragraph (a) of the definition of work-test married rate: omit “8 or”.
25 33 Schedule 1 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Part 7—continued Section 135(5) Omit “Schedule 8” and substitute “Schedule 9”.

34 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Schedule 2 Schedule 2 Consequential amendments to the Social Security Act 1964 relating to work-testing of sickness beneficiaries s 16(2) Section 53A(1) Insert the following paragraph after paragraph (ba): 5 “(bab) under section 54DA(1), the chief executive requires a sickness beneficiary to comply with the work test; or”.
Section 54(7) Insert “(other than a person required to comply with the work test 10 under section 54DA(1))” after “this section”.

Section 60H(2) Insert the following paragraph after paragraph (a): “(ab) a person who is an applicant for a sickness benefit if the chief executive would be able to require him or her to 15 comply with the work test under section 54DA(1) from the date on which the benefit is first paid; or”.
Section 60P(ab) Insert “(other than work-tested sickness beneficiaries)” after “sick- ness beneficiaries”.

20 Section 60Q(6)(a)(v) Insert “, unless the person is a work-tested sickness beneficiary” after “benefit)”.
Section 102(1) (as substituted by section 27 of this Act) Repeal and substitute: “(1) The work test applies to a person while he or she is a work- tested beneficiary, and unless subsection (2) applies, the per- son is subject to the obligations of the work test set out in sec- tion 102A from,— 25 35 Schedule 2 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Section 102(1) (as substituted by section 27 of this Act)—continued “(a) “(b) in the case of a work-tested sickness beneficiary, the date specified in the chief executive’s notice under sec- tion 54DA(1); or in any other case, the date on which the work-tested benefit is first paid.” 5 36 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Schedule 3 Schedule 3 New Schedules 1 and 2 of Social Security (Childcare Assistance) Regulations 2004 Schedule 1 Rates of childcare and OSCAR subsidies s 48 rr 18, 24 5 1 2 3 For a principal caregiver with 1 dependent child where household income before the deduction of in- come tax is— (a) less than $1,200 a week $3.63 per hour (b) (c) (d) $1,200 or more but less than $1,300 a week $2.52 per hour $1,300 or more but less than $1,400 a week $1.40 per hour $1,400 or more a week Nil For a principal caregiver with 2 dependent children where household income before the deduction of income tax is— (a) less than $1,380 a week $3.63 per hour (b) (c) (d) $1,380 or more but less than $1,490 a week $2.52 per hour $1,490 or more but less than $1,600 a week $1.40 per hour $1,600 or more a week Nil For a principal caregiver with 3 or more dependent children
 where household income before the deduc- tion of income tax is— (a) less than $1,540 a week $3.63 per hour (b) (c) (d) $1,540 or more but less than $1,670 a week $2.52 per hour $1,670 or more but less than $1,800 a week $1.40 per hour $1,800 or more a week Nil 37 Schedule 3 Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill Schedule 2 Rates of childcare and OSCAR subsidies applicable until close of 27 September 2013 for persons receiving childcare assistance on 27 September 2010 or who received childcare assistance at
 any time within the 12-month period before 27 September 2010 rr 18, 24 5 For a principal caregiver with 1 dependent child where household income before the deduction of in- come tax is— (a) less than $1,274 a week $3.63 per hour (b) (c) (d) $1,274 or more but less than $1,380 a week $2.52 per hour $1,380 or more but less than $1,486 a week $1.40 per hour $1,486 or more a week Nil For a principal caregiver with 2 dependent children where household income before the deduction of income tax is— (a) less than $1,465 a week $3.63 per hour (b) (c) (d) $1,465 or more but less than $1,581 a week $2.52 per hour $1,581 or more but less than $1,698 a week $1.40 per hour $1,698 or more a week Nil For a principal caregiver with 3 or more dependent children where household income before the deduc- tion of income tax is— (a) less than $1,634 a week $3.63 per hour (b) (c) (d) $1,634 or more but less than $1,772 a week $2.52 per hour $1,772 or more but less than $1,910 a week $1.40 per hour $1,910 or more a week Nil Wellington, New Zealand: Published under the authority of the New Zealand Government—2010 1 2 3 12 38