What's new
28 November 2025
Residence criteria
A new topic has been added in core policy setting out the standard residence criteria that apply to most types of assistance. This confirms that generally, a person must be lawfully present and ordinarily resident in New Zealand to get assistance. See:
This common information will be removed from other parts of Map, which will retain only the residence rules that are particular or exceptional for that assistance. These updates will start with main benefits in the next few months.
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17 November 2025
Youth money management - Flexible Childcare Assistance and Training Incentive Allowance
From 17 November 2025, Flexible Childcare Assistance and ongoing Training Incentive Allowance payments are excluded from youth money management. These can now be paid to the young person, their agent (if authorised) or a supplier (as appropriate).
MSD will decide who the payment goes to after talking with the young person's youth service provider (if one is assigned to the young person).
See the following Jobseeker Support pages, for example:
