Social Security (Mandatory Reviews) Amendment Bill
This bill requires the government agency Work and Income (MSD) to check at least once a year whether people receiving certain benefits are still entitled to them and are being paid the right amount. People on those benefits will need to answer questions and provide information when asked. If someone doesn't respond, their payments can be paused and eventually stopped. The checks will partly be done by computer systems. The new rules start on 2 March 2026.
What this affects
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People on certain government payments will need to confirm their situation every year, or their payments may be paused or stopped.
MSD must, for the purpose set out in subsection (2), review a specified benefit that has been granted— (a) within 52 weeks after the date on which the benefit commences
If the beneficiary fails to comply with a requirement under this section, MSD must suspend... every benefit or special assistance granted under section 100 or 101 that— (a) the beneficiary is receiving
If MSD suspends a benefit under subsection (4) and the beneficiary does not provide the information required... MSD must cancel the benefit or special assistance
Progress through Parliament
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Bill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Arapono’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Arapono editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Arapono is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.