Tēnā koe Sarah Brodrick,

Thank you for your email received 27 January 2024, under the Official Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate officials at National Office to respond.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Official and Parliamentary Information Team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent
Ko ta mātou he whakamana tangata kia tū haumaru, kia tū kaha, kia tū motuhake

-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah <[FOI #25539 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 27 January 2024 9:31 am
To: OIA_Requests (MSD) <[MSD request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Confirmation of Circumstances Form

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

I would like a copy of the internal policy or process that you have in place for the Confirmation of Circumstances Form. I've also noticed that this form isn't mandatory for all MSD clients to complete, and is targeted to MSD Clients subject to the discretion of the Ministry of Social Development's choosing. I would like an explanation from MSD as to why this form isn't mandatory for every beneficiary and is targeted.

Supported Living Beneficiaries have in the past including in years 2022 and 2023 gone through an application process which includes providing a medical certificate via a general practioner, and having the Regional Health Authority which is separate from MSD approve or decline applications to start this particular benefit. The medical certificate determines the length of time that the MSD Client has health restrictions, can or can't work. Under the Supported Living Benefit, MSD Clients can receive this financial assistance and work up to 15 hours a week.

I would like an explanation as to why MSD administration staff, can request for MSD Clients on a Supported Living Benefit to be subject to completing this form, which gives MSD the authority to decide if a beneficiary can continue to receive the payment including qualifying them for this benefit, when there is a current medical certificate in place, whereby the client has gone through a lengthy process to have this benefit approved by a regional health authority. It is the regional health authority's role, which is separate from MSD to approve this payment, so why is it that MSD admin staff, have been given the authority to undermine this process.

I'd also like to know why MSD would then question the income of a beneficiary receiving this financial assistance, if it is clear that the beneficiary is employed and hasn't returned back to work, due to current health restrictions in which has already been declared.

At present a copy of the form isn't publicly available on the website below. I'm also wanting to know if there is a particular reason as to why the Ministry of Social Development doesn't want to publicly make this form available via your website.https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/produc...

Yours faithfully,

Sarah Brodrick

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #25539 email]

Is [MSD request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Ministry of Social Development? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------
This email and any attachments may contain information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after transmission from the Ministry.

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Kia ora Sarah Brodrick

I refer to your below request made to the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).

This email is to advise you that the Ministry is currently assessing your request, however, requires more time to respond. In accordance with section 15(1) and 15A of the Act, the Ministry’s decision will be with you no later than 5 March 2024.

The reason for the extension is that consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit.
We will respond to you sooner if we are able to.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/ or 0800 802 602.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel free to contact [MSD request email].

Ngâ mihi nui

Official Information Team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah <[FOI #25539 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 27 January 2024 9:31 am
To: OIA_Requests (MSD) <[MSD request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Confirmation of Circumstances Form

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

I would like a copy of the internal policy or process that you have in place for the Confirmation of Circumstances Form. I've also noticed that this form isn't mandatory for all MSD clients to complete, and is targeted to MSD Clients subject to the discretion of the Ministry of Social Development's choosing. I would like an explanation from MSD as to why this form isn't mandatory for every beneficiary and is targeted.

Supported Living Beneficiaries have in the past including in years 2022 and 2023 gone through an application process which includes providing a medical certificate via a general practioner, and having the Regional Health Authority which is separate from MSD approve or decline applications to start this particular benefit. The medical certificate determines the length of time that the MSD Client has health restrictions, can or can't work. Under the Supported Living Benefit, MSD Clients can receive this financial assistance and work up to 15 hours a week.

I would like an explanation as to why MSD administration staff, can request for MSD Clients on a Supported Living Benefit to be subject to completing this form, which gives MSD the authority to decide if a beneficiary can continue to receive the payment including qualifying them for this benefit, when there is a current medical certificate in place, whereby the client has gone through a lengthy process to have this benefit approved by a regional health authority. It is the regional health authority's role, which is separate from MSD to approve this payment, so why is it that MSD admin staff, have been given the authority to undermine this process.

I'd also like to know why MSD would then question the income of a beneficiary receiving this financial assistance, if it is clear that the beneficiary is employed and hasn't returned back to work, due to current health restrictions in which has already been declared.

At present a copy of the form isn't publicly available on the website below. I'm also wanting to know if there is a particular reason as to why the Ministry of Social Development doesn't want to publicly make this form available via your website.https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/produc...

Yours faithfully,

Sarah Brodrick

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #25539 email]

Is [MSD request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Ministry of Social Development? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------
This email and any attachments may contain information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after transmission from the Ministry.

-------------------------------

hide quoted sections

Tçnâ koe Sarah Brodrick,

 

Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information
Act request.

 

Nâ mâtou noa, nâ

 

 

Official and Parliamentary Information Team   |  Ministerial and
Executive Services

Ministry of Social Development

 

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau

 

 

 

------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------