IN-CONFIDENCE

Tēnā koe Jaskaran Walia

 

Thank you for your email dated 4 November 2025 to the Ministry of Social
Development (the Ministry) regarding the possible implications of a person
holding a Parent Resident Visa applying for a Community Service Card
and/or SuperGold Card.

 

The parts of your query highlighted below is more closely related with the
functions of the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE)
and was transferred to that agency for response on 6 November 2025. MBIE
will contact you in due course.

 

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I am writing to confirm the if the cards listed below are considered as
accessing welfare payment from work and income and would result in breach
in Section 49(1) of parent resident visa holder by Immigration New Zealand
or these are simply a discount counts.

 

Community Services Card

Supergold card

AT Total Mobility card

 

My questions is to seek confirmation how Work and Income and/or
Immigration New Zealand treat these cards i.e. as accessing welfare
payment or simply a discount card.

 

This is to ensure we don't breach the Section 49(1) condition on parent
resident visa that says "Accessing welfare payment from work and income
during your 10 year sponsorship period would be considered a breach of
Section 49(1) conditions and may make you liable for deportation"

 

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Nā mātou noa, nā

 

 

Ministerial and Executive Services

Ministry of Social Development

 

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

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Jaskaran Walia <[1][FOI #32726 email]>

Sent: Tuesday, 4 November 2025 1:19 pm

To: OIA_Requests (MSD) <[2][MSD request email]>

Subject: Official Information request - Discount card or welfare payment -
CSC, Super Gold Card or AT Total Mobility card

 

[You don't often get email from
[3][FOI #32726 email]. Learn why this is
important at [4]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

 

I am writing to confirm the if the cards listed below are considered as
accessing welfare payment from work and income and would result in breach
in Section 49(1) of parent resident visa holder by Immigration New Zealand
or these are simply a discount counts.

 

Community Services Card

Supergold card

AT Total Mobility card

 

Now I do understand each of these cards have there own eligbility criteria
and only if a person is eligible, they can apply and issued these cards.

 

My questions is to seek confirmation how Work and Income and/or
Immigration New Zealand treat these cards i.e. as accessing welfare
payment or simply a discount card.

 

This is to ensure we don't breach the Section 49(1) condition on parent
resident visa that says "Accessing welfare payment from work and income
during your 10 year sponsorship period would be considered a breach of
Section 49(1) conditions and may make you liable for deportation"

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Jaskaran Walia

 

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

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[5][FOI #32726 email]

 

Is [6][MSD request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Ministry of Social Development? If so, please contact us using
this form:

[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

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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.

 

 

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References

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2. mailto:[MSD request email]
3. mailto:[FOI #32726 email]
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hide quoted sections

Kia ora Jaskaran Walia,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your request of 4 November 2025 that was sent to the Ministry
of Social Development under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). 

 

The below point of your request has been transferred to the Ministry of
Business, Innovation and Employment from the Ministry of Social
Development on 6 November 2025 and is being processed in accordance with
the Official Information Act 1982. A response will be sent to you in due
course.

 

"I am writing to confirm the if the cards listed below are considered as
accessing welfare payment from work and income and would result in breach
in Section 49(1) of parent resident visa holder by Immigration New Zealand
or these are simply a discount counts.

 

Community Services Card

 

Supergold card

 

AT Total Mobility card

 

My questions is to seek confirmation how Work and Income and/or
Immigration New Zealand treat these cards i.e. as accessing welfare
payment or simply a discount card.

 

This is to ensure we don't breach the Section 49(1) condition on parent
resident visa that says "Accessing welfare payment from work and income
during your 10 year sponsorship period would be considered a breach of
Section 49(1) conditions and may make you liable for deportation" 

 

 

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 4 December 2025, being 20 working days after the day your
request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then,
we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.  If you have any
enquiries regarding your request, feel free to contact us via email
to [1][email address].

 
 
Nāku noa, nā
Ministerial Services
 
Strategy and Assurance
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

References

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1. mailto:[email address]