Disabled people unable to visit Work and Income Service Centres
M.R.M. made this Official Information request to Ministry of Social Development
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From: M.R.M.
Dear Ministry of Social Development,
Where a person (who is either not yet a client of the Ministry of Social Development / a Work and Income Service Centre, or, is already a client of the Ministry of Social Development / a Work and Income Service Centre) has submitted an application for a benefit by e-mail and also by post, and has been advised by the Ministry of Social Development / a Work and Income Service Centre in response that they must attend an in person / face to face interview at a designated Work and Income Service Centre, but, they are not able to do this because of serious and disabling health reasons, I am requesting that you provide me with;
1. A copy or copies of all of the relevant laws, regulations, directives, policies, procedures, etc. regarding how The Ministry of Social Development / a Work and Income Service Centre must deal with the disabled person to assist them in getting their application properly and timeously processed, assessed and granted or declined.
2. A copy or copies of all of the relevant laws, regulations, directives, policies, procedures, etc. that empower and/or authorise and/or otherwise permit the Ministry of Social Development / a Work and Income Service Centre to ignore a person who has requested in writing that they be allowed to have a telephone conversation or Zoom conference call instead of attending an in person / face to face interview because of serious and disabling health reasons..
3. A copy or copies of all of the relevant laws, regulations, directives, policies, procedures, etc. that empower and/or authorise and/or otherwise permit the Ministry of Social Development / a Work and Income Service Centre to ignore a person who has submitted a G.P.'s Medical Certificate that confirms they are "very unwell", "not able to have any appointment with" a medical professional, and, who says "I am writing this letter to request (xxx) appointment with Work and Income NZ be done as a phone call ...".
4. A copy or copies of all of the relevant laws, regulations, directives, policies, procedures, etc. that empower and/or authorise and/or otherwise permit the Ministry of Social Development / a Work and Income Service Centre to decide that an application has "lapsed".
Yours faithfully,
M.R.M.
From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development
IN-CONFIDENCE
Tēnā koe M.R.M.
Thank you for your two emails received 20 November 2025, under the Official Information Act 1982. We have received an additional request transferred from Whaikaha on 20 November 2025. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate officials at National Office to respond.
The information you have requested may contain the names and contact details of our staff. Please let us know by 21 November 2025 whether you require these names and contact details. We will need to consult our staff before deciding whether we can release this information, and this will take a bit more time. If we do not hear from you, we will assume that you do not require staff names and contact details.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Official Information Team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development
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We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent
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