Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/33650-checks-for-income-viability-when-cancelling-a-benefit on February 19, 2026 01:34

Checks for income viability when cancelling a benefit

Rhys Lewis made this Official Information request to Ministry of Social Development

Currently waiting for a response from Ministry of Social Development, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).

From: Rhys Lewis

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

I would like to ask two questions about the due diligence carried out by WINZ when a benefit is stopped. I am curious about whether it is similar to the situation where a power company cannot stop supplying power to a person who is medically dependent on electricity.

1. What checks does WINZ do to establish the financial position of a person before cutting their benefit. For example is there a minimum amount of other income or available savings that a person must have before a benefit is cut, or are there no checks on a person's financial viability?

2. How many cases were there where a person had a benefit cut between 1 July 2025 and 31 December 2026, and of those cases how many people were left with less than $300 a week of income, or WINZ did not establish the financial position of the person who had the benefit cut?

Yours faithfully,

Rhys Lewis

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From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development

IN-CONFIDENCE

Tēnā koe Rhys Lewis

Thank you for your email received 8 February 2026, under the Official Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate officials at National Office to respond.

Ngā manaakitanga,

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

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