25 March 2026
Kendra Horne
[FYI request #33677 email]
Tēnā koe Kendra Horne
Official Information Act request
Thank you for your emails of 10 February 2026, requesting information about 18–
30-year-olds receiving a disability-related benefit.
I have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Please find my decision on each part of your request set out separately below.
I have also included some general information about Mainstream programmes at
the end of this letter, for your further information.
•
The number of clients aged 18 to 30 receiving Jobseeker Support - Health
Condition or Disability or Supported Living Payment who have participated
in government-funded internship or work-experience pathways in the last
three financial years.
•
Of those participants, the number or percentage who successfully
transitioned into permanent employment (part-time or full-time) with the
same employer.
•
The number of individuals aged 18–30 receiving a disability-related benefit
who are currently recorded as being in: Full-time employment (30 hours or
more per week). Part-time employment (less than 30 hours per week).
Your request for this information is refused under section 18(f) of the Act, as
substantial manual collation would be required to collate this information. If held,
this information would only be contained within individual client files, which would
each require manual review to respond to your request. The greater public interest
is in the effective and efficient administration of the public service.
I have considered whether the Ministry would be able to respond to your request
given extra time, or the ability to charge for the information requested. I have
concluded that, in either case, the Ministry’s ability to undertake its work would
still be prejudiced.
•
The total number of individuals aged 18–30 currently receiving a disability-
related benefit
The Aurora Centre, 56 The Terrace, PO Box 1556, Wellington
– Telephone 04-916 3300 – Facsimile 04-918 0099
Please find the attached
Appendix for
Table One detailing the number of Ministry
clients aged 18-30 receiving a disability related benefit.
•
The total annual cost (expenditure) for providing these benefits to the 18–
30 age group for the most recent financial year
I have interpreted your request as the cost of administering disability-related
benefits to 18–30-year-olds. The Ministry does not currently measure how much
it costs to administer these benefits to different age groups. In order to provide
you with this information, the Ministry would need to divert personnel from their
core duties and allocate extra time to complete this task. The diversion of these
resources would impair the Ministry’s ability to continue standard operations and
would be an inefficient use of the Ministry’s resources. As such, your request is
refused under section 18(f) of the Act, as it requires substantial collation. The
greater public interest is in the effective and efficient administration of the public
service.
I have considered whether the Ministry would be able to respond to your requests
given extra time, or the ability to charge for the information requested. I have
concluded that, in either case, the Ministry’s ability to undertake its work would
still be prejudiced.
General information about Mainstream Programmes
Mainstream programmes are MSD-funded work experience and internship
programmes for people with disabilities or health conditions lasting longer than six
months.
The Mainstream Internship programme provides employment preparation and
placement, and a wage subsidy to enable people to gain paid work experience in
their chosen field. This programme is administered by Propel, who works to place
people in roles that suit their skills and capabilities. This programme is open to
people who have a disability or health condition (including a mental health
condition or neurodiversity) who are in their final two years of study or have
completed full-time study in the last 12 months. The internship programme
provides paid internships that last 4-12 weeks.
The Mainstream Employment programme provides a package of wage and training
subsidies and additional supports to help people with disabilities or health
conditions lasting longer than six months to obtain work, and to enable them to
remain in sustainable employment. Disability Employment Service providers will
work with employers to place people in roles that suit their skills and capabilities,
to gain paid work experience for up to 52 weeks.
More information about Mainstream programmes can be found on our website:
•
Mainstream programmes - Work and Income
I will be publishing this decision letter, with your personal details deleted, on the
Ministry’s website in due course.
If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact
[MSD request email].
If you are not satisfied with my decision on your request, you have the right to
seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to
make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi nui
pp.
Anna Graham
General Manager Ministerial and Executive Services
