18 March 2019
David Howse
[FYI request #9619 email]
Dear Mr Howse
Thank you for your request made under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), received
on 18 February 2019. You requested the following (numbered for ease of response):
1. … for which benefit types child support is retained, whether there is a limit
to the amount retained with respect to each and whether the pre or post
tax benefit amount is retained.
2. Please advise the benefit amount payable with respect to each in the years
2016, 2017 and 2018 with details of all components that may contribute i.e
number of children, accommodation supplement, etc.
For each of the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 please provide the following:
3. The total number of receiving parents and the total child support received
4. The number of receiving parents who had child support payments retained to
offset benefits and the total amount retained.
5. Data for each month of 2016, 2017 and 2018 detailing the monthly
retention's within $10 bands. i.e. In January 2016 the number of receiving
parents from whom 0 to $10; $10.01 to $20; $20.01 to $30..... was
retained in relation to a benefit they received.
Request one
Child support is retained for the following benefits:
•
Emergency benefit;
•
Jobseeker benefit;
•
Sole Parent Support;
•
Young Parent Payment; and
•
Unsupported Childs Benefit.
The Crown entitlement is calculated by comparing the Receiving Carer's daily rate of
base benefit, to their daily Child Support entitlement. The lesser of the two is the Crown
entitlement.
The entitlement retained is based upon the post-tax rate of benefit.
Request two
Your request for the benefit amount payable for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 tax years with
details of all components that may contribute to the amount payable is refused under
section 18(d) of the Act, as the information requested is publicly available.
Benefit rates paid are determined by individual client circumstances and are changeable
throughout the year as clients may have changeable income and circumstances. The
following information is available on the Ministry of Social Development’s website:
•
current and historical main benefit rates with factors that may affect the rate
(https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/deskfile/main-benefits-
rates/index.html);
•
current and historic Supplementary Assistance rates with factors that may affect
the rates
(https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/deskfile/extra-help-
information/index.html); and
•
child Support Payments in relation to benefits
(https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/income-support/core-
policy/income/types-of-income/child-support-payments.html).
Request three
The table below shows the total number of receiving parents and the total amount of
child support received for the years ending 31 March 2016, 2017 and 2018.
2016
2017
2018
Receiving Carers
149,797
151,967
153,969
Total child support received ($)
461,352,197
459,432,865
$463,987,986
Clarifications for request three:
•
The number of receiving carers is those who have had a child support entitlement
at some point during the relevant child support year.
•
The total child support received is the sum of payments made to receiving carers
and payments offset against benefits.
Request four
The table below shows the number of receiving carers and the amount retained to offset
a benefit.
2016
2017
2018
Receiving carers
139,274
135,762
128,839
Net transfers to crown ($)
185,668,323
181,356,607
178,560,433
Clarifications for question 4:
•
The number of receiving carers includes all those who had a child support
payment retained in the relevant child support year. That payment may
relate to entitlement for previous child support years.
Request five
Appendix 1 provides the number of receiving carers by month, with child support
retained by $10 band.
Right of review
If you disagree with my decision to refuse an aspect of your OIA request, you can ask an
Inland Revenue review officer to review my decision.
To ask for an internal review, please email the Commissioner of Inland Revenue at:
[email address].
Alternatively, under section 28(3) of the OIA, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman
to investigate and review my decision. You can contact the office of the Ombudsman by
email at: [email address].
Thank you for your request.
Yours sincerely
Sue Gillies
Segment Management Lead Families
