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Findings of review into suspension of some payments
MSD has released its review that sought to understand why some payments, including Winter Energy Payments, main benefits and supplementary assistance, were suspended when they shouldn’t have been in the course of new Confirming Your Circumstances checks.
Submissions on Disability Support Services Bill have now closed
Submissions on the Government’s new Disability Support Services Bill have now closed. The Bill will be considered by Select Committee on 13 August 2026.
Government announces Budget 2026
28 May 2026 – Budget 2026 sets out the Government’s spending priorities and savings initiatives for 2026/27.
Enabling MSD to more quickly use PAYE information from IR
20 April 2026 – MSD and Inland Revenue are consulting on plans to amend their Information Sharing Agreement to enable faster use of IR income data to adjust benefit entitlements.
What's new
28 August 2026
A Wellington woman has been sentenced to 10 months home detention in the Hutt Valley District Court after dishonestly obtaining $25,001.20 through the COVID‑19 Wage Subsidy Scheme for a business that was not trading.
06 August 2026
The Ministry of Social Development is asking its regional leaders to strengthen their focus on helping people secure stable housing after they leave emergency housing.
04 August 2026
A man was sentenced on 31 July in the Hutt Valley District Court to four months community detention and 200 hours community work after pleading guilty to eight charges of Dishonest use of a document.
23 July 2026
A detailed resource to inform policy development, research and public discussion on the financial and material wellbeing of children and their households. It draws on Stats NZ’s HES and HILS datasets.