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Eligibility to register a claim with MSD
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) manages a redress scheme the purpose of which is to recognise a person’s experience of abuse or neglect while in the care of the Child Welfare Division, the Department of Social Welfare, or Child, Youth and Family before 1 April 2017 (with care defined as meaning being in the care, custody, guardianship, or coming to the notice of the relevant agency).
A related purpose of the redress scheme is to offer an alternative to litigation to provide for redress for abuse in care and can include:
- an apology
- financial redress
- counselling or other well-being support
- assistance with accessing care records
You can register a claim with MSD if you:
- were in the care of the Child Welfare Division, the Department of Social Welfare, or Child, Youth and Family before 1 April 2017 (with care defined as meaning being in the care, custody, guardianship, or coming to the notice of the relevant agency); and
- believe you suffered abuse or neglect while in care.
The above is subject to the following: MSD may decline a person for eligibility to register a claim if MSD considers the abuse or neglect they allege is not, or could not reasonably be said to be, as a result of acts or omissions before 1 April 2017 of the Child Welfare Division, the Department of Social Welfare, or Child, Youth and Family in the performance of its statutory functions in relation to care, protection or control.
If you are thinking about making a claim, please contact us. Find out more about registering a claim.
Please note that serious violent or sexual offenders are not eligible to receive financial redress under the redress scheme operated by MSD unless the redress officer determines under section 23(2) of the Redress System for Abuse in Care Act 2026 that financial redress should be made available to a person.