Refugee or Protected Person Claimants (Asylum Seekers)
Eligibility for New Zealand Government Support and Services
Who is this information sheet for?
INFORMATION SHEET
November 2024
This document sets out clearly the support and services (as of November 2024) that individuals and families awaiting the outcome of a claim to refugee or protected-person status are eligible for. It is intended to be used as a reference for both frontline staff of government agencies and case workers from community-based organisations who are supporting clients to navigate government services.
Who is a Refugee or Protected-Person Claimant?
Eligible people in New Zealand can apply for refugee and protected-person status. They must show that they fear being seriously harmed or tortured or that they risk inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment if they return to a country. Refugee or protected-person claimants are often referred to as ‘asylum seekers’.
The role of Immigration New Zealand (INZ)
Immigration New Zealand (part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – MBIE) processes refugee and protected-person claims through the Refugee Status Unit (RSU). Because of the recent significant increase of claims, it is taking longer to process Confirmation of Claim letters and to process the claims themselves. If you need to confirm that a client has an ongoing claim in process, you can contact RSU to verify.
INZ also processes temporary visas for asylum seekers, so they are able to remain lawfully in New Zealand while awaiting the outcome of their claim.
If you have any questions or issues around services and welfare support for asylum seekers, you can contact the Refugee and Migrant Support team.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Contact details:
Refugee Status Unit (RSU)
PHONE: +64 9 928 2236
EMAIL: rsu@mbie.govt.nz
Refugee and Migrant Support – Asylum Seeker Welfare
EMAIL: welfareadvisor@mbie.govt.nz
Ministry of Social Development (MSD)
Support or Service Eligibility criteria
Emergency Benefit Emergency Benefit is an income and asset tested benefit that is payable to people in hardship who are unable to earn enough income to support themselves ((and their dependent spouse or partner or dependent children) and who are unable to receive another benefit. Generally, to be eligible for a benefit, a client must have permanent residence or citizenship. However, if a client does not have permanent residence or citizenship, they may be eligible for Emergency Benefit. The rate of payment and obligations will reflect the equivalent benefit, which is the benefit that best fits the client’s reason(s) for being unable to earn a sufficient livelihood and is in hardship.
An asylum seeker may qualify for Emergency Benefit if they are lawfully present in New Zealand and are waiting for the outcome of their claim for refugee or protected person status. For example, if an asylum seeker met all other qualifying criteria for Jobseeker Support, except for the residency requirements they may be able to receive Emergency Benefit, aligned with the Jobseeker Support settings (including amount payable).
To apply for a benefit, asylum seekers need:
• A Bank Account statement,
• IRD number (official not verbal)
• the INZ ‘Confirmation of Claim’ letter showing a refugee claim in process
• passport or other official photo ID,
• a valid visa,
• and a completed application form.
Temporary Additional Support
Temporary Additional Support (TAS) is paid as a last resort to clients to help with their regular essential living costs that cannot be met from their income and other resources. This is a form of hardship assistance that is payable for a maximum of 13 weeks. Clients who need TAS after 13 weeks must reapply for the payment. Clients do not have to be receiving a main benefit to qualify for TAS.
Asylum seekers may be able to receive TAS for accommodation costs. They would need a letter from their landlord or a tenancy agreement stating the rent they are paying. The amount varies, depending on circumstances. An asylum seeker may qualify for TAS if they are lawfully present in New Zealand and are waiting for the outcome of their claim for refugee or protected person status.
MSD Employment Assistance Asylum seekers who meet the specific qualifications for any of the employment assistance payments can receive these if they are lawfully present in New Zealand (with a work visa) and are waiting for the outcome of their claim for refugee or protected person status.
• Supports under the Employment and Work Readiness Assistance Programme (EWRAP): A range of discretionary supports intended to reduce barriers to a client’s employment, and support clients who are ready for work into moving into, and sustaining, employment. Programmes include Mana in Mahi, the Limited Service Volunteer programme, Skills for Industry and Transition to Work.
• Flexi-Wage: provides a wage subsidy and extra assistance to employers to take on people who do not meet the entry level requirements of the job.
• Training Incentive Allowance: a non-recoverable payment to support clients on particular benefit types (including Emergency Benefit for sole parents) to take up training and education to improve their employment skills and outcomes.
• Work Bonus: a non-recoverable payment to clients on specific benefits (including Emergency Benefit for sole parents) without part-time or full-time work obligations who cancel their benefit to move into employment.
• Driver Licence Supports: provides support to people who are disadvantaged by barriers to obtaining a NZ driver licence.
Community Services Card
A card available to low or middle income-earners to enable them and their family to access subsidised health services and reduced costs for public transport.
An asylum seeker who is receiving Emergency Benefit is automatically eligible for a Community Services Card. If they are not receiving Emergency Benefit, they may be eligible for a Community Services card if they meet the other criteria, are lawfully present in New Zealand, and are awaiting the outcome of their claim for refugee or protected person status.
Other payments for beneficiaries
Asylum seekers who are receiving Emergency Benefit can receive any of these payments if they meet the relevant qualifications:
• Advance Payments of Benefit: one-off recoverable advance payments of up to 6 weeks of their Emergency Benefit. It is available to clients who need assistance to meet a particular immediate need for an essential item or service.
• Winter Energy Payment: an ongoing weekly payment from 1 May to 1 October to help clients with additional costs during winter. Clients do not have to apply for WEP as it is automatically paid to clients receiving a main benefit (e.g Emergency benefit).
• Special Disability Allowance: an ongoing payment to a client if their partner is in the hospital/residential care and their partner is receiving a reduced rate of benefit due to hospitalisation. It is paid to help with extra costs due to their partner’s hospitalisation.
MSD Funeral Grant
A Funeral Grant is a non-taxable lump sum payment that provides assistance towards a person’s funeral expenses.
A Funeral Grant can may be claimed by or on behalf of an asylum seeker if they meet the qualifying criteria and if the person who has died was ordinarily resident in New Zealand at the date of death.
MSD Civilian Amputee Assistance
A payment to help a client with costs if they are required to attend a limb centre to have an artificial limb fitted, adjusted, or repaired.
Asylum seekers can receive this payment as there is no residency criteria for this payment.
Ministry of Education
Support or Service Eligibility criteria
Primary and Secondary School
Primary and secondary school aged children who are refugee or protected person claimants (‘asylum seekers’) or the dependents of asylum seekers, are able to enrol as domestic students. Children must show a ‘Confirmation of Claim’ letter from INZ and hold a valid temporary visa.
Tertiary Education Refugee or protected person claimants (‘asylum seekers’) are eligible to enrol as domestic students. They must show their ‘Confirmation of Claim’ letter from INZ and hold a valid temporary visa.
Note: To be enrolled in a Tertiary Institute as a domestic students must have their own refugee or protected person claim. Dependents of asylum seekers are not eligible.
INLAND REVENUE (IR)
Contact details:
Personal line (within NZ) 0800 775247
IR contact centres are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Support or Service Eligibility criteria
IRD Number (Adults)
Refugee or protected person claimants (‘asylum seekers’) need an IRD number in order to work or claim benefits.
An IRD number is a unique number that helps to keep track of the tax you pay and helps make sure you pay the right amount or get the right entitlements A paper IR742 non-resident/offshore application must be completed, and the identity interview must be conducted by one of IR’s Front of House offices or a New Zealand Automobile Association (AA) office. Only IR can accept applications with missing identity documents like the Category B drivers’ license or other (acceptable) photo ID.
The following documents are also required:
• A copy of the photo ID page from their passport
• A copy of their current visa letter (usually a visitor visa)
• A copy of their Confirmation of Claim letter from INZ
• A copy of their letter from MSD advising they are on a benefit. (This should be sufficient to evidence of their home address as well)
• If possible, evidence of an active NZ bank account. (We may be able to use “Satisfy the Commissioner” legislation to proceed with an application without a bank account. This will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.)
All original documents must be taken to any identity interview (as well as the copies).
NOTE: The applicant must fill in the reason for applying for an IRD number. If you they are on a visitor visa, they should write “to receive a benefit”. The applicant can write “to work” if they have the right to work in NZ.
IRD Number (Children or Dependents)
Refugee or protected person claimants (‘asylum seekers’) need an IRD number in order to work or claim benefits.
For children or dependents of asylum seekers a paper IR742 non-resident/offshore application must be completed and the following documents attached:
• Copy of a Birth certificate or certified IR595D Statutory Declaration form if the birth certificate is not available - this links the child and parent
• A copy of photo identity for the parent
• A copy of activity - proof of why the IRD number is required
• Copy of proof of address
• Copy of proof of Parents bank account (can also be used for proof of address)
For people claiming Emergency benefits, these two additional documents are required to back up the application for IR to be able to accept and process these applications for the children:
• MSD letter containing Emergency Benefit information
• A copy of Confirmation of Claim letter from INZ
FamilyBoost FamilyBoost is a childcare payment to help eligible households pay for the cost of early childhood education (ECE).
Asylum seekers are eligible for this payment dependant on if they fit the required Tax Residency criteria and other criteria depending on the family’s circumstances.
Working for Families tax credits/Best Start Tax Credit
Working for Families Tax Credits are payments for families with dependent children aged 18 and under. Entitlements are based on yearly family income and family circumstances.
Asylum seekers are eligible for these payments once they have met the Residency requirements and other criteria depending on the family’s circumstances.
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Support or Service Eligibility criteria
Publicly funded health and disability services
Free GP consultations and other health services
Contact details: refugeemigranthealth@tewhatuora.govt.nz
Refugee and protected person claimants (‘asylum seekers’) are eligible for publicly funded health and disability services.
The services offered may be fully funded, subsidised or incur a full payment fee. Asylum seekers must show a Confirmation of Claim letter from Immigration New Zealand (INZ), confirming that their application is being processed and proof of identity (such as a passport of Certificate of Identity).
NOTE: Health New Zealand|Te Whatu Ora currently advises on their website that INZ updates Confirmation of Claim letters if a claim takes more than three months to process and that if this letter is more than six months old, the client must obtain written confirmation from INZ before they can access publicly funded services.
However, it is currently taking more than 12 months to process a claim and INZ does not have the capacity to reissue claim letters. If you would like to confirm the status of a client, you can contact the Refugee Status Unit – contact details are above.
Dedicated primary health care services for asylum seekers vary across the country.
• GP consultations: This service allows eligible former refugees and current asylum seekers and their immediate family access to a range of either free Doctor/GP (General Practitioner) consultations or with a co-payment (fee) for an extended consultation.
NOTE: Available in participating GP practices in the Auckland region and the South Island only For more information on GP services available in the Auckland region, visit https://www.yourlocaldoctor.co.nz/former-refugee-and-asylum-seeker-health-services/ For information on GP services available in the South Island, please contact: refugeemigranthealth@tewhatuora.govt.nz
• Other health services for asylum seekers: In some centres in the South Island, Health New Zealand|Te Whatu Ora-funded Refugee Health Services can support asylum seekers with enrolling with a general practice, navigating health services, applying for MSD funding for dental work, accessing funded mental health support and addressing other health needs. Refugee health services teams also collaborate with secondary care and public health services as needed. Christchurch has an established Refugee Health Service that regularly supports asylum seekers.
Contact refugeemigranthealth@tewhatuora.govt.nz to be connected with the relevant Refugee Health Service.