Information for parents/caregivers of applicants for Youth benefits

If your child meets the criteria, they might be able to apply for Youth Payment.

What you need to do

If your child applies for this benefit, we may ask an Independent Assessment Provider to contact you. This depends on why your child has applied for Youth Payment, eg if there's been a family breakdown. They won't contact you if there are any concerns about the safety or care and protection for your child. For example, your child has left the care of Oranga Tamariki.

The Independent Assessment Provider will talk with you to get a better understanding of your child's situation. They'll also ask if there are any other options available to your child, eg if someone else could support them.

They'll give us a report which will include their conversation with you. This will help us make a decision about whether to approve your child's benefit.

If your child meets the criteria, they might be able to apply for Young Parent Payment.

What you need to do

If your child applies for this benefit, we may ask an Independent Assessment Provider to contact you. This depends on why your child has applied for Young Parent Payment, eg if there's been a family breakdown. There are some situations when they won't contact you, eg your child is:

• married, in a de-facto relationship or civil union
• 18 or older.

The Independent Assessment Provider will talk with you to get a better understanding of your child's situation. They'll also ask if there are any other options available to your child, eg if someone else could support them.

They'll give us a report based on their conversation with you. This will help us make a decision about whether to approve your child's benefit.

If another person is caring for your child, they may be able to apply for an Unsupported Child's Benefit. To get this benefit, the carer and your child will need to meet certain criteria.

What you need to do

If the carer applies for this benefit, we'll call you to let you know. We'll also send you a letter.

We may ask you to go to a Family Group meeting with the carer and your child (if they're 14 or older). You won't need to go to the meeting if you've already been to a family group conference with Oranga Tamariki.

The Family Group meeting is held by Barnardos, an Independent Assessment Advisor. They'll talk with you to get a better understanding of the situation and why your child can't live with you.

What happens next

If we approve the benefit, you may need to pay child support. The carer will apply for this through Inland Revenue. Inland Revenue will let you know if you need to pay this and how much you need to pay.