In regulation 71(5), replace “persons’s accommodation costs are that person’s accommodation costs” with “person’s weekly qualifying accommodation costs are that person’s weekly qualifying accommodation costs”.

7 Regulation 173 amended (Supporting evidence if youth support payment appropriate)

(1)

In regulation 173(1), delete “(within the meaning of section 65 of the Act)”.

(2)

After regulation 173(2), insert:

(3)

In this regulation,—

accommodation costs has the meaning given to it by section 162(2) of the Act

service costs has the meaning given to it by section 65AAA of the Act.

8 Schedule 1 amended

In Schedule 1,—

(a)

insert the Part set out in the Schedule of these regulations as the last Part; and

(b)

make all necessary consequential amendments.

Schedule New Part 15 inserted into Schedule 1

r 8

Part 15 Provisions relating to Social Security Amendment Regulations (No 3) 2025

26 Interpretation

In this Part, amendment regulations means the Social Security Amendment Regulations (No 3) 2025.

27 How MSD must decide temporary additional support application made, but not decided, before 2 March 2026

(1)

This clause applies if, before 2 March 2026,—

(a)

an application for temporary additional support was made; and

(b)

the application—

(i)

was not withdrawn; and

(ii)

did not lapse; and

(c)

MSD did not make a decision under section 301 of the Act in relation to the application.

(2)

The amendments made to regulations 57, 66, and 71 by the amendment regulations do not apply for the purposes of the decision required to be made under section 301 of the Act in relation to the application.

28 Transitional provision for persons granted temporary additional support before 2 March 2026

(1)

This clause applies to a person who—

(a)

was receiving temporary additional support immediately before 2 March 2026; or

(b)

was granted temporary additional support before 2 March 2026 that—

(i)

commences on or after 2 March 2026; or

(ii)

immediately before 2 March 2026, was subject to a suspension.

(2)

The amendments made to regulations 57, 66, and 71 by the amendment regulations apply to the person for weeks starting on or after 2 March 2026.

(3)

This clause is subject to clause 27.

29 How MSD must decide youth support payment application made, but not decided, before 2 March 2026

(1)

This clause applies if, before 2 March 2026,—

(a)

an application for a youth support payment was made; and

(b)

the application—

(i)

was not withdrawn; and

(ii)

did not lapse; and

(c)

MSD did not make a decision under section 301 of the Act in relation to the application.

(2)

The amendments made to regulation 173 by the amendment regulations do not apply for the purposes of the decision required to be made under section 301 of the Act in relation to the application.

Rachel Hayward,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

Explanatory note

This note is not part of the regulations but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These regulations, which come into force on 2 March 2026, amend the Social Security Regulations 2018 (the principal regulations) to reflect the commencement of the Social Assistance Legislation (Accommodation Supplement and Income-related Rent) Amendment Act 2025 (the amendment Act), which amends the Social Security Act 2018 (the principal Act). The amendment Act changes the way that the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) recognises boarders’ contributions when considering whether a person is eligible for an accommodation supplement and, if so, the rate payable.

These regulations update regulations 57, 66, and 71 of the principal regulations. These amendments mean that MSD will now use a person’s weekly qualifying accommodation costs when assessing their eligibility for temporary additional support and the rate payable of that support.

These regulations also amend the principal regulations in relation to supporting evidence for youth support payments. The definitions of accommodation costs and service costs in regulation 173 are updated to reflect amendments made to the principal Act by the amendment Act. MSD will be able to consider all contributions made by boarders and lodgers when determining a young person’s accommodation costs.

Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2019.

Date of notification in Gazette: 11 December 2025.

These regulations are administered by the Ministry of Social Development.

Social Security Amendment Regulations (No 3) 2025