New Law Cuts Jobseeker Payments for 18‑ and 19‑Year‑Olds With High‑Earning Parents

From November, New Zealand’s government will stop paying Jobseeker benefits to 18‑ and 19‑year‑olds whose parents earn more than $65,000 a year. The policy shift is expected to affect thousands of young adults who rely on the support while searching for work or further training. The change follows a review of the welfare system that aimed to target assistance toward those in greatest need. Eligible youths will no longer receive the monthly stipend, and the government will enforce the new eligibility criteria through its existing benefits administration channels.