Special Needs Grants ... What are they?
In 2019, Planalytics launched ‘Waste Not, Want Not’, a research report regarding food security in Wairarapa. Since then, we have maintained an avid interest in community need; in particular, understanding exactly how much food need exists across Wairarapa. What we have found is that there is very little collated data measuring food need at the community level, let alone regionally or even nationally. One useful indicator for measuring community need is Special Needs Grants (‘SNGs’).
Analysis of SNG data obtained from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) under the Official Information Act revealed some interesting trends regarding food need in Wairarapa, along with other aspects of community need, such as emergency housing and medical costs. In this week’s instalment of the Planalytics SNGs series we explore key aspects of Special Needs Grants in Aotearoa New Zealand.
So SNG’s, what are they and who is eligible?
SNGs are a form of additional income support provided by MSD to address the immediate needs of families, whānau, and individuals. These grants are one-off payments to help cover an essential or emergency cost if it cannot be paid another way. SNGs are usually non-recoverable, meaning they do not need to be paid back.
You do not need to be a beneficiary to receive an SNG, so long as certain conditions are met.
The applicant’s ability to meet the need from their own resources; and
Any assistance available to the applicant from other sources; and
MSD may consider the extent to which the applicant has caused or contributed to the immediate need or to the situation that has given rise to the immediate need.
Locally, SNGs can be applied for and issued by the Wairarapa Community Link. The WINZ website states that assistance is also accessible through MSD’s online service, MyMSD. If an applicant already has an MSD issued payment card, they can apply by calling WINZ.
SNG categories
There are various categories of SNGs that cover a range of needs, including civil defence payments and special assistance to the rural sector. The latest data from MSD includes 6 main categories, covering over 40 types of payments. SNGs can be recoverable and/or non-recoverable. In our table below, we highlight the types of SNGs available.
More than one type of SNG can be provided to the same client during the same six or 12-month period. Most SNG have a maximum amount payable in a 52-week period, however only food has a maximum amount payable in a 26-week period.
Currently, within a 26-week period a single person with no dependents may receive food grants to a maximum of $200, a couple with no dependents to a maximum of $300, a couple with two or less dependents to a maximum of $450, and a couple with three or more dependents to a maximum of $550.
With that in mind, take a look at your weekly shopping bill, how does that compare to the amount granted for a 26-week period?
SNGs as an indicator of community need
Monitoring and reporting the number of people seeking assistance through SNGs provides insight into past and current social wellbeing to paint a picture of community need. Did you know, for example, that over 1.3 million food grants were issued over the past 12 months across Aotearoa New Zealand, comprising over 50% of the total number of SNGs issued?
While such information can be extremely valuable to community responders and decision-makers, it should be noted that SNGs are not the sole source of data regarding community need (which is often multi-faceted and highly localised). We look forward to crunching the numbers and discussing SNG trends in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Greater Wellington region in the next instalment of our SNG series.