Farah Khan – 
New Zealand is a country with a heart. New Zealanders welcome foreigners and migrants and help them to feel at home.
The government offers various types of benefits to those in need – people who are unemployed, sick and unable to work, and those who are elderly needing care.
Migrants come in various categories such as citizens, permanent residents, those on business visas, job search visas, work visas, student visas, temporary visas and so on.
Many migrants do not realise that government-offered benefits are available only to those on permanent residence status.
These benefits are provided by a number of agencies including the Social Development Ministry, District Health Boards and Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
Social Development benefits
Work and Income provides a raft of financial benefits for people and their website has benefits under the following categories: Not working; Seniors; Caring; Relationship Changes; Health and Disability; Living expenses; Children; Urgent or unexpected costs and Emergencies.
Each of these categories has different situations in which a person or family could be entitled for periodic assistance from the government.
I have met many people who were financially struggling but were not aware that they could be eligible for a benefit. Please visit the Social Development Ministry website (www.msd.govt.nz).
Public Heath
New Zealand has a health care system that is based on providing free healthcare to all citizens and permanent residents.
Other can also access the system at a cost.
Visitors and others on visas that do not accrue free health could take proper life and health insurance cover from their home country. They should seek appropriate advice to ensure that they are properly covered.
Injury benefits
ACC is a unique scheme set up by the New Zealand government to provide comprehensive, no-fault personal injury cover for all residents and visitors.
This means that you can apply for assistance no matter how you were injured.
The role of ACC is to prevent injury, make sure that people get treatment and help them get back to normal life as soon as possible.
The ACC scheme is comprehensive and mostly free of cost.
New Zealand offers entitlements but it is very important that you understand them.
Farah Khan is Partner and Notary Public at Khan & Associates. Email: farah.khan@xtra.co.nz; Facebook: Farah.
