The Ministry of Social Development has released the following statement in relation to Kaitaia client Selwyn Clarke

Anyone receiving a Work and Income payment who is the subject of a warrant to arrest for a criminal offence needs to clear it as soon as possible or payments will be affected.

Payments are not suspended immediately.

A beneficiary with an arrest warrant for criminal matters that hasn’t been cleared 28 days after its issue will get a letter giving 10 working days to clear it. If the warrant is not cleared within 10 working days their payments will be affected.

More information on arrest warrants is available on the Work and Income website

Anyone whose payments are stopped due to an arrest warrant must clear the warrant before payments can resume. More information here

In line with these rules, Mr Clarke Veteran’s Pension and Disability Allowance were suspended on 23 November 2015 due to a Warrant to Arrest being issued.

Mr Clarke came into the Kaitaia office of Work and Income on 31 December to ask why his payments had been stopped. He was advised that he needed to go to the District Court to clear the warrant, which he does not appear to have done.

Our staff in Kaitaia have liaised with Police to support Mr Clarke to get his warrant cleared and have provided him with the information he needs.

Mr Clarke is in full control of his situation and knows what he needs to do to resume payments. When he clears his warrant, we are happy to help and will resume payments.