Amendment to the Special Needs Grant Welfare Programme Pursuant to section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, I, Roger Morrison Sowry, Minister of Social Welfare, approve the following amendments to the Special Needs Grant welfare programme (as originally approved on 8 January 1996, and approved by me on 23 December 1996), which are to be considered part of the programme with effect on and from 1 April 1998. Dated this 30th day of March 1998. ROGER SOWRY, Minister of Social Welfare. AMENDMENTS 1. SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO RURAL SECTOR 1.1 The programme is amended by inserting, after clause 20B.1, the following clauses: ``20.C Grants to farmers in Marlborough and North Canterbury regions ``20C.1 The object of this part of this programme is to provide financial assistance for farmers in the Marlborough and North Canterbury regions who have been affected by the droughts which occurred in the spring and summer of 1997/98. ``20C.2 This part of the programme comes into effect on 1 April 1998 and ceases to apply on 1 April 1999 unless extended by the Minister. ``20C.3 For the purposes of this part the definition of ``cash assets'' in clause 3.1 does not apply and the following definition is substituted: ` ``Cash assets'', in relation to any person, means assets of that person and his or her spouse (if any) that can be readily converted into cash and include `(a) shares, debentures, bonus bonds, and other bonds; `(b) bank accounts, including fixed and term deposits with any bank, friendly society, credit union, or building society; `(c) money invested with or lent to any bank or other financial institution; `(d) the net equity held in any property or land not used as the person's home (except that the net equity in a land based industry, as defined in clause 20.6, is not to be included as a cash asset in relation to an application for a grant under Part IV); `(e) building society shares; `(f) mortgage investments and other long term loans; `(g) bills of exchange or promissory notes; `(h) the applicant's share in a partnership; but do not include `(i) the motor vehicle principally used by the applicant for his or her personal use; `(j) a caravan, boat, or other vehicle (i) the net equity in which is less than $2,000; or (ii) which is used by the person or member of his or her immediate family for day to day accommodation; `(k) the personal effects of the person and his or her spouse (if any); `(l) the proceeds from the sale of capital pastoral stock (whether or not held in any of the assets in paragraphs (b), (c), (f) or (g) of this definition);'' ``20C.4 For the purposes of this part clause 20.4 does not apply and the following clauses are substituted: ``20.4 Grants may not be made under clause 20.3 for more than a period of 1 year. `20.4A If the Minister of Social Welfare has extended the application of this part for a further period, on application made by the farmer the Director-General may, in his or her discretion, make grants under clause 20.3 for up to that extended period if, after conducting a review of the farmer's circumstances, the Director-General considers the personal circumstances of the farmer justify such grants being made.'' ``20C.5 For the purposes of this part clause 20.5 does not apply and the following is substituted: `20.5 The maximum amount of grants under clause 20.3 are To a married person with one dependent child 75 per cent of the appropriate current unemployment benefit rate diminished by $1 a week for every $1 a week of that person's income. To a married person with 2 or more dependent children 75 per cent of the appropriate current unemployment benefit rate diminished by $1 a week for every $1 a week of that person's income. To a married person with no dependent children 75 per cent of the appropriate current unemployment benefit rate diminished by $1 a week for every $1 a week of that person's income. To a sole parent with one dependent child 75 per cent of the appropriate current unemployment benefit rate diminished by $1 a week for every $1 a week of that person's income. To a sole parent with 2 or more dependent children 75 per cent of the appropriate current unemployment benefit rate diminished by $1 a week for every $1 a week of that person's income. To an unmarried person with no dependent children 75 per cent of the appropriate current unemployment benefit rate diminished by $1 a week for every $1 a week of that person's income.' Explanatory Note This note is not part of the welfare programme but is intended to indicate its general effect. These amendments, approved by the Minister of Social Welfare under section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, amend the welfare programme approved by the Minister on 8 January 1996 relating to special needs grants. The amendments to the programme are to assist farmers affected by the drought in the North Canterbury and Marlborough regions. The changes to the programme come into force on 1 April 1998.