Annual Report
Purpose: To enable the transfer of applications for benefits and pensions, and advice of changes in circumstances, between New Zealand and the Netherlands.
Year commenced: 2003
Features: Manual transfer of completed application forms as required.
MSD disclosure to the Netherlands: MSD forwards the appropriate application forms to the Netherlands Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB). The forms include details such as the full names, dates of birth, addresses and MSD client reference numbers.
Netherlands disclosure to MSD: SVB responds with the SVB reference number.
2011/12 activity: As an indicator of activity, MSD issued 829 notices of adverse action. This figure includes some corrections to the SVB reference numbers. There were no challenges to these notices.
Commentary: MSD fixed the letter which advises clients of changes (s.103 notice) by restoring the warning that adverse action could occur as a result of the information match.
MSD also identified that people with an SVB number ending in 0' were not being sent s.103 notices. This system error has been corrected and notices have been sent to all who were affected.
Compliance: Compliant.
Technical information
| Authorising provisions | Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990, ss.19C and 19D and Social Welfare (Reciprocity with the Netherlands) Order 2003, Article 216[1] |
| Year authorised/commenced | 2003/2003 |
| Programme type | Confirming eligibility |
| Unique identifiers | Netherlands and NZ social welfare numbers |
System description
This is one of four programmes relating to arrangements between the Netherlands and New Zealand and can be considered the foundation' match because it is used when people are entered into the respective systems.
When a person first applies in New Zealand for a pension and indicates possible entitlement to a Netherlands pension, MSD forward the appropriate completed forms and supporting documents (or confirmed copies) to the Netherlands. When MSD receive confirmation back from the Netherlands, the client's record can be updated in SWIFTT. Changes in eligibility with potential adverse consequences will cause SWIFTT to generate a notice of adverse action under the authorising law (similar to a s.103 notice). This is sent to the affected individuals enabling them to correct any mismatch and confirm their entitlements.
Superannuitants living in either country may have their periods of residence in both countries combined for the purposes of eligibility for benefits.
Historical activity
| 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | |
| NZ residents with Netherlands pensions (as at July) | 3,423 | 3,552 | 3,536 | 3,622 |
| NZ Superannuation recipients living in Netherlands (as at July) | 1,055 | 1,066 | 1,119 | 1,199 |
| Notices of adverse action (includes some corrections to Netherlands Customer Reference Numbers) | 333 | 264 | 207 | 344 |
| Challenges | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
[1] Although not information matching provisions listed in Privacy Act, Schedule 3, the matches operated under these provisions (programmes 17, 19, 20 and 21) are required to be treated as if they were authorised information matching programmes for most purposes - see Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act 1990, s.19D(3)(b).
