Hawke's Bay beneficiaries are being warned to let Work and Income know of any overseas travel plans after hundreds had payments stopped last year for jetting off without telling officials.
Ministry of Social Development figures show 1026 people from the East Coast district had benefits cut during the last financial year for going overseas without telling Work and Income. That was down on the previous year's 1164. Benefits related to jobseeker support were those most often cut.
Hastings Citizens Advice Bureau manager Ani Tylee advised beneficiaries planning travel to tell Work and Income.
She said beneficiaries need to ensure they were getting what they were entitled to and understand how changed circumstance might compromise their entitlements.
Ms Tylee said the organisation didn't get many queries about the travel issue and she thought beneficiaries would go straight to Work and Income with those sorts of questions.