MSD makes its services ‘cheap as’ for clients to access from mobile devices

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has removed cost as a factor for its clients to access its services off any digital device on a mobile network, by providing “Cheap As Data.”

“We’ve made our services ‘cheap as’ for our clients to access our online service, such as MyMSD via a mobile device, and for anyone to access a number of our websites,” says Ruth Bound, MSD’s Head of Service Delivery.

“Our clients told us that not having data was a barrier to using our online services to transact with us, so we’ve removed the barrier. Our clients can now use our online services at little or no cost from their mobile phone or digital device if they are on Spark, Vodafone, 2degrees or Skinny mobile networks.

“We’ve removed the cost wherever possible, but we do make use of website add-ons that will use a very small amount of users’ data. In most cases this will be less than a cent of their data allowance per visit.

“We estimate that at least 90 per cent of our clients’ mobile phones are connected to Spark, Vodafone, Skinny or 2degrees and will be able to take advantage of Cheap As Data from wherever they are in New Zealand,” she said.

MSD’s online service MyMSD makes it faster and easier for our clients to get the services they need, when they want, wherever they are.

“Our clients no longer need to come into our service centres or call us to do routine transactions,” says Ms Bound.

People can access the service now. There’s no need for any additional sign-up process, with Cheap As Data already up and running across MSD’s websites.

MyMSD allows anyone receiving financial assistance from us or NZ Superannuation to check their details and complete transactions such as book, change or cancel appointments, view payments and declare their wages.

MSD’s websites that are now cheaper to use include Work and Income, Working for Families, MSD, StudyLink, Housing Assessment, Find a Job and SuperGold and its online services; MyMSD, MyAccount, MyStudyLink and the Department of Internal Affairs’ RealMe logon service.

ENDS

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