Parents face having their benefits slashed in half if they don't send their children to school or early childhood education centres and enrol them with a doctor.
They must also complete basic health checks.
Social development minister Paula Bennet has just announced new 'social obligations' which she says will give kids a better start in life.
Around 125,000 beneficiary parents support more than 220,000 children and Bennett says the social obligations are ''reasonable and achievable.''
Parents already face losing 50 per cent of their main benefit from next month if they don't meet 'work obligations' - such as failing to attend a job interview.
From July next year all beneficiary parents must ensure their children:
* attend 15 hours a week Early Childhood Education (ECE) from age 3
* attend school from age five or six
* enrol with a General Practitioner
* complete core WellChild/Tamariki Ora checks
If they don't, a ''graduated sanction process'' will allow three warnings before they face a cut of up to 50 per cent.
"Social obligations will ensure dependent children of beneficiaries access and benefit from vital education and health services," Bennett said.
"These services are particularly important for vulnerable children as many currently miss out; we have an opportunity to address this through reforms."
Parents will get help if they are seen as high risk or are vulnerable or have complex needs. The scheme will cost $1.4 million to administer.
Last week Bennett announced she will stop payments to beneficiaries subject to arrest warrants. They will also be penalised if they refuse to apply for drug-tested jobs.
National's welfare reforms are expected to save up to $1b over four years but involve controversial proposals such as financial assistance for contraception. There are expectations single parents with children aged over five will undertake part-time work, and those with children aged over 14 full-time work.
Welfare payments costs around $7.6b every year.
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