New Zealand First is
urging the Government to rethink its new Sickness and
Invalids Benefit Strategy which would see beneficiaries get
priority health treatment in order to get back to work.
“I
wonder if the Government knows how many people are claiming
a sickness benefit because they have a sore toe or mental
health problems?” said social services spokesperson Bill
Gudgeon.
“The Government is ignoring the real issue which
is that people who were on the unemployment benefit have
been moved over to the sickness benefit so the Government
can boast of low unemployment rates.
“We will have a
situation where the fit and able remain on the sickness
benefit and the sick and disabled will be forced back into
the workforce.
“If the Government really wants to help the
sick, put extra money back into health and reduce hospital
waiting lists,” said Mr
Gudgeon.
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