Welfare Reform To Be Debated

Welfare Reform To Be Debated

Proposals to reform welfare support to youths and place work availability requirements on DPB beneficiaries will be debated in Parliament today.

The first reading of the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill will take place this afternoon after Question Time and the second reading of the Appropriation (2010/11 Financial Review), which will be held without debate.

The welfare bill will amongst other things set up a Youth Payment for 16-17 year-olds with no dependent children who have exceptional circumstances and a Young Parent Payment for 16-18 year-old parents (and, if aged 16-17 years, have exceptional circumstances or come from a low income family).

Also sole parents receiving the Domestic Purposes Benefit and partners of other main benefit recipients will have to be available for part-time work when their youngest child is five years of age; and be available for full-time work when their youngest child is aged 14.

Following this MPs will turn to the second reading of the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill.

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