Maharey Moves To Clear Confusion Over Community Card

Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey said today he was concerned that there is confusion about the eligibility criteria for the Community Services Card.

"There has been no change which would see New Zealanders previously eligible for a card losing out. In fact the Government has moved to make sure no one eligible for the Community Services Card on 31 March loses that eligibility," Mr Maharey said.

The Government decided this week to carry over the entitlement of all superannuitants for the card after increases to superannuation and benefits on 1 April. Entitlements for working peple and beneficiaries have not changed. Approximately 1,270 pensioners who had a card would have lost it if the change had not been made. The Community Services Card is administered by a specialist unit within the Department of Work and Income (DWI) which reports to Mr Maharey.

"The rules which DWI use to administer the card have not changed. Low-income workers who got the card last week still qualify – as do students, beneficiaries and others who have a card.

"There is a historical problem with otherwise eligible low-income New Zealanders not applying for their card and therefore missing out on subsidised health care and pharmaceuticals. I am very concerned that misinformation circulating around the community may see this problem exacerbated," Steve Maharey said.

Ends

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>