12 August 2007

Benefit denial may be more widespread

Green Party Social Development Spokesperson Sue Bradford said she was shocked to hear today of two Rotorua teenagers who were told by Work and Income that they were not eligible for the unemployment benefit.

"I have also heard of this happening in at least one other region," Ms Bradford says.

"I know the Government is very keen to reduce the numbers of teenagers on the unemployment benefit and the Independent Youth Benefit to zero as fast as they can, but this should not be done at the expense of young people's rights to exist. Unemployed people need the means of subsistence no matter what age they are. The unemployment benefit is a meagre $118.98 a week for young people living at home or $148.73 if away from home. While this is barely enough for survival it is a lot better than nothing.

"While I am pleased to hear that the national head of Work and Income, Patricia Reade, has apologised to one of the Rotorua jobseekers for the wrong advice they were given, I remain concerned that Work and Income staff not just in Rotorua but also elsewhere seem to be going too far in trying to keep or get young people off the dole.

"Young people should not be used as pawns in the Government's PR efforts, and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect by Work and Income, like all other beneficiaries."

Ms Bradford says she is also concerned that when the pre-benefit requirements of the newly passed Social Security Amendment Act come into force next month, departmental staff may use the new rules to even further unjustifiably deny young people the benefits to which they are entitled.

"I fear there will be much room for misinformation and confusion around these pre-benefit activity requirements. The Rotorua incident may just be a practice run with a local staff member getting a little keen," Ms Bradford said.

The Green Party is pleased that our current low unemployment rates mean most young people are now in paid work or education or training.

"However, low unemployment should not be used as an excuse to unreasonably harass genuine jobseekers or to deny them the paltry benefits to which they are entitled. I call on the Acting Minister of Social Development to assure beneficiaries that both in the lead-up to the introduction of the new Social Security provisions, and afterwards, people will still be given the income support to which they are entitled in a timely manner."

ENDS

© Scoop Media