Media Release
Kids at School, Still on Benefit
February 24, 2006

45,600 single parents with school-age children only, have no other source of income than a benefit.

According to Lindsay Mitchell, petitioner for a Parliamentary review of the DPB, figures released under the Official Information Act shows that 45,643 single parents with children aged 5 to 18 do not have even a part-time job.

"Some of these parents will have genuine reasons for being unable to work. Around 4,000 are on a sickness or invalid benefit. Some may be involved in volunteering. But there is clearly a significant resource being wasted at a time when government has stated a clear priority to raise productivity."

"At May 2004 37,000 single parents on the DPB had school-age children only but no other source of income. If the Ministry of Social Development's figures are accurate, there is an increasing trend for single parents to stay on a benefit even after their kids start going to school."

Lindsay Mitchell petitioner for a Parliamentary review of the DPB

ENDS

www.lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com