Invalids benefit eligibilty criteria unchanged

Claims in a media released issued by Act MP Muriel Newman yesterday that changes to the eligibility criteria for the invalids benefit have resulted in 940 substance abusers receiving the benefit are inaccurate.

The eligibility criteria for the invalids benefit remain unchanged and are the same rules that applied under the previous National-led government.

The criteria continue to state that in order to qualify for the invalids benefit, an applicant must satisfy a medical practitioner designated by Work and Income (not their usual general practitioner) that they have an impairment which prevents them from working for more than 15 hours per week.

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