nationals welfare shakeup....

clover wrote: I actually think that although not 100% there, Nationals idea of the benefit cards for teens on the benefit is a good one that could be extended. That way the funds can only be spent on the necessities of life, not entertainment and luxury items. I'm sure the mums on here probably wouldn't like being told where they can spend their DPB, however, when a single mum on the DPB (my neighbour) has a brand new LED TV, her kid has all the gaming stations, they're forever eating takeaways you've got to think something isn't quite right...

Agree! At least a decent portion should be in some form so it can only be spent on the necessities, that's what it's for after all isn't it?

An ex-friend of mine got pregnant to her then partner who she was living with but they then "broke up" and he moved out so she could qualify for the DPB ...It would be hard to prove these sort of cases unfortunately.

Isabella wrote: Xela - I don't know about the jobs not being there - could it be that people have too high an expectation? What about all the seasonal work that becomes available in which people are recruited from overseas because "kiwis won't do the work".. I myself cleaned offices throughout my degrees and continue to do a bit now for extra pocket money.. And that's another thing - how about retraining?

I'll just jump in here on this one. Luckly I am married and dont have to deal with being on a benefit! BUT.. (and sorry if someone has already posted the same thing, i havent read the whole thread) - Seasonal work is crap. I picked fruit every season for 3 years whilst living in Kerikeri and omg.. I couldnt imagine trying to do it when you have kids! Its horrible! You have reactions to the sprays, if it rains theres no work/no pay, its intensly hard AND theres no such thing as part time hours. It was 7 days a week, sunrise til sunset.

I saw some twit on TV saying about seasonal work for those who need jobs - what if you dont live where there is seasonal work? WINZ wont pay for your whole family to relocate to an area where there is lol.

I think making mums who are 'single' and having many babies without a partner and staying on the DPB should be made to go to work - maybe it might stop so many children being born into poverty? I dunno.. its a touchy one isnt it!

I get what you are saying minik8e - but really, "my money"? Its "our" money... Its "New Zealand tax payers money".. I think unfortunately the genuine people are involved as well because in order to get the s*i*s who rip off the system - blanket rules are required. And the genuine people will only be on the DPB until they can get into work after their first kiddy is at a certain age huh? So it should only be for a short period of time that they're told what to do with our money

Ah yes - but I pay all of that money back Plus with the skills I learnt while studying I can earn a decent wage and pay a lot of tax

There are pretty strict rules on the student allowance (the one you dont have to pay back). It is means tested off parents/partners income (depending on how old you are), if you fail courses you dont get it again etc etc...

But yeah - I have had friends who qualified because their parents "hid" money in businesses, who helped their kiddies out a lot.. Grrr... That annoys me A LOT especially considering how high my loan is (not whinging about that, my choice to study = my responsibility to pay back a loan which I am incredibly grateful for being interest free)

Moral of the story - when there are hand outs to be had - there will be cheating b*s*a*d* out there ruining it for everyone else.

Isabella wrote: I get what you are saying minik8e - but really, "my money"? Its "our" money... Its "New Zealand tax payers money".. I think unfortunately the genuine people are involved as well because in order to get the s*i*s who rip off the system - blanket rules are required. And the genuine people will only be on the DPB until they can get into work after their first kiddy is at a certain age huh? So it should only be for a short period of time that they're told what to do with our money

I am in the highest tax bracket and feel fortunate to live in a society that values income maintenance, housing, health and education. If I used you logic I could complain that 'my' money was being used to pay for other people's children to go to state funded schools or for other people's parents to get benefits (pensions) and even if students pay back their loans millions of taxpayers dollars are lost through admin costs and lost interest.
Sad to see how this policy encourages some people to find a group to blame for our country's economic woes regardless of whether it is true or not and then dress it up in self-righteous indignation

This topic makes me quite mad, I have an acquaintance who moved to NZ split up from her partner, has 3 children all in school, receives support from the father and has never worked. She worked it out the she is financially better off claiming benefits and has been doing so for the last 5/6 years, she also receives housing assistance. What makes me really angry is that she has several dogs, chickens, goats and horses!
I have worked really hard all my life, I am on maternity leave after my first baby, my DH works hard but doesn't earn much and we are just coping, but I don't qualify for any assistance. We are left with very little after everything has been paid.
I think the whole system needs a shake up, I get upset that she has had the opportunity to be home with all of her children but I am going to have to go back to work just after my little ones first birthday. And even now she can still stay at home. It almost seems that just because my DH and I are together and we have both worked hard we are penalised. I would be better off if we split up and I lived alone, then I could claim all sorts of benefits!
I know that this doesn't apply to everyone, but I'm sure she's not the only one doing this! Grrrrr   sorry but it drives me crazy.

Edited by tanialnz

I really feel I should chime in and say between my last comment and this one I have managed to get a part time job (cleaning and after school childcare which I take ds along with me) and now only recieve like $80 ish a week from winz as an accomodation top up. So we are not all bludging losers.
I do take issue with the my/our/your tax payer thing (not aimed at any of the above posters it just has come up a bit lately) since I've worked full time 6 years now, and about to go back for the next 40 years MY tax paying will more them cover the 7 or so months I've spent on dpb right? Sorry its my new pet hate when people loudly claim "its my husbands tax dollar that pays your rent rah rah"

whipersnapper wrote: Ultimatly, sending mums back to work when babies are 1 will only damage children.

Firstly, I'm all for the DPB provided it's not abused. I'd hate to live in a country where Mums suddenly on their own were forced to fend for themselves.

But that statement confuddles me somewhat. I mean, I went back to work when my son was just under one - have I damaged him? I have a hubby, but it doesn't change the fact the kiddo's in daycare.