New task a drain on Work and Income

Work and Income doesn’t need another drain on its resources to distract it from supporting people to find employment, says Labour’s Spokesperson on Social Development, Sue Moroney.

“National has just made Work and Income responsible for assessing and managing housing requirements for those in need. However it is silent on any extra funding to resource this large new responsibility.

“This huge new workload for Work and Income will come into play in April next year. The department will now calculate rent subsidies, contract and pay housing providers and investigate fraud and recover debt.

“It will now be up to Work and Income to force around 3000 people each year out of state housing as a result of a new law passed under urgency this morning.

The Government voted against Labour amendments that would have protected those aged over 65, tenants with disabilities and those with school-aged children from the insecurity of reviewable tenancies.

“Work and Income is already struggling to get people off benefits and into decent jobs. Minister Paula Bennett should improve her job-finding record before she dumps other responsibilities on this department.

“Meanwhile, Housing NZ has become simply a property developer, with a shrinking portfolio of state-owned properties.

“Once again, decent housing for low-income New Zealanders is being jeopardised by the National Government.”

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