Poverty group condemns ‘surge’ in benefit sanctions
Child Poverty Action Group is questioning why fresh figures from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) show benefit sanctions (when a benefit is cut or reduced) for missed appointments grew to 9042 in the three months to March 2025, more than double the 4356 recorded in the same quarter last year.
“It’s highly unlikely twice as many people suddenly started missing appointments,” spokesperson Isaac Gunson suggested. “What seems more likely is that MSD has become quicker to cut people off, despite the very real barriers many face in attending.”
Gunson pointed out access to childcare, a working phone, as well as confusion about the system were barriers some faced. “When every dollar counts, even a short trip to the local office can be unaffordable. Buses don’t always run on time. Sometimes they don’t run at all.”
MSD has been approached for comment.
Look at the cruelty being proposed by this Government against the Disabled and Beneficiaries…
…all in 5 working days. This isn’t welfare, it’s a punishment system designed to trip beneficiaries up so they can be disqualified from welfare.
We are throwing 50 000 off welfare into the teeth of rising Unemployment while punishing the disabled by forcing them to access the dreaded MSD for any support.
Let’s be clear what is happening here.
The vast, vast, vast number of beneficiaries are all doing exactly what they are told they need to do to keep their welfare and because so many are follwoing the rules and not giving the Government a reason to kick them off welfare, the Government have come up with more pointless busy work to find a reason to kick people off welfare for not complying!
THIS. HAS. NOTHING. TO. DO. WITH. THE. WELLBEING. OF. THE. BENEFICIARY!
This is about finding new loopholes to trip people up to disqualify them from welfare rather than getting people work ready for jobs that don’t exist…
Unemployment rate rises to 5.1%, highest since 2020
The unemployment rate continues to climb, reaching 5.1% in the December 2024 quarter, according to the latest Stats NZ figures – the highest level it’s been since 2020.
It’s up from 4.8% in the September 2024 quarter.
…so the Government crash the economy with their Austerity budget, put further work sanctions on beneficiaries and then blame beneficiaries for the unemployment???
The idea that the economy is going to magically bounce back after the austerity budget are ludicrous!
National borrowed more than Labour, BUT THEY BORROWED FOR TAX CUTS WE COULDN’T AFFORD AND RICH LANDLORD LOOP HOLES!
They didn’t spend that extra borrowing on public services, in fact they hollowed out those public services so much so it’s all going to predictably collapse…
Revealed: Tight Budgets force ‘reductions to public services’ – Treasury
Treasury officials have warned the Government that “significant reforms” or “reductions to public services” will be needed in the not-too-distant future if it sticks to its current, restricted spending track.
The Herald can reveal that even with this relatively tight spending, the Government will not post a surplus under the traditional Obegal measure until 2031, which will mark the longest period of Government deficits since the 1979-1994 deficits (which were measured quite differently).
Treasury officials also warned that the Government had planned so much capital investment – spending on items like schools, hospitals and roads – that it might have to cut spending earmarked for public services so it can fund the significant ongoing maintenance of those investments.
…I also find the idea that we should actively punish Beneficiaries who are the collateral damager here pretty sickening…
…put aside the fact that Luxon is a rich prick, look at what he has done to the economy and then consider his lecturing towards beneficiaries:
He crashed the economy with an austerity budget that borrowed more for tax cuts and loopholes we couldn’t afford, and you is lecturing the poor?
HE HAS DONE THIS!!!
Blaming the victims of his economic policy is outrageous!
National are pushing 400,000 jobseekers to find work when there is no work because they collapsed the economy!
There are less than 11,000 jobs on Trademe and less than 5000 on Seek and National are demanding new sanctions against beneficiaries after sacking 9520 public sector workers!
How much must you hate Jacinda for post Covid bitterness to find this obscenity of policy sophistry acceptable?
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THE MSD AI FUTURE.
CLIENT: ring ring…Hello
MSD: Yes Hi, it’s MSD-AI here, I’m not a real person, but I have the authority to review your payments, and I noticed that a Trademe advert shows you recently sold your car, but did not report the income from the sale, so I’m afraid that first breach will reduce your payements by 50%.
CLIENT: But two weeks ago my tooth broke, after my boyfriend tripped me up, causing me agony, so I got a dentist to fix it, which cost $400, so I had no money left, and sold my car to get enough cash to by food.
MSD: Hi there, MSD-AI has checked your file and we have no record of the relationship you just disclosed to us, when you referred to your boyfriend. This non disclosure is another breach, therefore MSD AI is reducing your payments by 100%.
Your file has been updated, showing you have a boyfriend as of two weeks ago. You next payment has already been processed, so that is now an identified overpayment which we will refer to our debt collection division, who will soon be making contact with you.
You have two weeks to appeal our decision, from your earliest relationship confirmed status, which was two weeks ago. Therefore your last day to appeal our decision, is today, this matter is now closed, thank you for bringing this to our attention, have a nice day…
very good but you missed the ending.
AI-ROBOT: Knock, Knock.
Except selling your car isn’t considered income… if and i mean “if” you sell it for a profit that profit still wouldn’t be considered income until your 6th car in a 12 month period. Point 2) Having a boy/girl friend isn’t against the rules. Them supporting you is. They would need to prove that in court if you deny it. So.. while your post is entertaining and alarmist.. It simply bulshit. Come on people…. There’s enough genuine evil being done to have to rely on bulshit.
We don’t and spell it right too. We don’t believe in good time Charlie stories that stop people from taking a responsible mature outlook.
“Except selling your car isn’t considered income…” etc
Except MSD will declare whatever they like and throw the burden of seeking proof in the courts over to you.
That’s simply not true. I suspect your experience with WINZ is confined to this blog.
Probably you need some down time to let you think, enquire and sleep, I see you are sending at 2.55 am.
about time things toughened up for them, i know over a dozen bene folk incl a family member and not 1 of them is in legitimate need of welfare, its just a lazy lifestyle choice.
bene bludgers should be available at the drop of a hat to attend any winz appointment, they shouldnt even be given a choice if which jobs to apply for, winz should just put them out to a temping agency and if they turn down work then winz turns down their bene.
nz is getting bled dry by welfare bludgers from the work capable that cant be bothered to the rich reitired folk collecting super that dont need it. time to fully abolish welfare of all types and let the scum sinknor swim
Oh great trumpet. Other people when they are all blown up inside, fart. If feeling low they have a cup of coffee or a chocolate. or it may be that you need more plain water that doesn’t come from a polluted well etc. Regular necessary, 8 glasses a day it is said. You find fault with the people you know, from your own family, and think that everyone is as low as you seem in the brain plus muscle plus motivated, doing -stuff network that we all draw on. Your English is good just your outlook is underperforming.
“nz is getting bled dry by welfare bludgers from the work capable that cant be bothered to the rich reitired folk collecting super that dont need it. time to fully abolish welfare of all types and let the scum sinknor swim”
I agree, it’s well overdue to tax the wealthy properly, and restore a fairer, egalitarian wealth distribution.
We could have a good country humming along quietly if the authrity figures wanted this but it;s not serving their purpose which is to despise everyboody who isn;t on their social scale.
Some immigrants like us. I met S- who had been back to Brit and is back working at what he can get behind a counter, because he wants to be here. Amazing but an example of many nice guys with good skills and minds and manner, so if you meet such get to know them. .. Perhaps see if we can start a simple Meet and Greet Kiwi group that is open to anyone with the right attitude and not totally money and style-oriented – practical and kindly is a good start.
And look for women too, there are still some good caring and practical ones around not going on about their Ayn Randish ideas of superiority and selfishness.
Wow Jack….that system would be ideal, save the poor tax payers a fortune in benefit fraud.
Whoever introduces it…that party gets my vote!
It’ll drive perfectly employable able people who can’t find a job to despair and suicide. What’ll do to the disabled and handicapped doesn’t bear thinking about. A sort of NAZI regime. Homelessness will increase with Winter coming. It’s sickening : like what the Israehell monsters are genociding the Palestinians. The Luxon gang are genociding the poor Bennies.
‘nz is getting bled dry by welfare bludgers from the work capable that cant be bothered to the rich reitired folk collecting super that dont need it. time to fully abolish welfare of all types and let the scum sinknor swim’
Looksh ‘ere! Dosen’t rite stuff when y’re pissed ‘coz piple tyin t’ rid it fink y’re ‘n igerint bastid wot dosn’t knw wot y’re ficking en’bout.
Also —–win I’m right agrees wiv ye n’ sez y’git a gid idee y’know y’re a dumb cnt.
Nope, we’re not better than that and we’ve proved it over and over again.