Kicking sick teenagers when they are down – this is who we is now
Jobseeker benefit cuts could affect 2700 young people with health condition, injury, or disability
Around 2700 young people with a health condition, injury, or disability are at risk of losing their Jobseeker benefit, and around 70 percent of those have psychiatric or psychological conditions.
Minister for Social Development Louise Upston revealed the figures Wednesday during Question Time, and said those on the Jobseeker support benefit with a health condition, injury, or disability (HCID) who are unable to work should be in further education or preparing for work in the future.
But the Greens said this could make the youth mental health crisis worse, and want an exclusion for those on the Jobseeker HCID.
From November 2026, the government will end Jobseeker payments to 18 and 19-year-olds whose parents earn more than $65,000, saying it will encourage them to find work.
In October last year, it was estimated that around 4300 young people would become ineligible for support.
The policy would also apply to young beneficiaries with a health condition or disability who have had to stop work for a period of time or reduce their hours.
RNZ
We don’t have a youth problem in NZ.
We have an adult problem.
We hate young people in this country.
We never forgive them their transgressions and we seem to enjoy their pain when punished.
This is just cruelty, as Verity Johnston notes…
The back to work policy for young people that ‘makes absolutely no sense’
So. We’re stopping their benefit to incentivise them to work…but we know they’re too sick to work right now. Which is why they’re on the Jobseeker HCID to begin with…
This makes absolutely no sense.
Is taking their benefit away going to cure their cancer? Fix their PTSD? That’s what would get them back in the workforce. Not cutting the money they have for rehab…
But whatever, it’s their family’s problem now!
Stuff
…so we are throwing sick teenagers off welfare to get them back to work, despite them being too sick to work???
How is this just?
This is just to ritualistically bash beneficiaries because it wins votes.
It’s cruelty as social policy.
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