Over 14,000 Benefits Wrongly Suspended Under Minister’s Watch, Call For Compensation Continues – Greens
Today’s report by the Ministry of Social Development shows that over 14,000 people had their payments wrongfully suspended as a result of legislation introduced and passed under urgency by Louise Upston.
“Louise Upston’s policies have resulted in thousands of people being left without the payments they need to put food on the table and cover their bills. Many of the people impacted are people living with health conditions, injuries, and disabilities, whose lives would have been turned upside down due to these payment suspensions”, says Green Party Social Development Spokesperson Ricardo Menendez March.
“Falling behind by $3000 when you are on a main benefit means potentially falling in debt, losing your home, or experiencing hunger. This may not mean much for a Minister who claims $52,000 in taxpayer subsidies, but it’s a lifeline for people in poverty.”
“Louise Upston needs to front up, and answer questions that are not being answered by her Ministry’s report. We still do not know what kind of main benefits have been impacted.”
“We know that Mandatory Reviews apply to people receiving the Supported Living Payment, which means these processing delays could have left people who are seriously ill, injured, or disabled without the means to survive. The report does not outline the harm that families affected by these suspensions experienced either.”
“It’s not tenable for Louise Upston to remain in her job when she has frequently avoided answering questions to this issue, given conflicting statements over the impact this has had on people’s lives, and initially refused to apologise for the suspensions of main benefits. Behind the suspensions are people often living below the poverty line, in debt, or with health conditions needing support.”
“People deserve a Government that treats people needing income support with respect and dignity, not one that calls them ‘bottom feeders’ and plays with their livelihoods through policy that is rushed and does nothing to improve their lives.”
“The Greens welcome the recommendations from the Ministry of Social Development and urge the Government to look at compensating families for the harm they have endured while these critical payments were suspended” says Menendez March.
