Surge in cruel sanctions against the poorest amongst us – we are better than this

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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