NZ Politics

619 readers

9 users here now

Kia ora and welcome to the NZ Politics community!

This is a place for respectful discussions about everything that's political and kiwi

This is an inclusive space where diverse opinions are valued, but please don't be a dick

Other kiwi communities here

Banner image by Tom Ackroyd, CC-BY-SA

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

Beneficiaries on money cards may not be able to pay rent (www.rnz.co.nz)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

3 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Beneficiaries sanctioned with money management cards will often be unable to pay rent, government data shows, putting them at risk of homelessness.

The sanction for non-complying Jobseekers would lock half their benefit into payment cards that cannot be spent on rent - but official statistics from MSD show the average beneficiary is already spending more than 53 percent of their income on housing costs.

MSD confirmed to RNZ the cards - being introduced from 26 May - would see beneficiaries' Jobseeker payments split, with half going onto a payment card unable to be used on rent.

"The Money Management card will be able to be used at grocery, transport, healthcare (including prescriptions) and education suppliers ... [it] cannot be used on other expenses such as rent or utilities," general manager income Shannon Soughtton said.

top 3 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago

I wish social policy were driven by results and best practice instead of these weird ideological gestures.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Really good to see the perspective and story of a beneficiary taking up a decent amount of space in an article. That does not happen often.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago

Especially one that's presented normally.

Occasionally you see articles where they present a beneficiary with a point of view like complaining about not being able to afford icecream, which is disappointing because it obscures more pressing problems like not being able to afford green veges or medications.