Latest news with #SocialSecurityAmendmentBill
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Social Security Amendment Bill Pushes Poverty On People
Press Release – Green Party The Green Party will repeal all benefit sanctions and lift incomes to liveable levels. We will build an economy that works for all of us, not just a wealthy few, says Ricardo Menndez March. The Government's just-passed Social Security Amendment Bill is set to create more benefit sanctions that will push families deeper into poverty. 'Instead of punching down on the poor like the current Government, we can end poverty and provide everyone with what they need to live good lives,' says the Green Party's spokesperson for Social Development and Employment, Ricardo Menéndez March. 'Calling these new sanctions non-financial is misleading, as they'll still deprive people of the ability to access financial support like hardship grants. It's a disgrace that the Government is pursuing this despite reports New Zealand ranks near the bottom in child wellbeing. 'We have a plan to provide everyone with what they need to live good lives. Our Income Guarantee would ensure all whānau have the basics for a good life and don't fall through the gaps. 'In this country, we have enough to support those who are struggling. Instead of providing the bare essentials for some of our most vulnerable, Christopher Luxon's Government has chosen to prioritise tax cuts for wealthy landlords and tobacco companies. 'The Ministry of Social Development has already admitted their frontline capacity is oversubscribed and unable to properly support people due to the traffic light regime the Government has brought in. This will make things even worse. 'The Green Party will repeal all benefit sanctions and lift incomes to liveable levels. We will build an economy that works for all of us, not just a wealthy few,' says Ricardo Menéndez March.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Social Security Amendment Bill Passes Into Law
Press Release – New Zealand Government This bill brings new tools to ensure beneficiaries stay on track with their obligations to find or prepare for work if they are able, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston. Minister for Social Development & Employment The Social Security Amendment Bill has passed its third reading in Parliament today expanding the welfare Traffic Light System that launched in August 2024. 'This bill brings new tools to ensure beneficiaries stay on track with their obligations to find or prepare for work if they are able', Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston. From 26 May 2025, two new non-financial sanctions can be imposed. Rather than reducing a benefit, these non-financial sanctions are: Money Management – where half of someone's benefit is put onto an MSD payment card that can only be used in approved shops to buy essential items, such as groceries, transport, healthcare-related items, and education-related items. This will be for a four-week period. Community Work Experience – where someone will have up to two weeks to find suitable work experience and is required to participate in a placement at one or more community or voluntary organisations for at least five hours per week for four weeks. From 20 October, two more non-financial sanctions will be implemented: Upskilling – Jobseekers will be required to attend and participate, to MSD's satisfaction, in one or more employment-related training courses or programmes for a minimum of five hours per week over a four-week period. Report Job Search – Jobseekers must undertake at least three job-search activities per week, to MSD's satisfaction, and report on them weekly over a four-week period. Also from 26 May 2025 new policy settings will be put in place: Applicants for certain benefits, and their partners if relevant, will be required to have a completed Jobseeker Profile before they can be granted a benefit. New obligation failures will carry over for two years rather than one, increasing the likelihood that those who repeatedly refuse to comply with their obligations will have their benefit cancelled if they remain on it for more than a year. From 1 July 2025, Jobseeker Support clients must reapply for their benefit every 26-weeks (currently 52-weeks). This will require clients to engage with MSD more frequently, allowing for more proactive support and a focus on moving people into employment where they can. 'These changes will support more people into work and help achieve the Government's target of having 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support by 2030, which is forecast to save the country over two billion dollars in welfare payments,' Louise Upston says. 'Because we believe having a job is the best way for people to lift themselves and their families out of hardship, the Government is setting a clear expectation that those who can work, should work. 'Our economy is stronger when more people are in work, and as we look to unleash economic growth, it's important that as many Kiwis as possible share in the benefits of work.'
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
ACT Welcomes Law Change To Tackle Benefit Dependency And Restore Accountability
ACT's Social Development spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar has welcomed the passing of the Social Security Amendment Bill, saying it marks a turning point in restoring accountability to the welfare system and tackling long-term benefit dependency. 'With ACT in Government, the free ride is over,' said Dr Parmar. 'We're ending the culture of no consequences and putting responsibility back at the centre of the welfare system. People who can work should work – and the taxpayers who fund the system deserve nothing less. 'The law introduces new non-financial sanctions within the existing Traffic Light System, targeting a persistent minority who are capable of working but refuse to engage. 'Beneficiaries who fail to take active steps toward employment can now face additional obligations – including electronic income management, mandatory job search activities and upskilling. Electronic income management limits spending to household essentials – a commitment ACT secured in the coalition agreement. 'Shifting people off the lifestyle of dependency, and back onto the path of productive work, is how we build better lives, boost economic growth, and break generational cycles of misery.'
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Social Security Amendment Bill Passes Into Law
Minister for Social Development & Employment The Social Security Amendment Bill has passed its third reading in Parliament today expanding the welfare Traffic Light System that launched in August 2024. 'This bill brings new tools to ensure beneficiaries stay on track with their obligations to find or prepare for work if they are able', Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston. From 26 May 2025, two new non-financial sanctions can be imposed. Rather than reducing a benefit, these non-financial sanctions are: Money Management – where half of someone's benefit is put onto an MSD payment card that can only be used in approved shops to buy essential items, such as groceries, transport, healthcare-related items, and education-related items. This will be for a four-week period. Community Work Experience – where someone will have up to two weeks to find suitable work experience and is required to participate in a placement at one or more community or voluntary organisations for at least five hours per week for four weeks. From 20 October, two more non-financial sanctions will be implemented: Upskilling – Jobseekers will be required to attend and participate, to MSD's satisfaction, in one or more employment-related training courses or programmes for a minimum of five hours per week over a four-week period. Report Job Search – Jobseekers must undertake at least three job-search activities per week, to MSD's satisfaction, and report on them weekly over a four-week period. Also from 26 May 2025 new policy settings will be put in place: Applicants for certain benefits, and their partners if relevant, will be required to have a completed Jobseeker Profile before they can be granted a benefit. New obligation failures will carry over for two years rather than one, increasing the likelihood that those who repeatedly refuse to comply with their obligations will have their benefit cancelled if they remain on it for more than a year. From 1 July 2025, Jobseeker Support clients must reapply for their benefit every 26-weeks (currently 52-weeks). This will require clients to engage with MSD more frequently, allowing for more proactive support and a focus on moving people into employment where they can. 'These changes will support more people into work and help achieve the Government's target of having 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support by 2030, which is forecast to save the country over two billion dollars in welfare payments,' Louise Upston says. 'Because we believe having a job is the best way for people to lift themselves and their families out of hardship, the Government is setting a clear expectation that those who can work, should work. 'Our economy is stronger when more people are in work, and as we look to unleash economic growth, it's important that as many Kiwis as possible share in the benefits of work.'
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Social Security Amendment Bill Pushes Poverty On People
The Government's just-passed Social Security Amendment Bill is set to create more benefit sanctions that will push families deeper into poverty. 'Instead of punching down on the poor like the current Government, we can end poverty and provide everyone with what they need to live good lives,' says the Green Party's spokesperson for Social Development and Employment, Ricardo Menéndez March. 'Calling these new sanctions non-financial is misleading, as they'll still deprive people of the ability to access financial support like hardship grants. It's a disgrace that the Government is pursuing this despite reports New Zealand ranks near the bottom in child wellbeing. 'We have a plan to provide everyone with what they need to live good lives. Our Income Guarantee would ensure all whānau have the basics for a good life and don't fall through the gaps. 'In this country, we have enough to support those who are struggling. Instead of providing the bare essentials for some of our most vulnerable, Christopher Luxon's Government has chosen to prioritise tax cuts for wealthy landlords and tobacco companies. 'The Ministry of Social Development has already admitted their frontline capacity is oversubscribed and unable to properly support people due to the traffic light regime the Government has brought in. This will make things even worse. 'The Green Party will repeal all benefit sanctions and lift incomes to liveable levels. We will build an economy that works for all of us, not just a wealthy few,' says Ricardo Menéndez March.
