Latest news with #socialdevelopment
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
MSD to monitor whether stricter rules for accommodation supplement push people into hardship
Social Development Minister Louise Upston. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) will assess requests for hardship assistance to determine whether new, stricter rules for the accommodation supplement are pushing people to seek help elsewhere. From 2 March next year, payments from all boarders will be included in income assessments to determine whether people qualify for accommodation supplements or temporary additional support, and to calculate how much income-related rent people pay in public housing. At the moment, board payments are only included in this calculation when people have three or more boarders, or when it is their main source of income. Work and Income said that could mean people were paid less in housing subsidies or paid higher income-related rents. A spokesperson for MSD said because the policy change would mean a decrease in the rate of assistance received by some people, there could be an increase in applications for other hardship and housing supports. In earlier analysis, it had suggested that the $150 million the government expected to save over four years could be overstated because of this. "We cannot predict how many people will access hardship assistance and housing support products as a result of the change. As part of internal reporting for this initiative, MSD will monitor hardship assistance to see if it is increasing more than forecasted prior to this change. "If MSD identifies significant changes that may require further investigation (such as significant increases in hardship assistance, above what had been forecasted), MSD will investigate those further and provide advice to ministers." It has been estimated that about 13,200 households with boarders will be affected. Ricardo Mendendez-March, Green Party spokesperson for social development, said people who were receiving the accommodation supplement were already facing unaffordable rents. He said the government had not adequately communicated the impact of the bill. "Poverty is a political choice and this government has chosen to leave thousands of low-income families considerably worse off. The changes to the accommodation supplement are unjustified, particularly in a cost of living crisis. The government is trying to pay for their tax cuts by pushing low-income families into debt or to Work and Income to ask for hardship grants to survive. "Being $100 worse off each week may not mean much to wealthy government ministers, but for many families it's the difference between making ends meet or having to access a foodbank. We know that more families will end up needing to access hardship support because of this bill, putting pressure on families and other parts of the system that are already struggling to keep with the growing material hardship families are experiencing." Social Development Minister Louise Upston said there are various forms of assistance that are available to clients who need help with their housing and living costs and who meet the eligibility criteria. "This assistance will continue to be available to those people who are eligible, after 2 March 2026," she said. The minister acknowledges the changes could be unsettling but said they were necessary to make the system more consistent. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Arabian Business
6 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
UAE exempts 222 citizens from $39mn in debts
The UAE's Defaulted Debts Settlement Fund has exempted 222 citizens from debts totalling more than AED 139.879 million, following directives from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The initiative, which operates under the supervision of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, targets retirees and social support categories. UAE waives citizens' debts The Fund cleared debts exceeding AED 86.476 million for 132 retirees, whilst exempting 90 citizens under the social support category from debts totalling more than AED 53.403 million. 'The initiative reflects the wise leadership's vision to ease the lives of citizens and ensure them a dignified and stable standard of living,' the Emirates News Agency (WAM) said in a statement. The programme contributes to social development by alleviating financial burdens, supporting retirees and social support beneficiaries, and fostering family stability, according to the statement. The initiative aligns with the UAE's national strategy for sustainable development and demonstrates commitment to social cohesion and prosperity, with attention focused on those who served the country and the community's most vulnerable members. The Fund emphasised that the programme embodies President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's commitment to alleviating financial burdens on citizens. It highlights his vision to ensure a dignified life for Emiratis, promote their well-being, strengthen family and community stability, and uphold the values of cohesion and solidarity that characterise Emirati society.
CBC
31-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Higher demand expected as P.E.I. children's summer food program returns for 5th year
Social Sharing The province's Children's Summer Food Program is now open for registration, marking the fifth summer it has operated. Barb Ramsay, P.E.I.'s minister of social development and seniors, said the program served about 2,300 children and delivered around 143,000 meals last year. And those numbers may increase again this summer, she said. "Food insecurity is very concerning, but this is one of the programs that we have to combat that," she told CBC's Island Morning. "It's down 10 per cent. It went from 41 to 31," she said, referring to the most recent Statistics Canada data that shows the percentage of Island children living in food-insecure households dropped from 41 per cent in 2022 to 31 per cent in 2023. That's 10 percentage points or about 25 per cent. Ramsay said the province also supports P.E.I.'s school food program, which operates on a pay-what-you-can model during the academic year, and the seniors' food program. A poverty elimination strategy is currently in development and is scheduled to be released this fall. As for this summer's program, Ramsay said the total cost is not yet known because that depends on how many families sign up. The department budgets roughly $8 per meal. "We're prepared for whatever the cost is," she said. Families can register for the Children's Summer Food Program online through the P.E.I. government's website. Behind the meals Duke Cormier, owner of Fiveelevenwest in Summerside, is one of the local food suppliers for the program. Ramsay's department sends his staff the participant numbers — typically 450 to 500 children — and information about any special dietary needs. They prepare the meals, package and freeze them, and have them ready for delivery every Wednesday morning. The recipes used come from the province's school food program; Cormier's company is also a part of that. Cormier said the menu offers a diverse variety of dishes, ranging from sweet and sour chicken with rice, shepherd's pie, and burgers with mashed potatoes and vegetables, to creamy chicken pasta, lasagna, and butter chicken. "We try to do everything as healthy as we can. At the same time, there's a balance between healthy and what they'll eat," he said. "The P.E.I.'s school food program has done a very good job with their recipes to close that gap. "Originally maybe they were — and maybe it's a bad thing to say — too healthy. But now, they've got to the point where they're injecting vegetables, nutrition into every part of the meal they can." Having been with the program since it started, Cormier said he's proud of the work and care everyone put into this, from his business and the province to the delivery drivers. "We are in contact with our drivers all day long, for instance, and they've gone to a household, and perhaps the person's not home, and the meal's coming back. And then we're taking another bag back to them. There's an effort to try to really ensure that these people are getting reached." Ramsay added that this summer, the province plans to hire 25 to 30 drivers, and they've already received about 60 applications. "There's a tremendous amount of work that goes into this program, and I'm going to keep it going as long as I possibly can," the minister said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
18-05-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Human Resources Ministry Launches Initiative to Support Pilgrims During Hajj Season
The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development launched on Sunday the "Anwarat" initiative to provide comprehensive services for pilgrims throughout their Hajj journey. Services will be provided from the moment the pilgrims arrive to their departure and will be implemented through the ministry's branches nationwide. The initiative offers a range of services, including welcoming pilgrims at land crossing points and at the holy sites, providing multilingual guidance, and supporting elderly pilgrims and persons with disabilities through accessible transportation and trained personnel. Moreover, the initiative promotes volunteerism by recruiting and deploying volunteers in various roles, including field support, guiding pilgrims at the holy sites, and distributing meals, beverages, and gifts.
Zawya
13-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Social Development Bank signs four agreements in Al Qassim
Al Qassim: His Excellency Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Social Development Bank, sponsored the signing of multiple development agreements during his visit to the Qassim region. He was accompanied by the Bank's CEO, Sultan bin Abdulaziz AlHamidi. The visit featured a series of meetings and field visits focused on enhancing collaboration with local community organizations and evaluating the bank's initiatives to support development projects. This effort aligns with the bank's vision to foster economic and social development in the region and create a lasting impact on sustainable development. These agreements reflect the SDB's ongoing commitment to empowering targeted groups and fostering economic and social development in the region. During its recent initiatives in Qassim, the bank established a range of development partnerships, including cooperation agreements with the region's municipality and the Qassim Chamber. These partnerships aim to support and empower licensed freelancers by facilitating their access to essential financing, enabling them to pursue their activities and achieve sustainability. Additionally, the agreements include collaborations with the Al-Rass Chamber and Suleiman Al-Rajhi University to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses through comprehensive rehabilitation and financing programs. The visit featured an open meeting with male and female entrepreneurs, along with several beneficiaries, where participants discussed strategies to enhance the entrepreneurial environment and empower entrepreneurs. This dialogue supports the bank's role in stimulating the local economy and nurturing national talent, aligning with its commitment to promote local development and enable small businesses to thrive and expand. The Social Development Bank has established a strong development presence in the Qassim region through its financing programs and non-financial services, which include training and support for entrepreneurs and business owners. Since its inception, the bank has provided cumulative financing exceeding 8 billion riyals to the region, benefiting over 178,000 citizens in areas such as social financing, self-employment financing, and small businesses. Additionally, the bank supports civil society organizations and community projects, underscoring its dedication to fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing the sustainability of small and emerging enterprises, all in pursuit of sustainable development goals.
