Research shows that families are in poverty

A new study by the Fairer Future Collaboration found that families in poverty will remain so despite the increase in benefits from April 1.

Fairer Future Collaboration spokesman Brooke Pao Stanley of Auckland’s Action Against Poverty says it’s time for the government to “boost” revenue support so everyone can live with dignity. Poverty forced people into impossible situations. There are long queues in food banks (pictured),

Those working in the field, like Liz Davis, agree. Davis is the general manager of SociaLink, the umbrella organization of social agencies and charities of the Western Bay of Plenty.

“As we see more and more workers accessing local services such as Foodbank for the first time, you can only imagine how difficult it is for people hoping for benefits to feel.

“Without an income sufficient to cover basic living expenses, many people inevitably fall into debt, making it difficult to get out of poverty,” she says.

Davis says local social service providers are “very hard” working to support and empower low-income people.

Providing people with a living income will make a big difference for Whānau, who in that case will not require food parcels and will be more likely to access health services, she says.

Deficit

Update Welfare Expert Advisory GroupSimulation’s (WEAG) as to what income is needed to cover basic expenses shows the difference between what people get and what they need.

It has been found that most people receiving income support will still not have nearly enough to live on, even after increasing income support in April 2022.

The update compared the WEAG family’s cost estimates, taking into account inflation for 2022, with the government’s estimates of aid payments for April 2022.

The result? Some of the country’s poorest families face shortages of up to $ 300 a week.

Twelve of the 13 families will not be able to cover their expenses. Nine will not be able to cover basic expenses such as rent, food and transportation.

Here is an example. A couple with three children receiving job search assistance requires about $ 300 extra per week to cover the total cost.

These costs include children’s sports and a reserve fund on unexpected accounts.

Even if you reduced everything to their basic expenses, couples still need an extra $ 165 a week.

Here is another example. A single parent with three children will need about $ 240 a week to cover the total cost. Remove everything except the basic items, and every week there will still be a $ 111 deficit.

A single person who receives job search assistance and lives in a home will need approximately $ 90 more each week to cover all expenses.

“We urge the government to do the right thing and provide life support for everyone,” Stanley said.

Major changes are needed

The Fairer Future Collaboration collaboration requires seven major changes in revenue support. These include:

• raising the level of basic payments to the level of living income
• raising the minimum wage to the subsistence level
• increase disability benefits
• revision of relationship rules
• lifting sanctions
• cancellation of debt to the Ministry of Social Development
• improved access and additional support to meet basic needs.

Source

Additional reading

News category: New Zealand.