1 / 7

Welfare Conditionality IN New Zealand

This article discusses the impact of neo-conservative agendas on welfare policies in New Zealand, focusing on the use of social investment models and conditionality measures. It explores the targeting of youth and sole parents, as well as the incentives and sanctions linked to compliance with obligations. The article also highlights the inadequate levels of welfare benefits and the increased need for hardship grants and food banks.

patricam
Download Presentation

Welfare Conditionality IN New Zealand

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Image sourced from http://liberation.typepad.com/liberation/2012/05/nz-politics-daily-16-may.html Welfare ConditionalityIN New Zealand Assoc Prof Louise Humpage University of Auckland Presented at ‘International Symposium on Welfare Conditionality’ York University, 30 Jan-2 Feb 2019

  2. National party-led government 2008-2017 • Driven by neo-conservative agendas in many areas (social security, child welfare, criminal justice, education etc) - although also finally acknowledged child poverty and increased benefits for income support recipients with children by $25 per week in 2016 • Since 2013, driven by a ‘social investment’ model that uses insurance-style models of risk prediction to measure the cost that income support recipients (and others) represent to government/society • Historical Ministry of Social Development data used to predict the life-time risk (i.e. financial cost) of being on a benefit • Youth and sole parents calculated as having the highest predicted costs thus are the target for significant and new policy interventions • ‘Risk factors’ reflect a neo-conservative view of the causes of ‘vulnerability’ and ‘welfare dependency’

  3. Sourced from http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/research-policy/ap/2016/16-01/ap16-01-infographic.pdf Indicators = Supported by benefits since birth; CYF finding of neglect/ abuse; Parent in prison; Mother with no quals

  4. youth Since 2012, the Youth Service targets resources at 16 to 17-year-olds who are or at risk of not being in employment, education or training (NEET) BUT Those receiving Youth Payment (16-17 year olds with family breakdown) and Young Parent Payment (16-19 year olds with dependent children) placed under compulsory income management = • Rent/utilities paid directly by contracted provider • In-Hand Allowance of up to $50pw • Rest of benefit goes on an electronic Payment Card to use at approved shops – cannot buy alcohol or cigarettes or to receive cash • Incentives and sanctions linked to educational, budgeting and parenting obligations aim to encourage compliance; conditions for leaving income management extremely high

  5. sole parents/parents Part-time work obligations when youngest child turns 3 or age 1 if the child was born while parent in receipt of a benefit Female sole parents and their child-bearing age daughters encouraged to take up free long-term contraception Sole parents who don’t identify the other parent of their child are sanctioned by $22+ per week - 97 percent of those sanctioned are women, 52 percent are Maori All parents receiving income support benefit risk 50% sanction (after 2 warnings) if they do not meet ‘social obligations’ = dependent children must: • Attend Early Childhood Education from age 3 to school start for at least 15 hours per week • Attend school from age 5 or 6 • Enrol in primary health care • Complete core WellChild checks (decided against including vaccination because personal choice)

  6. unemployed Main benefit categories were reformed in 2013 to place a great focus on work: Job Seeker Support recipients: • Cannot apply for a benefit until they have completed a work-related seminar • Have to reapply for their benefit every year • Must accept any ‘suitable’ work offered • Must show evidence of looking for work for 30 hrs per week or face 50% cuts in benefit (for parents) or suspension for 13 weeks (for others) • May be subject to a ‘pre-employment’ drug test Sourced from Baillie (2014) New Zealand’s welfare reforms: National’s response to “welfare dependency”

  7. Meanwhile …. • Dec 2018 benefit data shows current levels of welfare benefits and Working for Families tax credits are inadequate • Hardship grants increased by 40% over the previous December quarter (despite 6000 fewer sanctions over same period) Food banks also overwhelmed by increased need compared to the 2018 Christmas period

More Related