By Jono Hutchison
Dole bludgers beware - Prime Minister John Key has unveiled the Government's plans to reform the welfare system in what he's calling a "kick in the pants" for some beneficiaries - but opponents say it's more like kicking people when they're down.
National has finally acted on its promise to get tough on beneficiaries to break what it calls the 'cycle of welfare dependency'.
"Too many people have become trapped in a life of welfare, existing from week-to-week on a minimal income," says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.
The Government wants solo parents to work at least 15 hours a week once their youngest child is over six. Sickness beneficiaries will have to work part-time as well, if they're assessed as capable.
"You as the individual recipient also have an obligation to your fellow taxpayers to do everything you can to get a job," says Ms Bennett.
And for those who don't, benefits can be halved, suspended and then finally, cancelled.
Labour leader Phil Goff says that could end up hurting children.
"We can't have children growing up in this country hungry, ill-housed, ill-looked after because of the sins of their parents."
As part of the new plan, both unemployment and sickness beneficiaries will have to re-apply every year.
"When the times were their best, and the unemployment rate was at sort of 3.5 percent, we still had people on the unemployment benefit for more than four years," Ms Bennett told Campbell Live tonight. "So actually, the incentives need to be right."
One advocate for beneficiaries says most people already want to work, and the Government's plans won't help.
"They're mean-spirited and they're blaming people who need to rely on a benefit, and they're making it their fault that they need to rely on a benefit rather than helping them to move out of that benefit reliance," says Kay Brereton of the Beneficiary Advocacy Federation.
Beneficiaries 3 News spoke to had mixed reactions.
"I think one thing that people forget is when women stop and have babies for five or so years it's hard getting back," says Charlotte Thomas. "You lose your status, you feel different."
"I'd probably take the offer and go back to work," says Jacky Morgan.
The plans still have to make it through a select committee, and although the Maori Party has some reservations, the Government has ACT on its side, and most of the changes are expected to become law by October.
3 News