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Drug-positive beneficiaries with children only lose half

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Welfare changes for failed drug tests

3News NZ

Paula Bennett says the legislation should come before Parliament next month (Photo: Victoria Evans)

Paula Bennett says the legislation should come before Parliament next month (Photo: Victoria Evans)

Beneficiaries who fail drug tests won't lose all their benefit if they have children.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has detailed tough new welfare proposals that will give job seekers one chance to get drug-free before their benefits are cut.

But Ms Bennett says if there are children involved, the cuts won't be so drastic.

“Anyone with children can lose no more than 50 percent,” she says. “That’s across all benefit types if you have children, so they cannot lose more than half.”

Paula Bennett says the legislation should come before Parliament next month.

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Comments

19/07/2012 1:30:05 p.m.

Divadays wrote:

I believe this needs to be targeted at those who are either committing crimes or are in a gang or are on the UE benefit for no good reason, the long term ones who have done NOTHING most of their lives. Those who are finding themselves on a benefit for a reason beyond their control however, do not need this invasion and loss of further dignity. And that includes those who are on (genuine) sickness, invalids, widows/ers, caring for sick and infirm, and the cases of the DPB where the person has not had many children whilst on the benefit, it does not include those who have found themselves in need with several kids already...if that is clear enough? Before my son was born with disabilities that have so far excluded me from the workforce...for now...I worked every day from my first after school job till he was born many years later and the "father" turned into a coward critter and gapped it. Not my choice, I hate it, and I cant wait for the day that I can take a full time job again, or even part time would be wonderful as a start, not everyone on a bene is a lazy loser and those of us who are on it for now need to keep hold of the last little shreds of our dignity...it is bad enough being clumped in with the bludgers.

3/07/2012 9:30:55 a.m.

nzer wrote:

Drug tests can either be the following:

PASS / FAIL / N/A

if people use a BLOCKER the drug test becomes ‘not applicable’ thus no action can be taken.

3/07/2012 12:06:30 a.m.

Thomas wrote:

In many countries where their governments do or can not provide any social welfare benefits there is huge crime, so maybe our government should consider the fact before it's too late that if some benefits are cut in half there may be twice as much crime to make up for what has been taken away from them.

2/07/2012 10:52:37 p.m.

Thomas wrote:

Maybe the MP's should be included in random testing,not forgetting those that are often found asleep in the house as they take a great hunk of our taxpayers money don't they, & I'd hate to think that someone who is not completely sober would be responsible for introducing these new drastic & highly invasive laws that target the already downtrodden beneficiaries.

2/07/2012 10:11:47 p.m.

David wrote:

@Erm no erm its people like you that are the greatest cause of crime in New Zealand. Lack of empathy, lack of intrinsic moral values... believes you have the right to dictate the lives of others. The biggest types of crime on the increase in New Zealand are Blue and White Collar crimes. With 2.5 Billion dollars estimated to be stolen form the economy over the next 3 or 4 years according to statistics released by the serious fraud office in April. But hey if we are drug testing.... make it fair... lets drug test company owners and managers as well.... guarantee more than a few of them will fail the test as well since drug use isnt solely or exclusively associated with being unemployed.

2/07/2012 8:56:08 p.m.

Moera wrote:

This will be one of very few issues I would agree with Bennett on. Beneficiaries who abuse the system need ultimatums like this to change their way of thinking and to encourage them to get off their backsides. This will also stop genuine beneficiaries getting stung as well. These measures are long overdue. I assume the taxpayer will appreciate their hard earned $$ been earned for a change rather than just given

2/07/2012 8:12:12 p.m.

Bob wrote:

this is discrimination, isolating the minority it is a disgusting tactic...build your prisons John your gunna need them bro

2/07/2012 5:04:34 p.m.

Erm... wrote:

Great move. Why should my taxes go to drug barons? Drugs are the cause of a huge proportion of crimes in NZ - this is a step in the right direction to stamp it out. And for all you bleaters, the choice is clear: stop the drugs, or you are a social outcast and will receive nothing.

2/07/2012 4:27:14 p.m.

nigel wrote:

Beneficiaries that take drugs will substitute with alcohol. This policy will likely lead to more violence in the home, more road deaths and an increase in general crime; as desperate, drunken beneficiaries take to the streets in ever increasing numbers looking for food.

2/07/2012 3:57:06 p.m.

Atiawa wrote:

This National led Government has no answers to the woes that confront our country except a continuation of neo-liberal market driven policies that have failed and placed us in our current tenuous position.Drug testing beneficiaries could have merit if there were jobs to be had - but there ain't no jobs - and again they want to blame that on a person because they smoke a joint or two. If they had a plan to support manufacturing in this economic crisis, that provided meaningful and well paid employment I would support their efforts to improve the health & well-being of its citizens, but they haven't and they never will.