Man will lose benefit if he goes on holiday

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Wed, 19 Oct 2011 7:00p.m.

Kevin Brett

Kevin Brett

Kevin Brett worked in telecommunications for 20 years, then ran a small business while raising his two daughters.

When that failed, so too did Kevin's health. He went on the sickness benefit, but last year took himself off it voluntarily to launch a new venture; producing portable soccer goals.

The earthquakes put that on the back burner, leaving Kevin unemployed and living week to week in Christchurch's eastern suburbs. He was in desperate need of some time out.

He's been offered a fully paid trip out of the country - a four week holiday.

But hop on a plane and Kevin will lose his benefit.

Is that fair? Or should the rules be relaxed? 

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Comments

27 Oct 2011 09:44p.m.

Rose wrote:

@steve if you dont tell them they will know anyway as the system at the airport links through to other goverment systems. I dont agree with the legislation in many ways but it was put in place as people were claiming benefits, then going overseas for long lengths of time. There are times when it should be relaxed on a case ny case basis, but it shouldnt be relaxed otherwise there will be more ripping off of the sysyem.

25 Oct 2011 09:20p.m.

jade macgregor wrote:

I think he still should get the benefit when hes going for a holiday to australia because thats a bit sad and he wouldnt be able to afford food and stuff and if you go on a holiday you want to do things like see sites and attractions,and he wouldnt be able to do that if he hasnt got any money and 62 is a bit old to be working.

23 Oct 2011 08:04p.m.

Ruz wrote:

It doesn't seem fair. Other beneficiaries such as Members of Parliament are able to take holidays without losing any benfits.

23 Oct 2011 06:15p.m.

hellonearthis wrote:

I think this guy should not get his benefit for being overseas, the rules are plain to see. He won't take money from people he knows but is quite happy to take money from people he doesn't. Yes, it's very sad but those are the rules.

20 Oct 2011 07:40p.m.

Nikita wrote:

Just the other day I went to WINZ to apply for a transition to work grant to get access to dress for success for a job interview I have next week but was denied because I haven't applied for a benefit in 2 years??? The reason for that is because I'm sick of them turning me away like they did as per usual and making me feel like I'm not entitled to anything. They couldn't even help me with interview clothes for a job???? Maybe I should apply for the unemployment benefit and milk them

20 Oct 2011 05:15p.m.

steve wrote:

why did he tell winz??? those case managers act like they're giving away their own money! haha no holidays if you're poor. you have to be a rich criminal to go on holiday these days

20 Oct 2011 04:41p.m.

Rayleene wrote:

I think WINZ need to look at the people who are ripping the system off and leave people like this alone. He has been through more than enough and has a kind daughter offering him a holiday at no expense to him "WHY NOT". Good luck to Kevin he deserves a break now WINZ give it to him.

20 Oct 2011 02:05p.m.

Jai wrote:

Coming from a lower-middle class family, i am unfortunately familiar with Winz and their militant approach to any and all seeking financial assistance. I'm 22 years old, female, and of Maori descent. At the tender age of 15 my relationship with my mother had deteriorated to the point of near physical violence (mostly on my part, which i regret) and the only option was to find a place to live outside of my family home, scary enough for a 15 year old to contemplate, but then i had to deal with Winz. By the tone of this comment i'm sure you can deduce exactly how that went. I was refused an independent youth benefit multiple times on the grounds that the situation was not serious enough, my case workers were constantly shuffled so that every time i went in for an appointment i would have to explain in exhausting detail exactly WHY i had to live separately, and WHY my mother couldn't support me instead of the government. (single parent, low income, four children, you do the math.) i was reduced to a beggar in my own country, not as a Maori but as a Kiwi. They gave me no other constructive option. It was not a sense of entitlement that drove me but desperation. I finally got the funding to private board and not a cent more, i worked part time to pay for my food, clothing and sport fees. During the time i was fighting for an allowance, i spent many hours sitting in the Winz waiting room talking to others and hearing horror stories that would curl your toes and i thought to myself "My god, i'm one of the lucky ones?!" I've seen both sides of the coin, people i just wanted to smack over the head due to their cavalier attitudes toward their abuse of the unemployment benefit, and those to whom i would give the shirt off my back because their circumstances were so terrible it made me wonder that we called ourselves a first world country. In short, i truly believe that having been through so much, Kevin is absolutely deserving of a holiday without being financially crucified.

20 Oct 2011 12:46p.m.

diane wrote:

The man is in his 60's paid tax for years raised his family.
It's a disgrace.. if he has a holiday and his pension is taken from him in that time frame. I think he will need a sickness pension soon with all this fuss. I wonder if he also went to vietnam and fought for the country.

20 Oct 2011 10:54a.m.

Jennifer wrote:

In the last few years there seems to have been a fundamental shift in the attitudes towards benefits and state housing in this country. It seems that benefits and government assistance are viewed as a right, not a privilege. There seems to be increasing reliance (and abuse) on the welfare system and an expectation that 'someone else will fix my problems'. We need to bring back some respect, both self respect and respect for others who work hard to earn and contribute to the welfare system.

Have beneficiaries forgotten where the money comes from? They may well have contributed in the past, but there are many of us out there in less adequate housing than that offered by the state, and scrapping by on our middle income salaries...yet we are still contributors to the system that pays for houses and subsidies, and now holiday pay? I actually feel hurt by people with attitudes like this…that there happiness is somehow valued more highly that those of the people working to pay for their lifestyles. I would like a four week holiday in Australia. Perhaps everyone out there would like to contribute to my mortgage while I’m away? Anyone? Thought, not.

I accept that it is not a straightforward or easily resolved situation, and that there are people out there who genuinely need a helping hand or are unable to contribute to society in any financial way. Happy to help, and continue to assist these people. The organisations that manage this assistance need to be more accountable for the funds they manage. Our collective funds that are being redistributed.

In the wake of the anti-corporate demonstrations, I can't help but feel that state entities themselves have become faceless self propelled corporations, that are failing their duty of care towards their clients, and the wider communities they serve. I my view this is driven by size, and there may be a solution in restructuring services to a series of more community based organisations.