By Dan Satherley
The Government has revealed plans to dramatically shake up the welfare system.
Prime Minister John Key and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett made the announcement today in Hamilton.
Ms Bennett says the changes will get "46,000 people off welfare and another 11,000 working part-time within four years".
The current range of benefits will be consolidated into three main packages: Jobseeker Support, Sole Parent Support and Supported Living Payment.
Jobseeker Support will replace the Unemployment Benefit and the Sickness Benefit, for people whose youngest child is 14 or older.
"Everyone receiving the Jobseeker Support will be expected to be available for work, either full-time or part-time as their capacity allows," says Mr Key.
"The only exception will be for people who cannot work for the time being, because of sickness or injury, and who will therefore get a temporary exemption."
He says when children are 14 years old they can be left alone without supervision, so this is an appropriate age at which to force their parents to look for work.
The second new benefit, Sole Parent Support, is for solo parents.
"Sole parents on this benefit will have to be available for part-time work when their youngest child is five years old," says Mr Key.
If a parent on the Sole Parent Support benefit has another child, they will receive an exemption from looking for work – but only for another 12 months. So when the new child is a year old, the parent will be required to look for work.
"This support won’t be fully in place in year one, but will build up over time," says Mr Key.
The third benefit, Supported Living Payment, will replace the Invalids Benefit and benefits for people caring for others who'd otherwise be in hospital.
"People on the Supported Living Payment will not be expected to make themselves available for work," says Mr Key.
“This benefit is for those who’re unable to work at all and the name change reflects the fact the term ‘invalid’ for many, is offensive and outdated," says Ms Bennett.
"It will help to shift people’s attitudes and set genuinely different expectations about being available for work," says Mr Key.
The Green Party says the Government is backing "a loser" with the announcement.
“The way to get welfare numbers down is through a strong economy and good jobs,” says co-leader Metiria Turei.
“Importing hard-right welfare solutions that pay people to harass beneficiaries into low paid jobs is not the answer to a better or brighter future.
“National seem to spend far more of their time looking for ways to bully beneficiaries than actually worrying about creating jobs."
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