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WINZ coughs up for vasectomies, wigs

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WINZ coughs up for vasectomies, wigs

3News NZ

Winz has paid out almost $33 million so far this year for special needs grants (file)

Winz has paid out almost $33 million so far this year for special needs grants (file)

Taxpayer money has funded vasectomies, wigs, birthmark removal and effluent treatment at homes, a list of emergency grants paid out by Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) reveals.

Almost $33 million has been paid out in the first six months of this year for special needs grants.

The grants, administered by WINZ, are one-off payments available to struggling Kiwis who have urgent and necessary needs and no other way to meet the costs.

The grants don't usually have to be paid back.

Official figures show payments included $7033 for 25 wigs or hairpieces, $6659 for 20 vasectomies and $247,137 for doctors' fees, including for the removal of birthmarks for two people, the New Zealand Herald reports.

The Ministry of Social Development figures also showed that 10 people needed help for funerals, totalling $2710, while others got grants for effluent treatment at their homes, costing $46,273.

However, the largest amounts paid out were $19m for food and $6m for emergency dental treatment.

Grants were also made for school-related expenses, including $64,614 for uniforms, $9638 for stationery and $1532 for administration or examination fees.

Chief executive Debbie Power said WINZ could contribute $300 towards the cost of a vasectomy and associated costs like travel and accommodation, depending on the applicant's finances.

A person could qualify for a grant to assist with the cost of laser birthmark removal if a doctor classified the mark as disfiguring and visible in normal clothing, Ms Power said.

Payments for wigs were available for people who suffered a medical condition or were undergoing treatment that made a wig or hairpiece desirable.

NZN

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Comments

21/08/2012 8:13:41 p.m.

Moera wrote:

@ Greg Totally agree. Add pregnant females on dpb who claim that their single to that list as well. I absolutely can't stand women on dpb who see 'banging' out kids as a form of increasing their income. There definitely should be some sort of contraceptive given to women like these and also expected to attend family planning classes

21/08/2012 5:34:42 p.m.

Jim Seaview wrote:

QUOTE 1: "Official figures show payments included $7033 for 25 wigs or hairpieces, $6659 for 20 vasectomies and $247,137 for doctors' fees, including for the removal of birthmarks for two people

QUOTE 2: "However, the largest amounts paid out were $19m for food and $6m for emergency dental treatment

I Think that on the above figures that WINZ have administered these grants to struggling Kiwis who have urgent and necessary needs and no other way to meet the costs - in a very humane way.

My son who is a beneficiary has had one or two interest free loans for dental work, all which he has paid back to WINZ at very reasonable weekly amounts.

WINZ administer loans and grants.

21/08/2012 2:58:06 p.m.

Greg wrote:

Vasectomies should be compulsory for any male breeder of 4+ children if he's on a benifit. Lets bring in compulsory DNNA tsting to catch these benificaries that breed, why should I pay for their fun n crime.

21/08/2012 12:06:13 p.m.

cherie wrote:

Great idea paying for vasectomies. Surely no one would think paying for wigs for people under treatment was a bad idea, and that goes for people with visable birthmarks who are effected by them. Cant see anyhting wrong with any of this. People are getting small mined I think. Bigger picture people!!

21/08/2012 11:53:59 a.m.

Moera wrote:

There are grants that aren't recoverable, eg 'Back to work grant'. For the grants mentioned in this article, they are recoverable and are repaid at a set amount. Benes' have to fight for what they ask for and usually 90% of the time they dont get the funds anyway. It's hard to walk into WINZ knowing that the probability for help is almost zero, considering that it's based on the case manager opinion and what you have previously required in the past. Some people are treated as if they & their problems are invisible

21/08/2012 11:49:52 a.m.

M wrote:

I don't believe "winz coughs up" are the appropriate words to justify the utter suffering that many beneficiaries and their children are going through in NZ.

21/08/2012 11:25:47 a.m.

madness wrote:

We must find out how you talk to them and we can all do the same. I have teeth issues and other issues that I could do with some money for. Might go an try myself now that it appears so easy to get what you want. It obviously depends who you know where I think. Bet you would find alot of the people are either related to or friends with the person who approved there money. If our govt would just toughen up on the right things this coutry would be worth living in. But they won't. Can you see them making someone really pay for their crimes, ie: corporal punishment for murderers, would be laot cheaper than keeping them in prison for 30 years?? But they wouldn't have the kahuna's to do that.....................

21/08/2012 11:22:31 a.m.

David wrote:

Winz always requires that emergency assistance grants be paid back at a fixed weekly amount out of any benefit being drawn. If winz have said that dont require it to be paid back... that would be a lie on their behalf. All beneficiaries that have had these loans will be able to attest to the fact that Winz always expects them to be paid back. TV3 can check with budgetting advisors if they like.

21/08/2012 9:34:31 a.m.

David wrote:

TV3 needs to do a little more research. Winz always recovers all emergency assistance grants. They always have. All grants paid to beneficiaries get taken out of their benefit at a weekly rate. These grants include food and dental care. Please fix your error.

21/08/2012 9:31:58 a.m.

jan wrote:

Ever been on welfare? I have and although I have not needed to apply for the items mentioned, WINZ made it near impossible to even get a food grant or a clothing allowance which is a couple of the most given out extras. Their job seems to be a game, with the winner being the one who gives the least out on the day. The birth mark removal is fair enough. I know of a cop who had a birthmark removed, which was paid for by the cops which is government money just like the benefit is, so she could go undercover. So either way, everyone pays for government workers getting perks or the beneficiaries. I think some of the stuff paid for is fair enough.