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Youth benefit changes start tomorrow

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Youth benefit changes start tomorrow

3News NZ

Labour Party spokesperson for Social Development Jacinda Ardern says the speed at which the scheme's been rolled out has left some beneficiaries in the dark

Labour Party spokesperson for Social Development Jacinda Ardern says the speed at which the scheme's been rolled out has left some beneficiaries in the dark

On the eve of a new scheme for teenagers on the dole, there are still worries that those involved aren't well informed about the changes.

From tomorrow, the youth benefit will change to include a payment card for groceries, rent being paid directly to a landlord or parents, and a $50 cash payout for other needs.

Labour Party spokesperson for Social Development Jacinda Ardern says the speed at which the scheme's been rolled out has left some beneficiaries in the dark.

“For teen parents in particular, this is their form of support of keeping themselves and their young children afloat,” she says. “We can’t afford to have this system bungled in its rollout.”

Ms Ardern says the scheme shouldn't be rolled out indiscriminately, but only for those teenagers who have shown they're unable to handle their own finances.

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Comments

21/08/2012 6:20:25 p.m.

wondering wrote:

While I do support young parents in their hardships, similar to what their grandparents faced in the 30s as mainly teen parents. I do wonder if nappies and day care are necessities or well marketed commodities. Otherwise, no these youth benefit "reforms" for people with adult parental responsibilities are socially irresponsible and potentially life threatening to little people and mums. Compared to pre 1975 when most teen girls gave birth, there are 1000 babies born to women and girls between 10yr and 18yr. Most of these girls get pregnant in CYF care then have their babies forced off them for another round of state abuse and exploitation. These girls and their babes are being cruelly used as scape goats for moral panic by today's govt. to obscure the facts of what is really going on out there. It is a very sad day when parents ( teen or old) are reduced to not being able to provide for their kids and keep them above the bread line.

21/08/2012 2:05:32 p.m.

S wrote:

i totally agree with young mother nature. I have a son who is turning two in october and i have another son on the way.The money i get from my benefit goes on my son.I buy him nappies every week my groceries cost around 70-80 dollars a week.I dont smoke and i dont drink well because i cant but i hardly ever drink and if i have money left over i buy my son clothes.because they grow so fast that the clothes you buy dont last long.I sometimes buy clothes for him off trademe cos its cheaper.Now with another on the way my expenses are going to go up!Now how am i going to be able to afford anything.with my son beind at child care which cost $150 a week but i get subsidy from winz so i only pay about $38.00 a week, are we young parents still entitled to that? cos i wont be able to afford $150 a week. So it sucks that other young parents have done this for us young mothers who actually care and dont abuse our money!!!!

21/08/2012 10:32:30 a.m.

Moera wrote:

@ Young Mature Mother...I feel for your position but unfortunately it's always the genuine ones that get kicked in the arse first and not the culprits. If NZ taxpayers are complaining about 'bludgers' who are receiving a benefit then imagine what the comments will be about Youth. It's unfortunate that some people only have a black n white view to people's circumstances and as always it's easier to be part of the problem instead of the solution. There will always be criticism both good and bad...my advice to you...You know you're doing the right thing and always be mindful of that, don't let people comments tell you what you 'know' to be true within your circumstances

21/08/2012 8:14:20 a.m.

Young MATURE mother wrote:

This is my shout out too all the trashy s***s who have given the rest of us young parents bad names. All the idiots who leave their kids with people to party and spending all their money on ciggies and alcohol. Now my child gets nothing coz you have given us all bad names and everyone thinks we all do it. Well no. The money i get goes on rent then bills the rest goes on my babys nappies formula etc and then i buy a little food for myself and if i have anymore left after that i buy my son clothes. I got kicked out of school for being pregnant. I was only 12weeks at the time aswell. I wasnt even showing. That was form 6. And that was last year. I have tried finishing my ncea via correspondence which hasnt worked out coz i need one on one teaching. I am now applying for a course at unitec. And if my anxiety wasnt so bad i would put my baby into daycare so i can work aswell but i do not trust anyone with my child. I enjoy being a stay at home mum for now. Its just as hard and i not more stressfull than a day job. I clean i care for my child i teach my child. I dont pawn him off to people so i can party or go out with my friends. Infact i have had only two nights off so i could catch up on sleep. SO. what i am trying to say is, no, we all dont smoke and abuse our privelage of having a benifit. Just caus we are young doesnt mean anything. And once again thanks to all you rude teenagers who are abusing the benifit, when there are people like me who actually use it on their kids. Thankyou and goodbye.

20/08/2012 3:04:13 p.m.

Moera wrote:

From what I understand of the Youth Allowance is that the income these 'youth' receive, a portion (75%)of that is paid by the parents. How do I know this?? My teenage son decided to apply for the 'Youth Allowance' and after receiving a letter from WINZ, I promptly said NO. I'll be damned if I was going to allow my son to receive a benefit when he is a CAPABLE young man who is ABLE TO WORK. (The situation may have changed drastically from a year ago to today BUT..however). There are jobs out their for youth, providing the parents encourage their children/youth to look for employment. Otherwise education is the next best thing. I believe the worse thing to do is to promote youth dependancy on govt benefits, especially when youth 'can be' and 'are' quite capable of working. We need to change the assumation of youth from thinking 'entitlement' to 'responsibility'. At what 'age' do 'we' NZders, as parents say to our children/youth...'This is what is expected of you, this is how you can acheive it, this is what you can do for yourself. 'Empower and Support' our youth as suppose to 'pandering' to their weaknesses. I know it's easier said than done, that it's hard for adults to find jobs let alone our youth, but if we don't teach the youth of today responsibility, IMO, we will have a generation of youth who will have an opinion of 'what can YOU do for me' as suppose to 'what I can do for you'.

20/08/2012 12:35:11 p.m.

Abused by MSD wrote:

WTF?!! My sister (17) has been put on a youth benefit BY CYFS because at 17 they no longer become their caregivers! They taught her NOTHING about money, the value of money, the cost of living etc... and before you all blame us, her family - I fought to have my siblings for the first 5 yrs of their lives at the expense of my own marriage and the fairness to my own children. CYFs claimed that my job (a Principal) was too demanding and that my siblings were high demand! WHATEVER! At 17 all of my six siblings lives were turned upside and too 'habitual' for me to try to change or teach them anything.... 4 of 6 went to prison or mental institutions! Thanks CYFs! NOT! MSD has much to answer for ... and more lies beneath these 'youth benefits' than any of the public is aware of!!!

20/08/2012 10:40:01 a.m.

pondering wrote:

This is just another oppotunity for the greedy to exploit our youth and cream off high profiteering on rent, food , bedding and other vital life needs. These youth are not by and llarge spennding money on booze and ciggies it iis illegal to dselll them. Thery may be squandering money as we all did when young , before life taught us to watch our pennies. How long before this corruption and rorting is inflicted on other mature benefiiciaries and their dependents? How many more llittle kids under the breadline while the greedy grow richer on the backs of chiild exploitation.

20/08/2012 8:30:55 a.m.

Amelia wrote:

Isn't this scheme setting up young people to be more dependent on the government? Basically they don't have to make any important decisions by themselves, what happens when they are adults? they will have no idea how to budget as it would have always been done for them, I think that more education e.g. budgetting, nutrition etc, would have been the way to go before this, as it's not all youth who are irresponsible with their money, but now they all have to suffer. Just a thought :)

20/08/2012 6:23:45 a.m.

z650Steve wrote:

Here we go again, Labour bleating on again, the same group of people who just willy-nilly hand money out.

20/08/2012 5:06:07 a.m.

Kevin Middleton wrote:

I would like to see the contract between the National party % the grocers & where it actually says who we can sue when they don't deliver the service required,& in that or any contract stipulating any authourity that grocer has over any person who enters there shop,& also why this government is not funding community gardens to counter those expensive prices from those who they contract with.Wake up New Zealand.