Incorporating important health and wellbeing goals into welfare reform will help ensure children get the best possible start in life says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“Social obligations will ensure dependent children of beneficiaries access and benefit from vital education and health services,” says Mrs Bennett.

“These services are particularly important for vulnerable children as many currently miss out; we have an opportunity to address this through reforms.”

The number of people on benefits has fallen in the last month says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“It’s good to see the number of people on all benefits has declined by more than a thousand in August, including a drop in Unemployment Benefits, but we still have a lot of work to do,” says Mrs Bennett.

There are now 319,327 people on a benefit in New Zealand, with 50,283 on Unemployment Benefits.

Over the last twelve months the Unemployment Benefit has decreased by more than 5,600, and young people constitute 10 per cent of that drop.

People with outstanding arrest warrants will no longer receive a benefit while evading Police says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“Of the approximately 15,000 people with a current arrest warrant, around 8,200 are on benefits,” says Mrs Bennett.

“If someone has an unresolved arrest warrant we will stop their benefit until they do the right thing and come forward to the authorities.”

Child, Youth and Family and Te Rūnanga Ā Iwi O Ngāpuhi have formally agreed to work together to protect and nurture children says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“Ngapuhi are the first iwi to reach this milestone which marks a huge step towards better child protection in Northland,” says Mrs Bennett.

The Memorandum of Understanding between Child, Youth and Family and Te Rūnanga Ā Iwi O Ngāpuhi commits to open discussion, joint decision making and information sharing.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed the draft report into child poverty released through the Children’s Commissioner today.

“The Expert Advisory Group has worked hard to address the complex issues surrounding poverty which cut across social development, health, housing, education and other areas,” says Mrs Bennett.

There are a large number of proposals and recommendations contained in the report which could be considered by a range of government agencies.

Today marks the start of comprehensive Youth Services for disengaged young people says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

More than $148 million in wrap around support services will help young people on benefit and those at risk of going onto benefit, to be independent.

“Youth Services start from today, but will be transitioned in over time as each individual is matched with a service provider,” says Mrs Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says that benefit figures remain below recent levels despite a small rise in the number of people on benefits over the past month.

Benefit numbers rose by 0.1 per cent (433) over July to 320,474. The lowest total benefit figure for July since 2009.

“The total number of people on benefits has risen slightly as seasonal employment continues to slow during July,” says Mrs Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has released a summary of submissions to the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children and over 600 full submissions from various organisations.

“When I began this process in July last year it was the first time in 14 years that a Government had brought a Green Paper to the New Zealand public,” says Mrs Bennett.

“The Green Paper itself was written to spark debate among the public and professionals and was followed up by unique and truly open consultation,” she said.

In Christchurch today Social Development Minister Paula Bennett visited employers working alongside Work and Income to give New Zealanders jobs.

“Hawkins Construction and Fletcher Building have shown a real commitment to recruiting Cantabrians who’ve been relying on benefits,” says Mrs Bennett.

Today Fletcher Building announced a Work and Income manager will oversee recruitment of locals from the company headquarters while an on-site Work and Income work broker helps Hawkins Construction place people with their Canterbury based sub-contractors.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has announced that a tailored version of the Toolbox parenting programme will be provided free to grandparents raising grandchildren.

“We asked the Parenting Place to provide practical support through the Toolbox programme for people who take in and care for children.”

“This is a specific, tailored programme that will help grandparents raising grandchildren with the skills to parent today’s children,” says Mrs Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has announced a funding boost for community groups providing budgeting services.

A one-off boost of $589,000 will benefit 155 organisations currently funded by the Ministry of Social Development to deliver budgeting services.

“In recognition of the fact these services are coping with an increased demand, this funding is designed to alleviate some of that pressure.”

The Government spends $8.9 million a year on budgeting services, funding 155 organisations which aim to:

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is delighted the number of people on Unemployment Benefits has dropped to 49,219 in May.

“Work and Income staff worked hard to help beneficiaries into jobs throughout the recession and beyond, and their efforts have made a real difference.”

Overall benefit numbers have declined to 317,397, which is a drop of more than 3,500 in the last month.

“The number of young people on unemployment benefits have fallen from the peak of 23,545 in January 2010, to 13,134 in May,” says Mrs Bennett.

Child Youth and Family has been asked to urgently investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a child who was suffocated by his intoxicated mother.

Ngaire Tukiwaho was today sentenced in the Rotorua High Court after pleading guilty to manslaughter of her two-month old Tahi Elvis Edwards.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says, “there are just too many unanswered questions around this family”.

The Government is investing another $13 million over the next two years to support the ongoing demand for Canterbury social services.

“Since the earthquakes, Canterbury social service providers have done an outstanding job meeting the needs of the community,” says Mrs Bennett.

“The Government has provided $20 million for community and non-government organisations (NGOs) in Canterbury since September 2010, but we see the need for more funding over the next year.”

Youth week, a week of fun and informative community based youth activities begins today says Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett.

“Love the skin you are in is the theme of this year’s Youth Week and a good message for anyone young or old,” Mrs Bennett says.

“Around the country young people will be getting into some serious fun with a serious message about being true to yourself and being comfortable with who you are.”

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today announced the new Work and Income board members to oversee the investment approach to welfare.

This new approach will be embedded at all levels of the welfare system and the Board will be responsible for ensuring accountability and overseeing the delivery of reforms that will see fewer people on welfare for long periods.

“Paula Rebstock will chair the Board with five other members from outside the public service with a wide range of relevant experience and expertise.”

The number of people on benefits has fallen to the lowest level since July 2009 says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

There are now 320,954 people on benefits, down by 2,000 in the last month, representing around 12 per cent of working age New Zealanders.

There are 58,000 people on Sickness Benefits and 99,000 sole parents on the Domestic Purposes Benefit.

“It is pleasing to see the number of people on Unemployment Benefits has fallen in the past month to 51,422,” says Mrs Bennett.

Youth service providers connecting young people to education, employment or training will ensure fewer become welfare dependent says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“More than 150 providers have applied to provide services that wrap support around 16 and 17 year olds, giving them every opportunity to succeed.”

The Youth Services tender process which closed yesterday is the first step to ensure fewer disengaged young people end up trapped in the welfare system.

Youth workers trained to recognise mental health issues will be put into selected secondary schools and Youth One Stop Shops as part of the National-led Government’s youth mental health package, says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

The package, announced today by Prime Minister John Key, will significantly improve the way the Government deals with young people who have mental health problems.

“I am delighted to be putting specially-trained youth workers into schools to work alongside nurses to help our young people,” says Ms Bennett.

Minister for Social Development Paula Bennett was saddened to hear news of the passing of Rev Dr Hone Kaa and sends her condolences to his whanau and iwi.

“Dr Kaa was a passionate New Zealander and strong community leader who will be dearly missed by all who knew him,” says Ms Bennett.

“My thoughts are with his grieving family and the wider Maori community who with Dr Kaa’s passing have lost an influential leader.”

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett announced the annual increase in benefit payments and superannuation for more than a million Kiwis.

“We passed legislation so annual increases are linked to increases in the consumer price index and keep up with rising living costs,” says Ms Bennett.
The increase will take effect from April 1 this year.

The 2012 Annual General Adjustment will see a 1.77 percent increase to: