Rotorua has double the number of single parents who rely on Sole Parent Support when measured against the national average.
Nationally, 2.9 per cent (79,699 people) of the working-age population receive Sole Parent Support from Work and Income.
In Rotorua, about 6 per cent (2607 people) of the local working-age population receive the same benefit, for single parents or widows with children under the age of 14.
For the first time since benefit reforms were introduced in July, statistics have been released for the number of people on each benefit.
The newly established Sole Parent Support benefit is specifically for single parents or widows with children under the age of 14 who need financial support.
Ministry of Social Development Bay of Plenty regional commissioner Mike Bryant said the introduction of Sole Parent Support allowed them to focus directly on helping sole parents into work.
"People are expected to be available for part-time work once their youngest child turns 5 and to prepare for work while they have children under 5," he said.
"The great thing about welfare reforms is our ability to focus on a broader range of client groups, for example sole parents, and focus on part or full-time work obligations."
Three new benefits - Jobseeker Support, Sole Parent Support and Supported Living Payment - have replaced most of the former benefit types.
Mr Bryant said Sole Parent Support mainly helped people who were previously on domestic purposes, sole parent or widow benefits.
When a sole parent's youngest child turns 14 they will now transfer to Jobseeker Support.
This means they will be expected to look for and be available for full-time work, the same as other unemployed people.
At the end of September in Rotorua, 3308 people received Jobseeker Support, another 2607 people received Sole Parent Support, while 1432 people were receiving Supported Living Payments.