'Cold' WINZ irks beneficiaries

Sue Bradford. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Welfare beneficiaries say Work and Income staff attitudes towards them are already hardening as the agency prepares to start work-testing some sole parents and sickness beneficiaries from September 27.

John Callaghan, 50, who has been on a sickness benefit with hepatitis C and a neck injury since 1991, told a forum organised by the Alternative Welfare Working Group in Auckland yesterday that he had never felt such "a lack of compassion" from agency staff as he had in recent months.

"Their whole attitude towards me has changed. Each time I go in there they are quite abusive," he said.

Yvonne Churches from the Hestia women's refuge in Rodney said Work and Income had become "cold and depersonalised" since individual case managers were scrapped early this year to save money. Clients now see the next available official, who may know nothing about them except what is in the computer system.

"Even our superannuitants who are used to having their own workers say they can't ring them on a direct line any more. You have to ring the call centre."

The alternative group, led by Massey University professor Mike O'Brien and ex-Green MP Sue Bradford, was set up in July to challenge a Government working group led by economist Paula Rebstock which is looking at ways to cut long-term welfare dependence.

The group held initial hearings in Wellington last month. It will be in Northland next week, in Manurewa on September 20 and in Hamilton and Rotorua in the following week when work testing starts.

Invalid beneficiary Peter Hammond told yesterday's forum that he broke down in tears when he heard about the new regime. He worried that he might end up "out on the street". Ms Bradford said her group would fight to stop that ever happening.

But Ms Churches said Work and Income staff had told her that there was "not much wriggle room" in the new regime for sole parents.

"We are not allowed to build personal relationships with case managers," she said. "They have had to take anything personal off their desks. There used to be a woman in the Helensville office with little soft toys around her computer. It was a talking point, it made people feel comfortable. She was told six months ago to clear them away. Now it's really cold."

TOUGHER ON WELFARE
* From September 27, sole parents with no children under 6 may have benefits halved unless they seek part-time work.

* Sickness beneficiaries judged to be capable of part-time work will be work-tested from next May.

* A new medical certificate will be used from September 27 to move invalid beneficiaries on to sickness benefits if they will be able to work part-time in the next two years.

* A Government working group is looking at other changes to cut long-term welfare dependence.