THRIFTY: Trevor MacKiewicz warns beneficiaries to carefully budget Christmas payments.
Beneficiaries are being warned to spend wisely with benefit payments being paid early because of the Christmas and New Year breaks.
Benefit payments due on Wednesday and Thursday next week and the following week will be paid into accounts overnight Monday.
Wairarapa Advocacy Service co-ordinator Trevor MacKiewicz said people needed
to keep an eye on what they spent the early payment on as vital essential bills still needed to be paid. "We are telling everyone to make sure the main things are paid like rent, board and power. Some will go 'oh cool, we can spend it'. If they do they won't be able to go to Work and Income to get assistance. It's not a bonus, they aren't going to get another payment on Wednesday or Thursday of the following week," he said.
