Job search compulsory for welfare beneficiaries

Unemployed people will be required to undertake a job search programme if they want to claim a benefit, under changes to the welfare system.

Social Development and Employment Minister David Benson-Pope yesterday announced the shake-up, saying the expectations being placed on beneficiaries were reasonable.

"It's not a stick approach."

The reforms were the result of a deliberate focus on job creation above benefit changes, he said.

Other political parties said the announcement meant that the single core benefit proposal had been shelved until after the next election.

Mr Benson-Pope said low unemployment figures had freed Work and Income to work with people who needed more intensive employment support.

"This is the biggest change to the benefit system in 50 years, and I think the focus is absolutely where it should be - on providing work upfront for people who want to work and support for those who aren't quite work-ready but will get there."

National welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins said the announcement was "over-hyped", and the clearest signal yet that the single core benefit plan had hit the rocks.

"Labour has been prattling on about this mythical universal benefit since 1989. Nearly 20 years later, and following fresh promises in the last election campaign, Labour is now back-tracking again."

Ms Collins endorsed the expansion of the Job Search Service and setting stronger work expectations for beneficiaries, but said they were "blindingly obvious" initiatives which the public already expected of Work and Income.

Green Party social development spokeswoman Sue Bradford also predicted the single core benefit would not be seen until after the next election.

The rest of the announcement was a mixed bag with pluses and minuses, Ms Bradford said.

"Many of these changes still entail making people beg for pittances. Real solutions require setting benefit levels and entitlements in ways that enable people to get on with their lives with dignity and without the current variations between and within regions as to how these entitlements are approved or denied."

Combined Beneficiaries Union president Helen Capel said some changes would be welcomed by beneficiaries, but they were still worried that the impending single core benefit could see some people have their incomes slashed.

"That is a big concern because ... [benefits] are going to go down, not up, and effectively it will be a benefit cut."


Welfare changes

* Everyone applying for or receiving an unemployment benefit must participate in the Job Search service.

* Solo parents and people with ill health or disabilities can choose to participate.

* Those on sickness and disability benefits will be required to undertake planning for their future and possible eventual return to work.

* The work test for 16 and 17-year-olds on the independent youth benefit will be replaced with a requirement to undertake education, training or employment.

* Those aged over 60 and their partners aged over 55 will be work tested.

* Partners of beneficiaries who have a youngest child aged six years or more must take a part-time work test. Currently those with a youngest child over 14 have a full-time work test.

- STAFF REPORTER, NZPA