Work and Income apologises after telling leukaemia patient to 'look for a job'

Jason Leger with his daughters. Photo / Facebook

A leukaemia patient who was told he would lose his benefit if he didn't look for a job has received an apology for the error by Work and Income.

Jason Leger, who is suffering from a rare form of cancer, was forced to urgently quit his job as a baker at Napier's Heaven's Bakery and begin chemotherapy in mid-August after finding out about his illness.

Mr Leger, who was living in Napier with his fiancee Michelle Adams and his 21-month-old daughter, Vera, was able to arrange a job seekers benefit with Work and Income New Zealand once his treatment had begun - the sickness benefit was merged with it in 2013.

In November, he was transferred to Wellington Hospital in need of stem cell treatment - where he will spend the next 93 days.

Jason Leger is suffering from a rare form of cancer. Photo / Facebook

Once there Ms Adams, who stayed in Napier with Vera, received a letter from the agency stating her fiance would need to begin actively seeking work in order to remain on the benefit.

Mr Leger said he felt "pretty frustrated and angry" because he had taken a medical certificate to WINZ in the weeks prior stating he would be in hospital.

"They knew I was in hospital but yet they are still sending out a letter a few days later saying 'hey, you need to go and find a job'. Michelle was probably more furious about it than I was because she knew it would probably stress me out more," he said.

"I didn't really worry about it too much because I knew there was nothing I could do."

Mr Leger said he then received a second letter which claimed that even though the Government agency had seen his medical certificates, he would still need to be looking for a job.

He has now received an apology from a Work and Income representative who phoned him in hospital.

"She said a system-generated message gets sent out to everyone. They can't work out who is on what sickness so she said they would put a stop to the letters from now until 100 days is up."

Although he was happy to receive an apology, he said it was frustrating the letters would resume after his release from hospital.

A Ministry of Social Development spokesperson said they had "not updated his records as quickly as we should have" which is why the letters were sent initially.

"We have spoken with him today to apologise and assure him that his benefit will continue and a work exemption has been put in place," the spokesperson said.