Work and Income targets violence in the family

The next time you apply for a welfare benefit or pension, you are liable to be asked if your partner beats you.

The question will be more discreetly worded than that, but the Government hopes it will begin to change the role of Work and Income's 4000 frontline case workers from simply handing out cash to helping people overcome problems such as domestic violence.

About 1000 case workers in the Auckland region have already been trained in how to identify possible family violence and how to ask people about it. Other regions will follow over the next year.

Helen Jones of Waitakere Anti-Violence Essential Services (Waves), who has been training the case workers, said at the launch of the new service yesterday she was teaching staff to ask simple, direct questions such as, "Are you scared of anyone in your home?"

"They are screening all women who come in for a benefit or for other issues, including superannuation, sickness, invalids, unemployment, youth and domestic purposes benefits," she said.

Men are also liable to be asked questions. One man who came in with a black eye told his case worker he was being assaulted by his adult son and had decided to leave home the next weekend.

"He told her that up till now, he hadn't told anyone. She was the first person he had talked to about it. He thanked her for asking," Ms Jones said. "She gave him information on what services are out there and said if it doesn't work out at the weekend and you're still there, let's make an appointment for Monday for you to come in again.

"The idea is to tell people, 'You've got a right to a life free of violence'. He was so appreciative that he could talk to someone about it."

Social Development Minister Steve Maharey said with unemployment dropping, Work and Income staff now had more time to take on genuine "social development" work.

"We want income support to be a lesser part of the business so we can focus on stronger communities and stronger families."

Combined Beneficiaries Union president Helen Capel welcomed the initiative, but warned that many beneficiaries would be wary of disclosing personal issues to case workers who held power over them.