400 on invalid, sickness benefit for drugs, booze

More than 400 people in the region are collecting benefits because of substance abuse.

Benefit figures provided to The Daily Post show there are 89 people in Rotorua on the sickness benefit because of drug or alcohol issues affecting their ability to hold down a job, while there are 17 on the invalid's benefit for the same reason.

Throughout the Bay of Plenty there are 381 people receiving the sickness benefit because of substance abuse and 82 on the invalid's benefit.

Family First director Bob McCoskrie said liberal alcohol reforms had contributed to the problem.

"People need to know how much harm alcohol and drugs are causing in our communities," he said.

"The taxpayer has a right to know we have a welfare system that holds them accountable."

Work and Income regional commissioner Mike Bryant said people could receive the sickness or invalid's benefits because of substance abuse if they had health issues related to their addictions.

The figures also show there are 57 16-year-old parents in the region on domestic purposes-related benefits.

In Rotorua there are 17 teenagers aged 16 receiving the Emergency Maintenance Allowance because sole parents under the age of 18 are not eligible for the Domestic Purposes Benefit.

In Whakatane there are four 16-year-olds on the benefit because they are single parents.

SICKNESS BENEFIT (for substance abuse)

Bay of Plenty 381

Rotorua 89

Whakatane 21

INVALID'S BENEFIT (for substance abuse)

Bay of Plenty 82

Rotorua 17

Whakatane 4

DPB (16,17-year-olds only)

Bay of Plenty 57

Rotorua 17

Whakatane 4