United Future Policy Statement

Long Term Beneficiaries

Policy Overview

Generational welfare dependency is a debilitating situation and impacts negatively upon too many New Zealand families. Research indicates that children from welfare dependant families are more likely to have poor health, difficulties with learning, dysfunctional social relationships and criminal convictions.

United Future believes that the key to a fully functioning and cohesive society is to break the welfare dependency cycle. Solutions must be developed by involving communities and co-ordinating support services.

Assistance to help people recover from a setback quickly so they do not become long term beneficiaries. Empowering long-term beneficiaries to rejoin the workforce Offering compassionate support to meet specific individual situations

Long-term welfare dependency is very different than temporary unemployment or moving between education, jobs and careers and should be treated as such. Long term welfare dependents will be eligible for United Futureís community based programmes if:

They have been receiving an unemployment benefit or the domestic purposes benefit for over one year or They have been on a sickness benefit for two years Long term recipients of the unemployment benefit to be assessed by an independent medical tribunal and those found be be abusing or defrauding the Government by false welfare claims will be prosecuted.

United Future Will:

• Establish stronger links with the volunteer sector, so that they can work with welfare recipients to become self sufficient.
• Establish clear guidelines by which communities and regional councils can apply for funding of community based welfare programmes.
• Promote legislation requiring government to set, monitor and evaluate itís social goals annually. Through regular monitoring and evaluation we can ensure positive progress is made in achieving objectives and more effectively target spending.
• Establish family service centres in communities where parenting and family support needs are greatest, with emphasis on local solutions for local problems.
• Offer incentives to providers of approved budgeting services so that families are able to access quality budgeting advice.
• Improve work place literacy, as currently 20% of New Zealand adults have insufficient literacy skills to hold down a job.
• Continue support for current low income state rentals

United Future Parliamentary Office: Bowen House, Lambton Quay, Wellington
Email: Phone: (04) 471 9890