Home Our People Our Policies Media News Contacts
Search
 
Agriculture and Primary Industries
   The Cornerstone of Strong Rural Communities
Arts and Culture
   Arts & Culture
Broadcasting
   A Broadcasting System for all New Zealanders
Citizens Charter
   Citizensí Charter
Economic and Business
   Improving Business Performance
   A Strong Economy
   Business & Economic Policy
   Environmental Standards
   Immigration
   Industrial Relations
   Personal Wealth Creation
   Research Development and Training
Education
   Learning for Life
   Opportunities For Young New Zealanders
   Pre School Education
   Primary and Secondary Schooling
   Student Support
   Teachers
   Tertiary Education
Family
   Childrenís Policy
   Family Policy
   Parental Support
   Youth Policy
Future
   Coordinated Services
   Finding Futures
   Long Term Beneficiaries
   Superannuation
Health
   Adult Policy
   Child and Youth Policy
   Finding the Best Care for the Best Price
   Finding the Extra Funding We Need
   Health Policy
   Healthy New Zealand Strategy: Providing Health Services
   Standards in Health Care
Housing
   Housing Policy
Immigration
   Immigration and Population Policy
Law and Order
   Early Intervention
   Law and Order Policy
   Support for Victims
   Tough Sentences for Violent Crimes
Tourism
   Tourism
Treaty of Waitangi
   Bi-culturalism and Treaty Issues
     
    OUR POLICIES
   
Printer Friendly Version
PDF Version
Long Term Beneficiaries
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

Return to Policy List
Community Links Get Involved Student Corner What's On Your Views Forum Help