Election 2023 - Benefits and Income Support Policy
Act
Spokesperson:
David Seymour
Link to
policy here
.
David Seymour
- Require MSD case managers to consider whether all reasonable treatment options have been pursued before deciding whether a medical condition should be accepted as permanent.
- Expand the roles of regional health advisors and ‘designated doctors’ to pick up on fraud and ineligibility, ensure people are on the correct benefit, and are supported to meet any job seeking obligations.
- Enable doctors to complete work capacity certificates privately to avoid having to provide advice under duress.
- Take a more proactive and systematic approach to ensuring beneficiaries whose primary incapacity is substance abuse are taking steps to become independent.
- Read more here
Green Party
Spokesperson:
Golriz-Ghahraman
Link to
policy here
.
Golriz-Ghahraman
- The Green Party supports a Universal Basic Income in principle.
- Ensure that all benefits are proactively provided without discrimination to Maori.
- Encourage organisations to pay a living wage.
- Set benefit amounts at a level such that beneficiary income is sufficient for all basic needs.
- Support the abolition of discriminatory tax credit regimes such as the In Work Tax Credit component of Working for Families.
- Maintain universal New Zealand Superannuation for all New Zealanders 65 years and older, adjusted annually in accordance with movement in the Consumer Price Index.
- The stand-down period for unemployed people seeking benefits should be abolished, and unemployed students should be eligible for financial assistance over the summer holiday.
- Ensure income support for people with disabilities and injuries is equitably provided based on need, through a simplified income support system such as ACC.
- Allow New Zealanders living overseas to claim a one-off emergency loan payment if they have to leave their country of residence.
- Read more here
Labour
Spokesperson:
Not yet available on their website.
National
Spokesperson:
Nicola Willis
Link to
policy here
.
Nicola Willis
- Ensure there are not-for-profit contractors that will get 18-24 year olds who have been on Jobseeker for three months or more off welfare and into the workforce.
- Jobseekers will receive more support, with a proper assessment of their barriers to finding work, and an individual job plan to address them.
- Those who fail to follow their plan will face sanctions, such as money management or benefit reductions, but long-term under 25 Jobseekers who get into work and stay off benefit for 12 months will recieve a $1,000 bonus.
- National will introduce a traffic light system: Green (compliant) – Meeting obligations to prepare for or find work. No change to benefit. Orange (some risk) – First or second breach of obligations to prepare for or find work will see additional requirements and targeted support applied, e.g. more regular check-ins and/or attendance at job workshops. Red (high risk) – A third breach of obligations will result in sanctions including benefit reductions, benefit suspension, money management and mandatory community work experience.
- Read more here
TOP
Spokesperson:
Not yet available on their website.
Te Pāti Māori
Spokesperson:
Not yet available on their website.