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Georgina Beyer said today the living standards of hundreds of thousands of New Zealand families - young, old and in-between, would improve as a result of government initiatives coming into force from 1 April.
"Almost three in every four New Zealand families with dependent children will be eligible for targeted tax relief through the Working for Families package, former students with loans will have a greater disposable income now that they don't have to pay interest on their student loans, and the income of retired New Zealanders will increase".
Also from 1 April 2006, the Special Benefit will be replaced by a new benefit called Temporary Additional Support (TAS) and for good reason.
"The Special Benefit has been the means of hardship assistance to clients in times of particular need. However because of its highly discretionary nature, it is difficult to administer, inconsistent and there are many risks associated with it.
"TAS on the other hand is a fairer rules based approach which will make hardship assistance more transparent and easier for clients to understand and case managers to administer. It will ensure consistency, so that people know what they are eligible for, can better plan for their future, and have improved incentives to move into work".
So additional assistance for a smaller number of people with particular needs will still be available but TAS will ensure that that assistance is targeted to those greatest in need, and is available only for a reasonable set of allowed costs.
"Many of those people affected by this change will already be benefiting from Labour's Working for Families Package. On average beneficiary families have had an increase in assistance of around $32 in the first year of Working for Families. And they will stand to benefit by an additional $10 per child per week with the Family Support increases from April 2007" stressed Beyer.
"Working for Families is a $1.6 billion investment in ongoing assistance for regular everyday costs associated with accommodation, children and childcare. Special Benefit is a temporary form of last resort hardship assistance. Working for Families provides greater certainty of income in a way that Special Benefit could not.
Beyer said that Labour has worked hard over the last six years to make the lives of New Zealanders easier.
"From cheaper doctors visits and prescription charges, to ensuring security in retirement we have worked hard to make a difference. Now we are making the biggest fiscal investment in the children of this country in three decades. I am passionate about delivering for the people of the Wairarapa - and I believe that these policies will deliver."
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