15 May 2019

Govt taking too long to scrap benefit sanction - solo mum

From Morning Report, 8:28 am on 15 May 2019

A solo mum who's had her benefit cut by $28 a week for six-and-a-half years says the government is waiting too long to scrap the sanction that's leaving her out of pocket.

Following the release of the expert advisory group's report on the welfare system, the government announced that the sanction on sole parents who don't name the other parent will be repealed in April 2020.

But that's left some people wondering what's taking so long to fulfil an election campaign promise. RNZ social issues reporter Sarah Robson has the story.

"This is the one political thing I've been following and it's been years," solo mum Josephine* says.

"No one's arguing that beneficiaries don't have enough money to get by, so why would they spend so long punishing vulnerable families for something that is actually not in their control."

*Names have been changed.