Calls for change around beneficiaries' relationship rules

From Morning Report, 7:41 am on 25 November 2019

Beneficiary advocates want urgent changes to the rules around relationships in the welfare system.

Child Poverty Action Group, Auckland Action Against Poverty and Action Station have written an open letter to the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, saying the rules are punitive and harmful.

They say beneficiaries should be treated as individuals and shouldn't have their payments reduced or cut entirely if they get into a relationship in the nature of a marriage.

RNZ's social issues reporter Sarah Robson has the story.