10 Feb 2020

More than 1000 underpaid by MSD

From Morning Report, 7:51 am on 10 February 2020

More than 1000 people receiving money from the government to help with their housing costs have been underpaid to the tune of $1.4 million.

The mistake happened because the Ministry of Social Development's accommodation supplement area boundaries weren't always properly updated.

That meant some people weren't paid the correct amount they were entitled to, and documents obtained by RNZ under the Official Information Act show they are owed, on average, just over $1000 each.

RNZ social issues reporter Sarah Robson has been investigating.