Proudly sitting on Labour's website is a list of achievements that includes its move to permanently increase main benefits by $25 a week.
But a year on from that top-up, Auckland University research suggests it's making no real difference to the lives of those who qualify.
Twelve in-depth interviews with people who are eligible for the extra cash also reveals that the money can have the consequence of reducing other benefits or even driving weekly rent up.
Here's social issues reporter Sarah Robson.
