Dole stand-down waived for Christchurch leavers

3:17 pm on 4 March 2011

Work and Income is waiving the 13-week stand-down for the unemployment benefit for those who decide they want to leave Christchurch and their jobs behind.

That was announced on Friday by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett, who says an exception is being made to the normal rule that those who leave jobs voluntarily and say they will not go back must wait 13 weeks for the benefit.

Ms Bennett says that by Thursday night the earthquake support subsidy had been approved for 30,000 people, with $38 million having been paid out.