Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is unapologetic for releasing the income details of two solo mothers who criticised Government policy, saying she did it to round out the story.

Jennifer Johnston and Natasha Fuller went public last week with their criticism over the scrapping of the training incentive allowance.

Today, the New Zealand Herald reported Ms Bennett's office had provided it with details of the Government benefits that the solo mums received.

Ms Bennett said while she did not ask the women's permission to release the information she felt they had taken the matter public by talking to the media, establishing a website and writing a blog.

"I felt that they were obviously willing to put their public details out there," Ms Bennett told reporters.

"Good on them, they're allowed to stand up and put their viewpoints forward by all means."

Ms Bennett felt the women had left out key information when telling their stories.

"The thing is there is the level of assistance there for people and we wanted them to be aware of that."

The women were misleading the public by releasing "selective information", Ms Bennett said.

"I think most New Zealanders will see that actually they've been given a real fair go."

Information from Ms Bennett's office showed Ms Fuller received $715 nett a week and Ms Johnston $554.

Ms Fuller gets $28 a week from the Training Incentive Allowance (TIA) and also got the allowance from 2004 to 2006.

In 2006-2007 she received $9560 under the enterprise allowance to start a cleaning business which had since closed.

Both women had used the TIA to help pay for university preparatory courses. They had planned to use the allowance to fund part of their university studies.

Ms Johnston wanted to study nursing and Ms Fuller early childhood teaching.

This year the Government restricted the TIA to study at NCEA Level 3 or under. Those now studying for a degree will continue to get the allowance until 2011.

The women were unsure whether they could continue with their planned study without the TIA.

Ms Bennett said she was keen to meet the women and releasing the information was not an attempt to silence them.

She said there was no "blanket rule" to regularly release private information when someone criticised the Government.

Ms Fuller told the Herald she was "astonished" her details had been released and did not believe she had left out any relevant information.

Ms Johnston was "flabbergasted" but said it would not put her off speaking out.

Prime Minister John Key told reporters he was "comfortable" with the women's information being released.

"The advice I have received is it's within Ministry of Social Development guidelines.

"I think the minister was trying to put a bit of balance around the story, wasn't being over judgemental but was simply saying here are all the facts and New Zealanders can assess whether the government's on the right track or not."

He said the information was not released because the Government was criticised.

It was "an option" to talk with people before their details were released in the future, Mr Key said.

Green Party spokeswoman Sue Bradford said releasing the women's details was an "outrage".

She called on Ms Bennett to apologise immediately and said the Government was showing it would use its power to discredit and humiliate anyone who criticised it.