Beneficiary advocates are concerned a harder line being taken by Winz is stripping beneficiaries of income at a time when there is no realistic chance of them getting work because of the recession.Advocates say many people on invalids benefits are starti
Beneficiary advocates are concerned a harder line being taken by Winz is stripping beneficiaries of income at a time when there is no realistic chance of them getting work because of the recession.
Advocates say many people on invalids benefits are starting to find they are being bumped on to lower-paying sickness benefits because they are considered capable of undertaking part-time work or study within the next two years, The New Zealand Herald reported today.
Rotorua People's Advocacy Centre co-ordinator Paul Blair said doctors were being questioned by Winz representatives about their patients' potential to be able to work up to 15 hours a week.
Mr Blair said there appeared to be a campaign going on to bump people from invalids benefits, which was concerning considering legislation around welfare reforms announced by the Government last month was still months away from being passed.
Other advocates around the country had also reported increasing numbers of invalids beneficiaries being moved to sickness benefits.
The proposed reforms involve introducing tighter measures for beneficiaries with the aim of encouraging them back into work.
Reforms include the introduction of new medical certificate requirements, with doctors required to give more explicit explanations of patients' inability or ability to work within the next two years, and a requirement by Winz officials to vigorously apply the requirements for invalids benefits.
The Herald said some doctors were welcoming the changes as they would give a greater ability to pick up those who didn't need to be on invalids benefits, and some had admitted that there were people with permanent disabilities who actually had the ability to undertake some work.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett was not available for comment this morning, but a spokeswoman said any scrutiny being applied to beneficiaries was only to ensure they were receiving benefits within the intended parameters.
The number of people receiving invalids benefits over the past 10 years has increased from 52,000 to 85,000.
