tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post8743418886750338448..comments2023-10-07T22:37:49.244+13:00Comments on The Hand Mirror: Get those sole parents workingkatyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15742280289613450293noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-74643649198498067762008-08-13T14:15:00.000+12:002008-08-13T14:15:00.000+12:00Weka, the Nats have said they'll raise that limit ...<I><BR/>Weka, the Nats have said they'll raise that limit to $100. Not a big difference, but I guess it's a headnod to the fact that they'll have to make other changes and concessions if the policy is to work.<BR/></I><BR/><BR/>Alison, sorry, but that is incredibly naive. The point of Deborah's post, and that of many others on this topic at the moment, is that National WON'T be doing what is needed to make such policies work. National have a very clear track record of treating beneficiaries badly. It makes no sense to assume that their intentions are for the wellbeing of sole parents or their children. <BR/><BR/>Idiot/Savant has just blogged that the policy seems more aimed at providing cheap labour to employers. I think the policy is also aimed at getting votes from people who think that beneficiaries are lazy.<BR/><BR/>As an aside, I haven't compared the Nat policy with current WINZ practice, but afaik there is already an expectation that those on the DPB will attend training or look for work once their youngest is in school. Has anyone looked at this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-53261180728305263192008-08-12T16:53:00.000+12:002008-08-12T16:53:00.000+12:00One thing that really annoys me about this plan is...One thing that really annoys me about this plan is that it essentially seems all stick and no carrot. There is little financial incentive to work part-time, and it doesn't seem to be loaded with exemptions for those who could not reasonably reach such a job. (say, rural parents)<BR/><BR/>If, as you generously assume, they'll be offering assistance with childcare, then this could go well with some other small tweaks. Personally, I'm disinclined to trust National to deal sensibly on matters of welfare.<BR/><BR/>I don't mind more incentives for beneficiaries to get into work, but I personally don't see how pulling the rug out from under them if they don't get into work within three weeks is going to help.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-66976297562068857682008-08-12T13:23:00.000+12:002008-08-12T13:23:00.000+12:00*Applause*This post is so good I nearly didn't wri...*Applause*<BR/><BR/>This post is so good I nearly didn't write anything myself, but then I figured I'd just get grumpy if I couldn't get my rant out ;-)<BR/><BR/>I was really struck by the lack of compassion in Key's speech. It's almost as if the man doesn't have an empathy gene.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08977150346842277994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-18091686275629049732008-08-12T13:04:00.000+12:002008-08-12T13:04:00.000+12:00They also lose money off the rest of their benefit...<I>They also lose money off the rest of their benefit once their earnings reach $80 a week. </I><BR/><BR/>Weka, the Nats have said they'll raise that limit to $100. Not a big difference, but I guess it's a headnod to the fact that they'll have to make other changes and concessions if the policy is to work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-29318082195935139582008-08-12T12:21:00.000+12:002008-08-12T12:21:00.000+12:00Great post!I'd like to add that even if the intent...Great post!<BR/><BR/>I'd like to add that even if the intentions were good, it doesn't necessarily follow that sole parents are ready to take on 15 hours work a week once their youngest is five. Sole parents don't just do sole parenting, they do sole everything. So their workload in every area is at least double that of coupled families. Once the youngest is in school there are still all these other things needing attending to, on one's own, eg house repairs, car repairs, mending, shopping, cooking, cleaning, gardening etc etc<BR/><BR/>Unless you have an income to pay someone to do some of those other things eg paying someone to change the oil in your car instead of doing it yourself, then it's hard work living on your own. And people on the DPB don't have an adequate income to start with.<BR/><BR/>The long term DPB parents I know are all exhausted. Once their youngest gets to five I think they deserve some time to rest and figure out the best way to live their lives, not be pushed into crap, low paid work because people think that mothers should have two jobs.<BR/><BR/>The other issue here is that of abatement. Any beneficiary in receipt of Special Benefit or Temporary Additional Support (i.e. the people in most hardship) is going to lose dollar for dollar off their pay. That means that they are working for no extra income for that amount eg if they get $30 week on TAS/SB then they lose that for the first $30 they earn. That's 2 1/2 hours voluntary work on a minimum wage.<BR/><BR/>They also lose money off the rest of their benefit once their earnings reach $80 a week. That's 7 hours on a minimum wage before you start earning less than minimum wage.<BR/><BR/>Really appealing to women who are already undersupported and stressed and often poor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-79541378495404618692008-08-12T12:17:00.000+12:002008-08-12T12:17:00.000+12:00Hrmmm... I must say that anonymous raises an excel...Hrmmm... I must say that anonymous raises an excellent point about the Nat's policy. The woman that leaves a relationship when her child is 6 (or nearing 6) without a job, does she get forced on to the unemployment benefit because she no longer fits the criteria for the DPB?Nikki Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11601782588373904490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-6719984189614933202008-08-12T11:42:00.000+12:002008-08-12T11:42:00.000+12:00I just want to say that for a person making a choi...I just want to say that for a person making a choice between staying in an abusive, albeit financially secure, relationship and becoming a solo mum, this kind of policy does NOT help. Why are parents, and particularly solo parents (most often women) not better supported, not just financially but also socially instead of being 'bashed' even moreAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-35961899204081983792008-08-12T11:38:00.000+12:002008-08-12T11:38:00.000+12:00Great post Deborah - excellent.Great post Deborah - excellent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-69572468601592893022008-08-12T10:49:00.000+12:002008-08-12T10:49:00.000+12:00So true Deborah - this socialist paradise which th...So true Deborah - this socialist paradise which the Nats are planning for us sounds very appealing... unless it's just about crapping on the least well off once more.<BR/><BR/>My workmates and I just had a robust debate over this very policy during morning tea. The only person who agreed with me was the sole male in the workplace!Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06076244041878300351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-65903645037141675622008-08-12T10:44:00.000+12:002008-08-12T10:44:00.000+12:00Thanks Deborah! I was struggling with mixed feelin...Thanks Deborah! I was struggling with mixed feelings about this policy - in theory, getting DPBeneficiaries into work is not a bad thing, but I hadn't been able to order all my thoughts about why it can't work as things stand. I look forward to seeing whether the Nats actually step up and put these support systems in place, or whether it's just a cynical use/abuse/misuse of the "welfare mum" stereotype to garner votes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-50544488583009689592008-08-12T10:07:00.000+12:002008-08-12T10:07:00.000+12:00Exceptionally brilliant post.Thanks a billion Debo...Exceptionally brilliant post.<BR/><BR/>Thanks a billion Deborah.<BR/><BR/>*Rushes off to direct DPB bashing forum buddies to THM*Nikki Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11601782588373904490noreply@blogger.com