Benefit checks criticised

Press, 24 October 1980, Page 18

Benefit checks criticised

PA Wellington The Government’s decision to conduct random checks on social-welfare beneficiaries is indicative of its preoccupation with minor issues, according to the Labour Party’s Shadow Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs Whety Tirikatene-Sullican. The Minister of Social Welfare (Mr Gair) has announced that checks on 6,000 beneficiaries a year will begin on March 1, 1981.

He said that the aim was to enable the department to cj- -.pile a statistical profile of benefit payments, particularly to establish how much abuse there was of the system and to ensure that genuine beneficiaries received their proper pay rents promptly. The checks would be carri'd out on domestic purposes, national superannuation, unemployment, and family-benefit beneficiaries. An additional 18 staff to be located round New Zealand to conduct the checks had been approved.

Mrs Tirikatene-Sullivan said that Mr Gair would be better occupied trying to come to grips with the major problems his department faces. “He plans to employ

about IS alJitional people to save an estimated 5200.000 a year. By the time the new staff are paid, he will be 1 <'ky to save $50,000. In terms of the over-all social-welfare budget, this would represent a saving of 2c in every $lOOO. “At time when conditions in New Zealand are deteriorating because of economic difficulties. Mr Gair should be looking for ways to make his department r re effective in coping with social problems. Saving sso,' 00 a year, if he is lucky, will not do much to assist the people his department exists, to serve.’’