Student jobs

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 16

Student jobs

Sir,—l have two questions regarding an article (“The Press” November 18) about students and the unemployment benefit. I would have thought everyone is entitled to receive an Unemployment Benefit regardless of their status before they went to the Social Welfare Department. If this is the case, why are students .singled out and treated differently from other members of the community? Second, I know of no other group of people who are means tested to such an extent, i.e.; having to supply the Social Welfare Department with the information about the income of their parents. Whether one lives with parents or lives in a flat or in a hostel surely has no bearing on the receipt of the unemployment benefit. The great majority of young people, especially school leavers, live with their parents. Why should students be treated differently in this respect? — Yours, etc.,

ROSEMARY BOYLE. November 18, 1982.

[Mr C. R, F. Money, Assistant Director (Benefits and Pensions), Department of Social Welfare, Christchurch, replies: “Present Social Security legislation does not allow full-time students to receive a statutory unemployment bene-' fit. Any financial assistance sought during the vacation period has to be considered under the Emergency Section (61) of the Social Security Act. Where students are living at home with- parents it is the

present policy of the department to enquire into the financial circumstances of the parents."]