Support group for those on welfare

Press, 9 December 1983, Page 15

Support group for those on welfare

Steps are being taken to establish a Welfare Rights Association in Christchurch after a public meeting last week. It will take the form of a support group for people with welfare problems, and will be composed of social workers and beneficiaries.

The move represents the view of many social workers that much of their work should consist of advocacy for their clients, a viewpoint that reflects the growing numbers of people in difficulties because of today’s economic circumstances.

About 60 people attended the meeting which was chaired by Barbara McLelland, a community worker with the Christchurch City Council. They discussed problem areas for benficiaries, and whether volunteer support was needed for those in difficulties with Government departments. There was broad agree-

ment that existing benefits are just too low to live on for any length of time. Many of those present spoke of an urgent need to increase the earning limits at which benefit reductions are made. This was seen as vital by sickness and invalid beneficiaries in particular, where mental health often depends on having some limited form of occupation.

Secrecy surrounding some types of benefit was also criticised, with repeated mention of accommodation subsidies, dental care and assistance to those caring for the aged or disabled at home.

“People caring for aged parents have the right to four weeks a year relief, but how many know of this particular benefit?” said Mrs Helen Chambers, of the Barnardo’s Family Day Care Unit in Aranui.

With reports of waits of up to six weeks when

switching from one benefit to another, there was a general consensus that the entire benefit structure was too confusing. A single benefit, applicable to all present types of beneficiaries, to be augmented as necessary, was seen as having advantages both for beneficiaries and for the Department of Social Welfare.

A small group of pensioners from the United Kingdom expressed concern that more tax is apparently to be paid on their United Kingdom pensions when these are remitted in bulk to the New Zealand Government as from January 9, 1984.

The meeting agreed that there was a real need for support services for beneficiaries. Another meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 14, at 8 p.m. at Aldersgate to establish a core group.

—Jacqueline Steincamp