Family assistance changes misleading

Press, 16 February 1984, Page 12

Family assistance changes misleading

Changes to family assistance announced in the 1983 budget appear more generous than they actually are, according to a report just published by the Wellingtonbased Committee for Children. This committee was set up during International Children’s year. It is composed of representatives from government and voluntary agencies. The report found that the increase in the low income family rebate announced in the Budget averages a maximum of only five dollars a week, irrespective of family size. |

“If other factors had improved, such as access to adequate housing and medical care, better public transport, and stability in prices of family necesities, like milk, then the failure to maintain direct, financial assistance in real terms to families would be mitigated. “Other factors clearly have not improved, nor has the ability of families to better themselves by earning more because of the impact of the recession.” The report says that changes made to family assistance measures have an ad hoc nature, without any clearly articulated

policy of what should be done for families.

“For superannuation we know, at least, the policy is to give married superannuitants without other income 80 per cent of the after tax average wage.

“For social security benefits the policy is to adjust a set benefit at six monthly intervals to reflect changes in the Consumers’ Price Index.

“But for families we have infrequent discretionary changes at the whims of the Government, without any guidelines as to what is appropriate family assistance,” says the report.