Making it happen Repayment call shocks single parents

Press, 23 November 1987, Page 10

Making it happen Repayment call shocks single parents

A row is brewing between domestic purposes beneficiaries and the Social Welfare Department over surprise demands for repayment of Family Support. ; When the Family; Support entitlement came in on October 1, last year, every single parent beneficiary received the full amount, from $32 a week for one child, even if they had part-time work.

Now those beneficiaries have been told they must repay part, or all the payments to the Inland Revenue Department by February 7 next year. A 10 per cent surcharge will be made'on overdue amounts. There is apparently no provision for payment by instalment until then.

Kathleen O’Reilly, a Christchurch mother of one, is one of hundreds of local beneficiaries affected by the unexpected demand.

Six weeks ago, Kathleen

received a demand from the Inland Revenue Department for $548, because of overpaid Family Support.

“It was a terrible shock. When Family Support first came in I checked with Social Welfare that I was entitled to the full amount and they assured me I was. But now I'm having to pay it back — because they didn’t work out the correct amount.”

Kathleen works 30 hours a week as a fund raiser and publicity officer with Bamardo’s. With the loss of Family Support, she claims she is $25 a week worse off than if she wasn’t working. “I can’t possible put aside $5O a week to repay the debt by February. I can’t even save $l5 a week," .she says. She is worried that many other families living on a benefit will have to do without essentials to repay the debt. Kathleen belongs to the Christian Family Movement’s solo parents support group, which is also concerned over the repayments. It is calling a public forum on the issue on Monday, December 7. The group wants the Inland Revenue Department to waive the overpayments. Recently, the organisation placed advertisements in both the Christchurch papers, and received responses from 118 worried beneficiaries. Calls are still coming in.

It sees the demands for. repayment as the direct result of inefficiency and a lack of co-ordination between Government departments.

It is also concerned at the lack of communication between the Social Welfare and Inland Revenue Departments and beneficiaries. Apparently, some working single parents are still receiving the full Family Benefit, even though it will have to be paid back.

Beneficiaries can ask to have Family Support cancelled, then have it reinstated through Inland Revenue at the correct rate. But neither department, claims the group, has notified beneficiaries of this possibility. The group is contacting its branches throughout the country to raise sup’port.

The' public forum will be held in the Stringleman Room of Canterbury Public Library, starting at 8 p.m. Representatives from the Social Welfare and Inland Revenue Departments and the Housing Corporation will be there.

Other issues to be discussed are the changes to the liable parent contribution and the accommodation benefit, and the possibility of means testing Family Benefit

For further information on these issues phone Kathleen at 891-164 (work) or 26-6248 (home) or contact the Christian Family Movement Solo Parents Support Groups at 859-695. P.A.LN.Z.

Special problems faced by chronic pain sufferers who live in rural areas will be the subject of a talk at Pain Action in New Zealand’s open meeting this Wednesday, November 25.

The speaker will be Dr Gayle O’Duffy, a general practitioner in Methven. A second speaker, Greg Kleise, an American with a masters degree in child psychology and a qualified chiropractor, will explain his methods of pain management. All interested persons are invited to the meeting' which will be held at. the Disabled Persons Centre, 314 Worcester Street, starting at 7.30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. P.A.I.N.Z.’s Christmas party will be on Thursday, December 3, at 87 Victoria St (Margaret Moon’s rooms), starting at noon. On Saturday, December 5, the organisation will have a fund-raising stall in the Roy Stokes Hall, Seaview Road, New Brighton. Anyone who can donate home-made sweets, cakes, comics, books, plants or other saleable items, or can help in some other way can contact Anne at 887695. All other inquiries about P.A.I.N.Z. to Greg at 858-623 or Lynette at 887-300. Ashburton couples course Couples often develop a set pattern in their communication, and then be-

come stifled by it Changing those patterns leads to greater flexibility and a richer relationship. Developing communication skills means listening to others, resolving conflict in a constructive way, asserting yourself, and expressing your feelings. A day workshop to help Ashburton couples develop these skills will be held this Saturday, November 28.

Called Progress in Partnership, the workshop is being organised by the Ashburton Marriage Guidance Council’s education section. It will be held in the tutorial block of Ashburton Hospital, from 9.30 a.m. until 4.30 p.m. The fee is $3O a couple. To enrol contact Jill Cantrell, 94 Wills St, Ashburton, phone 7729. N.O.W. Jill Wilcox, a New Brighton woman who takes her Simply Sharing programme of poems and stories to groups throughout the community will entertain at the National Organisation for Women’s end of year social this Wednesday, November 25. There will be a pot luck supper, with tea and coffee provided. During the evening, donations will be sought to support the stand by Fertility Action in Auckland against the practices of Dr Herbert Green at National Women’s Hospital. The social will be held at the Workers’ Educational Association rooms, 59 Gloucester St, starting at 7.30 p.m. Children's books The best and worst children’s books of 1987 will be discussed at a meeting held tomorrow evening, November 24. This has been organised by the Children’s Literature Association, the Children and Young Persons Section of the Public Library, and the Reading Association. v ■ The speakers include librarians and booksellers. Please bring finger food for a shared tea at 6.30 p.m. in the Shirley Library, in the Marshlands Road shopping centre. The talk starts at 7.30 p.m.

Help directory The new Help directory of community organisations and hdalth, welfare and educational services, is now on sale. The 260-page book, published every two years, is available for $5 from the District Council of Social Services, 203 Gloucester St (between 9 a.m. and 1 pm.), the City Council’s community services division, the Information Centre opposite Noah's hotel and from the Can* terbury Public Library and its branches. Alzheimer's Disease Rest home and hospital care for those with dementias will be the subject of discussion at the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Society public education meeting this Thursday, November 26. Everyone is welcome at the meeting, which will be held in Room 5 of the Disabled Persons* Centre, 314 Worcester Street, starting at 1.30 p.m. For further information about A.D.A.R.D.S phone Jan or Kathy at 792-590. Crohn's Disease The support group for people with Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, December 9, at 7.30 p.m. This will be held at the Lady Wigram Hall, 33 Cashel Street The New Zealand Society for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis can be contacted at P.O. Box 2568, Christchurch. Playcentre fundraising The Dallington Playcentre is holding a fundraising sales evening at St Paul’s Church Hall this Thursday, November 26, at 7.30 p.m. Household items and educational toys will be on sale. Tickets are $2, and can be bought at the door. All welcome. Compiled by Glenys Walker Items for this column should be sent to Glenys Walker, “Making It Happen,” Home and People Page, “The Press,” Private Bag, Christchurch. Please send in one week before publication. \