Universal Child Benefit - Some Frequently Asked Questions
Go to the Why should we have a Universal Child Benefit?
Universal provisions put children at the centre of policy, rather than treating them as mere adjuncts to family employment and income status.
All children deserve the best possible start in life; countries like the UK have retained a family benefit right to this day, at a much higher level than the one proposed here (at around $NZ 47 a week for the first child).
A universal benefit is simpler and easier to administer than a targeted one.
Aren't the amounts offered ($15 for the 1st child, $10 for subsequent children, paid to the primary caregiver) too small to make a difference?
Even these low amounts can make a huge difference in terms of what parents can offer their children in individual circumstances, and the poorer a family is, the more they are assisted proportionately.
We have to start somewhere in redressing the balance between the universality we offer the older generation through national superannuation, and the very inequitable and targeted assistance offered to families with children.
Isn't a targeted system fairer?
Crudely targeted policies do not reflect the actual circumstances of individual children.
This small amount of money will sometimes be the only discretionary income a primary caregiver has to spend on themselves and their children, even in comparatively well off families.
Targeted systems create poverty traps, where increases to parents' incomes are less than the subsidies and benefits lost.
Wouldn't it be better to reform family support and family assistance first, rather than call for a Universal Child Benefit?
The Green Party supports calls for the immediate reform of family support and family assistance, including adjusting payments to keep pace with inflation, and removing systemic inequities. However, we believe there is no tactical or ethical reason why we shouldn't work to achieve a Universal Child Benefit at the same time.
Won't a Universal Child Benefit cost too much?
So far, Green Party costings have put the price of our UCB at around $650 million a year. This is a lot of money, but when one considers the billions going into the Cullen superfund, & current budget surpluses, we believe this is a small price to pay.
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