Targeting vulnerable mothers is bad for women and children

A Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) report today shows the need for an urgent review into how mothers are being treated by the Ministry of Social Development, the Green Party said today.

The CPAG report ‘Kathryn’s Story’ tells a heart-breaking story of one woman who has been subjected to more than 15 years of prosecution, jail, losing her children to the state, and debt repayment.

There are still unclear rules around whether single mothers can claim a Sole Parent Support benefit (formerly the Domestic Purposes Benefits) whilst dating and being responsible for children.

“The Government needs to stop hounding women on benefits on dubious grounds, because mothers work hard to ensure that their kids are being taken care of,” Green Party women’s spokesperson Jan Logie said today.

“Punishing mothers by making them repay benefits for doing normal things, like dating, ends up punishing their children.

“We need a welfare system that maintains its integrity, supports the development of healthy relationships and protects children. When you might be investigated and charged with fraud, it is really hard to develop a happy, healthy relationship.

“There must be an urgent review of the treatment of relationships in the welfare system, as the current legal test is unclear and applied differently around the country.

“The Government drags mothers through the courts for small amounts of money, putting huge stress on these families, when it would get a much bigger payoff from pursuing white collar crime and tax evasion instead.

“The mothers that are being pursued in these cases are often struggling, and are busy feeding their kids and trying to keep a roof over their family’s head.

“While the legislation is so unclear, the Government should not seek prison sentences for 'relationship fraud'. The Government needs to urgently resolve this issue.

“The 2001 Joychild Report found as many 15,600 mothers on benefits might have been wrongly treated by Work and Income. The welfare system is clearly broken and the Government is choosing not to fix it,” Ms Logie said.

Volunteer

The Greens are proud to be driven by passionate people like you. Today we need your help to take action on the biggest issues facing New Zealand.

Action

Save Auckland's Climate Budget

Sign the petition to stop Mayor Wayne Brown's proposal for dangerous cuts to climate and environmental programmes that protect us from extreme weat...

Action

No New Mines 2023

Action

Expand Voting

Now more than ever, young people in Aotearoa are impacted by Government decisions, and they deserve to have a say. We are calling on all Members of...

Action

End Intensive Winter Grazing

Sign the petition to Labour Ministers, to move faster in bringing regulations into force and end intensive winter grazing.

Action

Trains for Climate

Add your name to our open letter urging the Minister for Finance Grant Robertson to save our passenger trains between Wellington, the Wairarapa and...

Action

Healthy Oceans 2022

Join our Healthy Oceans Crew to help us keep the health and protection of our oceans high on the Labour Government’s political agenda.

Action

It's time: A Ministry for Rainbow Communities

Join our call asking the Prime Minister to establish a Ministry for Rainbow Communities that can champion Rainbow issues.

Action

No new mines on conservation land

Sign the open letter asking Labour Ministers to stick to their promise of banning new mining projects on conservation land.

Action

Allow community ownership of our buses

Public transport is an essential service and helps to tackle the climate crisis by reducing our carbon emissions. But there are barriers to communi...

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Social Development Announcements

Story

Government must end benefit sanctions and cancel debt

The Government needs to end benefit sanctions, cancel debt to the Ministry of Social Development, and immediately lift benefits, says the Green Party.

Liveable incomes needed

With benefit changes coming into effect tomorrow, the Green Party is calling on the Government to lift benefits to liveable levels to make sure eve...

Child poverty stats show need for action

The Green Party is calling on the Government to immediately provide more support to families doing it toughest.

Govt must urgently wipe MSD debt

The Green Party is calling on the Government to clear debt people are being forced into by MSD, and support those doing it toughest.

Additional cyclone support needed for people

The Green Party welcomes the relief funding announced today and calls on the Government to go further by providing additional direct support to peo...

Greens call for Civil Defence Payment to be doubled

The Green Party is today calling on the Government to double the maximum Civil Defence Payment for Aucklanders affected by flooding.