Beneficiaries will now have to meet with the Ministry of Social Development within two weeks of starting their benefit to determine their plan to get into work — or face a sanction.
Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston announced the change today, which adds to beneficiaries’ obligations.
Upston said a big part of the coalition government’s target to have 50,000 fewer people on the Jobseeker Support benefit by 2030 was to make sure the welfare system was “geared towards helping people get back on their feet quickly”.
“About 188,000 people currently receive Jobseeker Support but only about 53,000 of them have employment case managers at any given time, so early intervention is required to make sure the others are taking steps towards finding work.”
She said the Ministry of Social Development’s (MSD) new Kōrero Mahi – Let’s Talk Work seminars were “one way we’re doing this”.
“People who come onto Jobseeker Support must now attend one within a fortnight to have their employment needs assessed and their next step decided.
“If they’re ready to work, they could be helped to apply for a job. If they need re-training or upskilling, they could be referred to a programme that can help,” Upston said.
“These compulsory work seminars will make sure all new Jobseeker beneficiaries get the support they need and understand what’s expected of them.
“Those who do not attend without a good and sufficient reason could be sanctioned.”
She said the initiative followed steps the Government had already taken to make the welfare system “more proactive”, which included the Government’s expectation about the application of benefit sanctions and new work check-ins for job seekers after six months.
“The number of people who have been on Jobseeker Support continuously for more than a year grew by about 40,000 under the previous government and under-25 are now projected to spend an of average 19 more years on a benefit.
“We’re not prepared to sit back and let welfare dependency get any worse, which is why we’re intervening early to get job seekers on the pathway to work.”
Last month, 1News revealed the Government’s target to have 50,000 fewer people on a benefit by 2030 will include those who go to prison, move overseas — and those who die — not just those who enter the workforce.
