8900 (2024). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

8900 (2024). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What is the average weekly debt offset for the top 10% of debts, including people not currently in receipt of a benefit, as at 31 March 2024, broken down by gender and ethnicity?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised by the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) that a debt offset can only be applied to clients who are in receipt of a benefit payment from the Ministry, therefore the following average offset information only represents current Ministry clients. Individuals not in receipt of a benefit are included in the top 10% of debts, however they will have individual repayment arrangements with the Ministry and these details will be held on individual client files. I refer the member to the attached tables which show the average weekly debt offset for the top 10% of debts, including people not currently in receipt of a benefit as at 31 March 2024 broken down by gender and ethnicity respectively. Table One: Average weekly debt offset for the top 10% of clients owing debt as at 31 March 2024, by ethnicity. Table Two: Average weekly debt offset for the top 10% of clients owing debt as at 31 March 2024, by gender.