10479 (2024). Hon Carmel Sepuloni to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

10479 (2024). Hon Carmel Sepuloni to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What work, if any, is the Ministry for Social Development currently doing on services for seniors?

Hon Louise Upston: The Ministry of Social Development (the Minstry) currently has a range of work underway on services for older people. This includes: 1. As of 1 April 2024 the rates of NZ Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension have been adjusted as part of the 2024 Annual General Adjustment. This annual adjustment is required by legislation to account for the cost of living (inflation) or average wage growth. o 909,000 pensioners got a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans. o Pensioners are better off with the amount paid to a couple receiving NZ Super or the Veteran's Pension increased by $71.08 per fortnight and the rate for a single superannuitant living alone increased by $46.20 per fortnight. 2. From 1 May to 1 October the Winter Energy Payment will be available as an extra payment to help with the cost of heating over the winter months. This is available for those on a main benefit, pension or Jobseeker Support Student Hardship. 3. Work is currently underway to develop options to upgrade the Super Gold Card and Veterans Card to maximise its potential benefit for all Super Gold Card and Veteran Card holders. 4. The Ministry is developing work under the Government’s Better Later Life Action Plan 2021 to 2024 to understand the size, scale and characteristics of the group of older people who experience vulnerability or compounding disadvantage. This work seeks to explore how current supports and services are responding to the unique and complex needs of older people with compounding disadvantage and how overall outcomes can be improved and inequities across older communities reduced. An insights report on the initial phase of this work can be found here - https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/research/older-people-experiencing-vulnerability-and-multiple-disadvantage-in-new-zealand/older-people-experiencing-vulnerability-and-multiple-disadvantage-in-new-zealand.html 5. Work is currently underway to adjust the Residential Care Subsidy rates as part of the 2024 Annual General Adjustment. This is an annual adjustment that is required by legislation, with the new updated rates coming into effect on 1 July 2024. 6. The Ministry is supporting the development of a stocktake of services funded by the Government specifically for older people in New Zealand, alongside the Office for Seniors. This work includes the objective of understanding the services and supports already in place for older people to inform future work on making it easier for older people to access what they need. 7. The Ministry is working with DIA to consider options for extending the rates rebate in line with Government policy priorities.