49889 (2024). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

49889 (2024). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does the Minister think that a sole parent’s benefit being reduced by 50% under the new beneficiary sanctions will have an impact on the individual’s ability to provide for their whānau, if so, what steps, if any, will the Minister take to ensure that whānau do not struggle?

Hon Louise Upston: The possibility for those on Sole Parent Support to have their benefit reduced by 50% existed prior to the introduction of the Traffic Light System and is not a new sanction. The Traffic Light System, however, intends to introduce non-financial sanctions (once legislation is passed), which, in some instances, will be imposed instead of financial sanctions. Parents with dependent children cannot have their benefit payment reduced by more than 50%.