Work And Income
Housing crisis: Homeless mother of seven forced to pitch a tent during storm
A homeless mother of six young children and a newborn baby says she had no option but to pitch a tent in a Hawke's Bay park during a storm after Work and Income refused to help her.
Minister fronts people queuing outside Work and Income office
The government's fronted up to a South Auckland Work and Income office where parents have again been queuing since the early hours of the morning to get help accessing emergency grants. Nita… Video, Audio
Long queues outside MSD ‘shocking’ but not the norm - minister
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni concedes it's shocking to see beneficiaries queuing up in the cold and dark for food and clothing grants; but she says it doesn't have to be that way. She… Video, Audio
Queues outside MSD ‘inhumane’ - AAAP
Auckland Action Against Poverty advocates meet with beneficiaries outside a South Auckland Work and Income office every Thursday morning to help them with their claims. They say the situation is… Video, Audio
Will a boost to benefits be enough to put meat back in the grocery shop?
The Finance Minister reckons the small boost to benefits anounced yesterday could put meat back in the grocery shop for some... but others say it's simply not meaty enough to make a real difference. Video, Audio
Homeless told there's no emergency accommodation available
Work and Income staff are turning away homeless people in Auckland, telling them there is no emergency housing available, multiple sources say. Checkpoint has learnt of several people told this in… Audio
First refitted Work and Income office opens in Ōtara
The first Work and Income office to have its security fully upgraded in the aftermath of the 2014 Ashburton shooting is open for business.
Davidson: Get Work and Income out of people's personal lives
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says there has never been a better opportunity to transform the punitive and limiting culture of the welfare system. Audio
Councillor tells of Work and Income humiliation
An Auckland councillor has told a meeting on welfare reform his blind mother-in-law was humiliated when asked to prove her disability at a Work and Income appointment.
'They feel inadequate that they can't fend for themselves'
Pensioners are increasingly turning to Work and Income for help to pay for essentials like food, power and housing.
Benefit suspensions drop after policy change
The number of people whose benefits are suspended or cancelled each day has dropped by almost a quarter - in just a matter of weeks. It follows a policy change, announced last month, that means any… Audio
Benefit suspensions, cancellations fall in weeks
The number of people having their benefit suspended or cancelled has dropped by nearly a quarter, in just a matter of weeks. Last month, the government told Work and Income staff could not decide on… Audio
Woman has benefit wrongly suspended for a second time
An Auckland mum who was told by Work and Income that her benefit had been cut because she'd been on two Tinder dates has had her payments wrongly suspended for a second time. The Ministry of Social… Audio
Woman has benefit wrongly suspended for second time
An Auckland mum who was told by Work and Income that her benefit had been cut because she'd been on two Tinder dates has had her payments wrongly suspended for a second time.
Man told he must quit free night class or face benefit cut
An unemployed man with depression has been told to quit his free night class or he and his partner won't be able to access full benefits.
Man told to quit business class or have benefit cut
An unemployed man with depression has been told to quit his free night class, or he and his partner won't be able to access full benefits. Both the man and his partner, who are parents to an… Audio
Couple told to quit night class or have benefits cut
A 55-year-old unemployed man has been told that he and his partner won't be able to access full benefits unless he quits his free night class. Both the man and his partner, who are parents to an 8… Audio
Welfare overhaul needs balance - Upston
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni says an announcement on the promised overhaul of the welfare system can be expected in the next three to four weeks. Questions have been raised again about… Audio
Call for Govt to increase dentist subsidies to help poor
The Dental Association says financial help for those who can least afford dental care is an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, and there is a case for increased government subsidies. Video, Audio
Mothers, children put up in 'filthy' Far North motel
Young families facing homelessness in Northland say Work and Income is paying for them to stay at a local motel that should not be operating, let alone housing children. Video, Audio
