I am all for helping those who truly need it. An audit will determine that. National is doing the right thing. In these tough economic times we have to make sure that our tax dollars are well spent. I am convinced that there are many who game the system and it is those who deserved to be identified and punished if necessary.

Special circumstances? Sure, each to their own, but 10 children??!

I think the special circumstance here should've been that they kept their legs closed!

just another smart move from key and his pack, get the attention off their own greediness and put it on the beneficiaries, one wonders who the next one will be. pensioners ?

"Should we look at it, I think so."

Well, don't talk about it - just go and bloody look at it, then.

As Annette King has said, you lot are setting all these hound dogs loose. It is a repeat of the distaste which surrounded the individuals involved in the Training Assistance Allowance. The average person hasn't got a clue about all the exceptional circumstances which are able to be involved, as Socialist Craig(#3) has described.

If I said it once at the time of the election, I said it half a dozen times; if National win we are likely to return to the distrust and suspicion of the Jenny Shipley days (oh, she is now Dame Jenny Shipley, isn't she? - she is no less controversial - and the bickering came from the top down). The priceless, enjoyable gloss of goodwill we had come to take for granted will erode bit by bit.

Our cohesive society will be lost.

I know a family who struggle so admirably due to more than one of a number their children having an awful condition called hydrocephalitis.

This crap must be making them feel rotten.

Those beneficiaries on $1000+ have, in the main, high costs, usually medical. For example, a recipient on the DPB Caring For Sick and Infirm will receive a base entitlement of $312.62 (sole parent rate), added to which will possibly be FTC (that will depend on the number of children), Child Disability Allowance (that will depend on the number of high needs children), Accommodation Supplement (depends on area in NZ, plus family size), Disability Allowance and Temporary Addition Support. Yes, these figures may appear high; however, you would need to know the story behind each person's circumstance before passing judgement.

You forgot something bruce lol what about the smoking marijuana

$1200.00 a week, plus add ons, maybe a state or council house, but at least an accommodation supplement. No work for 15 years, just shopping, television, playing with the kids, having time for the kids, okay.. where do I sign on, seriously, I will quit my job right now, no more damn taxes, working extra hours to pay bills, not getting to spend time with the kids that I could afford to bring into the world, I want in and also want to know why this opportunity is not advertised.!!!!