Drunk in charge of a sickness benefit

BY JOHN EDENS

One hundred people in the south are claiming benefits citing drug or alcohol abuse as the reason they are unable to work.

Figures obtained under the Official Information Act show 100 people who claim sickness-related and invalids benefits in the Queenstown-Lakes and Southland regions cite drug or alcohol abuse as a reason for being unable to work.

Three individuals claim more than $1000 a week in benefits, while at least two people have been doled out weekly payments since the 1980s.

Another claimant is deemed too dangerous for Work and Income staff to meet face to face.

Yesterday, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said the Government was determined to break the cycle of welfare dependency in the south.

Ms Bennett said a ministry review of clients whose payments exceeded $1000 a week had helped inform impending changes within the benefits system. Work and Income had taken appropriate action to manage such cases but if people could work then they should, she said.

The Southland Times asked the minister whether it was fair to expect taxpayers to fund claimants who cite drug and alcohol abuse.

She said it was reasonable to expect sickness-related claimants to take time to get well so they could return to work.

But the Government was determined to break the cycle of welfare dependency and "shifting the focus to what people can do, not what they can't, is an important part of that".

Social Development Ministry chief executive Peter Hughes, in an Official Information Act response, says in the Queenstown Lakes and Southland region 74 people who receive sickness benefits and 26 people paid invalids benefits are unable to work because of drug or alcohol abuse. Citing privacy, he says a breakdown of the claimants who use the various Work and Income centres – in Alexandra, Queenstown, Gore, Balclutha and Invercargill – is unavailable.

When asked for details of long-running payments, the response says one claimant who received the unemployment benefit since 1986 is now eligible for a pension.

The individual lived in rural Southland 60km from the nearest town and did not drive, Mr Hughes said.

Another claimant who had received a sickness benefit since 1985 suffers from "chronic widespread pain", he says.

Three people, all of whom received invalids benefits as their main claim, were paid more than $1000 a week each, about twice the average weekly wage of $538.

The highest paid claimant in the region receives $1147 a week – including $312 in net benefit, a $75 accommodation supplement, $266 for family support and a $181 disability allowance.

Two other claimants received weekly benefits of $1071 – including $545 for family support – and $1076 respectively.

One individual was referred to the remote client unit (RCU), which was set up in 2004 to deal with people who posed a risk to staff or who continued to try to access benefits despite being served a trespass notice.

Mr Hughes said the ministry was focusing on ensuring people received the right services at the right time. "People who are long-term unemployed often face additional barriers to employment such as having few skills, little employment history and lack of confidence and everyday work habits."

In New Zealand 323 claimants were paid more than $1000 a week, he said.

He said those abusing drugs or alcohol received advice and support, including referrals to detox programmes, community-based counselling and short and long-term residential services.

WHO GETS WHAT

Number of claimants citing drug or alcohol abuse: 100

Number of claimants receiving more than $1000 a week: 3

Longest period on unemployment benefit: 23 years

Longest period on sickness-related benefit: 24 years

Number of claimants referred to remote client unit (RCU): 1

Source: Social Development Ministry OIA response

Note: Figures to June 2009 for Alexandra, Queenstown, Balclutha, Gore and Invercargill working-age claimants.

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