Social Welfare review stirs up controversy
The radio talkback regarding the Social Welfare review revealed divisions in the community as to who should or should not received welfare benefits.
Director of Social Welfare John Henry was on air with Radio Cook Islands host, Ben Mose and fielded questions and comments from agitated callers. Perhaps it was the disclosure that the annual budget for welfare benefits is $11.3 million which brought on the excitement but the phone lines were running hot.
Family benefits of $6 per month for each child (up to age of 12) came under fire with claims that some mothers were spending the money on Housie instead of on their children. Others asked what was being done for single mothers to be able to bring up their children and so the debate raged.
Even the old age pensions came under fire perhaps with the revelation that even highly paid persons such as our politicians and top public servants on high salaries are legally eligible for the pension. Actually as the law stands under the terms of the Welfare Act 1989, anyone who is a Cook Islander who is 60 years or more is eligible for the old age pension with no means testing. This is in stark contrast to means testing unlike that of Australia where those over a certain income level or asset level, are not eligible for pensions. In New Zealand, there is a requirement to have a taxpayer in the country for a certain number of years plus having been resident in NZ for at least 5 years prior to receiving the benefits (but does not have means testing).
Some old age pensioners felt it was unfair to come under fire and expressed dismay at the unwelcome attention their benefits were receiving.
Suggestions off the air were to raise the age to 65 or to impose a means test and certainly a residential test.
Social Welfare director, John Henry went on air to urge the public to send in their submissions for use in the Social Welfare review currently underway by Internal Affairs. Submissions questionnaires can be requested from Internal Affairs on 29370 and replies to be received no later than Wednesday 17 March 2010.
