Why I’m staying on the DPB - One Woman’s Story
Working incentive ‘not worth it’
‘Jenny’ (not her real name - I wouldn’t give my real name either, if I was just admitting to being a solo-mum bludger) is content to stay at home, whilst her boys are at school, simply because she is given too much incentive not to work.
What she means is that with a net benefit of close to $400 per week, = $20,800 after tax per annum, or $30,000 before tax per annum, why should she work?
She has not even needed to secure an accomodation grant!
Apart from the fact that her maths is blatently deficient on one major count - her figures, if she were to work, make no reflection of any additional incoming child support.
Does the boys’ father work? If so, surely there should be a reasonable level of CS coming in.
If he doesn’t, why can she not have him care for the boys either side of school hours, so that she is free to work?
Fair enough, whilst she lives on a benefit, his child support contributes to funding her benefit.
But even that notwithstanding, no mention is made of the father’s involvement either financially, or in practical terms.
Furthermore, she contends that she would be unlikely to earn above $13.50 per hour (= $540 before tax per week for 40 hours/week, or = $28,080 before tax per annum).
So she isn’t prepared to try. Not even part time.
This women, is blatently content to milk the system.
What if the boy’s father had shared custody enforced on him, so that
(1) he had an active parenting role;
(2) the boys benefit from an active male parenting role model,;
(3) ‘Jenny’ would be freer to pursue her career;
(4) both parents could consider job sharing, to ensure either parent was home at either end of the day, albeit at different homes.
What does ‘Jenny’ plan on doing when the boys have left school?
Sickness Benefit (all that accumulated stress of years of sole parenting)?
Forgive me one and all, but I am not suggesting she is having it easy parenting.
But I know full well that parenting is not a full time role during the eight or so hours from 8am through 4pm, when children are usually ensconced in school.
And I know full well that two parents sharing the role make life a hell of a lot easier.
But from this short article, where ‘father’ does not even rate a mention, I strongly suspect that there is probably an absent father, although whether by choice we do not know.
‘Jenny’ needs to put a fair share of the parenting where it belongs, and not live her convenient justification to stay put at home on a comfortable $400 cash per week.
Posts RSS 2.0
Al D Rado, I wrote to Don Brash about this before the election because he considered the DPB to be on his agenda once he got into parliment. Yes there is alot of incentive for females and males to stay on the DBP. One is that if they are not well educated and would only get a $10 or even $12 an hour job, they would lose out regarding food allowance of $500 free per year and $1,000 borrowings towards bills or unexpected bills. And then there is cheaper doctors, chemist fees and $300 free towards dental. Of course on top of that there is special benefit for paying off a car if the car agreement happened prior to the benefit application or a new one during and for hire purchases for fridges etc. If your friend does not pay rent or mortgage then she is basically getting the maximum.
This is a huge thing for Labour to tackle for they can’t just cut it off. I have had a few friends speak their mind in anger about this expecially when they have had a few drinks because they don’t want to as tax payers pay for this.
I really don’t think anyone is explaining child support to these people. Say your friend is unexperienced and gets $12 per hour with 18% tax. That is $480 - $86.40 = $393.60. Now if her ex partner earns $12 per hour and pays 18% for one child then she gets $480 per week. On top of this she will get the governments family assistance which will pay similar as the extras she gets on the DPB.
You know that the government will pay someone like you or me to show these figures and encourage people off the DPB. We will have to show a statistical benefit of saving more than we get paid. Unfortunately, you and I are probably too busy to take this on.
And most people on the DPB or their partners could earn more than $12 per hour.
Comment by julie — Thu 30th March 2006 @ 8:10 pm
Just to add, single parenting can be absolutely trying. If the father doesn’t want to play a decent role, you have to get as much support to keep at it. I believe women that raise children on their own have to be extremely resourceful just to cope. Have you seen the dead bodies of stressed out women? Well, I have. That is why I started a single parent group. And I have unfortunately seen very pretty young women who have committed suicide. So even though I would like to bring attention to this subject i know it is on a thin line. I just want beneficiaries to know their options.
Comment by julie — Thu 30th March 2006 @ 10:33 pm
What if the boy’s father had shared custody enforced on him, so that?
Well we know the answer
I have “Equal” Parented my Son Javan in time since 1997. In year 2000 I faced up to the pain in my chest and stomach and went to hospital for help. They did their best but I will never be 100% fit and well again. Since then having 5 procedures to keep me functioning and now taking many pills. I am most greatful for our health services and the very fine people that work in them.
However when my and their Doctors finally convinced WINZ I was a candidate for the Invalids Benefit guess what. They gave me a Single Persons Invalids for which I am most greatful and so are those who I have helped thru the HandsOnEqualParent TRUST.
BUT! I in fact “Equal” Parent my Son and since March05 can prove that with the apropriate Family Court Order. WINZ refuse to recognise that and give all funding set aside for Javans Parenting to his Mother accept for 1/2 Family Care. In effect I FATHER Javan on $35 per week, the local FoodBank, scimping on my medical needs, and the odd gift for the services of the HandsOnEqualParent TRUST.
While Mother receives around $180 a week + Family Care yet has him 1/2 the time and dodges any other funding where possible.
Judge Jan Douge gave her one hell of a lecture in our last Court hearing and included the lecture in the Oral Judgement which I have been able to use in negotiations with Javans new school and thus she pays all that stuff.
The Family Court has no Jurisdiction over WINZ and thus the X gets the full support of the DPB.
I have run out of doors to open to change things having written 100’s of letters and had many meetings with several of the powers who claim to be for the Family
I have met Steve Maharey face to face many times to no avail.
THUS my Sign on top of the War-4-Kids WAGON states. TOOT to STOP WINZ Gender BIAS
Yet the News tells me this morning that if a Family earns less than $144,000 they will get help from the Govt while Javans Fathering is compromised considerably in this household that servives on a “Single Persons Invalids Benefit”
It seems WINZ “Working for Families” is yet another LIE. We will see. Working to destroy the Paternal Family by staving it and funding the Maternal be more like it.
Onward - Jim - http://www.HandsOnEqualParent
Comment by Jim Bailey — Fri 31st March 2006 @ 7:36 am
You state
Fair enough, whilst she lives on a benefit, his child support contributes to funding her benefit.
What a load of feminist bollocks.
What an ill considered statement! A parents responsibility is to support the Child not pay for the DPB.
Think about what you say!
A very pissed off Scrap
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Fri 31st March 2006 @ 9:42 am
Aldarado,
My apolgies. Should read - Article states, not you state.
Regards
Scrap
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Fri 31st March 2006 @ 10:44 pm
In the town I come from (South Auckland) it is (or was and probably still is) a common career decision for a young girl who is leaving school to get pregnant, apply for, and recieve the DPB.
I josh you not. It is treated as an actual career decision - particularly for those who were not keen on persuing anythng academic. They (the Girls) Go out to a bar, find a guy, lie that they are on the pill, have sex with him, have a baby and recieve the benefit, and graduate with a job guaranteed.
Comment by Moose — Thu 6th April 2006 @ 2:30 am