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Loophole in DPB payments to be shut

Filed under: Child Support — JohnPotter @ 9:25 am Tue 28th June 2005

The Government will close a loophole that enables DPB recipients to block the collection of child support payments.

Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey revealed the planned change yesterday, after being questioned about assertions by National that more than 200 fathers on the Domestic Purposes Benefit refused to “name” the mother of their child – preventing the state collecting child support from them.

In fact Work and Income knows the identity of all the mothers, because it requires a birth certificate with the mother’s name to be presented before the father can claim the benefit.

But Mr Maharey said there was differing advice on whether the department could demand a liable parent contribution from either non-custodial fathers and mothers without the signed agreement of the custodial parent on a benefit.

Some beneficiaries are penalised by $22 a week a child for failing to sign the liable parent form – but if the liable parent is working the state would recover significantly more money per child.

There are 223 men – down from 250 earlier this year – who have not signed the consent forms and about 15,000 women who have not signed.

National welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins, who raised the issue of fathers not naming the mothers at her party’s weekend conference, claimed victory for the law change.

The Government had taken the matter more seriously since leader Don Brash had announced National would introduce stiffer penalties for non-liable parents in his Orewa welfare speech, she said.

4 Comments »

  1. I look after my son almost 50% of the time and pay half of all his finanicial needs, clothing, educational costs etc. Yet I still pay almost $400 a month in Child Support.

    Happily my wife agrees that amount is excessive, and is taking steps to cancel her application for Child Support, preferring to allow me to pay her an unspecified amount to help her fincially since she still remains on the DPB. This situation strongly favoured my 8 year old son, since it would allow me to save some money for his University Education… and give him a better quality of life in the meantime.

    Well, looks like National just stuffed my sons future welfare doesn’t it.

    Comment by Morris Lindsay — Tue 28th June 2005 @ 11:30 am

  2. only $400? careful mate, you have got it lucky compared to some. and how exactly have the nats stuffed your sons education?? your wife is going to stop claiming child support so the loophole wont affect you. and can you get your wife to ring my childs mother and tell her the $1000 per month she squanders is a f%%^ng fortune 😉

    Comment by Mark Lloyd — Wed 29th June 2005 @ 8:37 am

  3. Yet another nail in the coffin of The Family from the anti-Clark and her worshippers.

    “close a loophole” my a**e!

    Increase contributions to the consolidated fund: got it in one!

    cullen, the anti-Clark, the funny-boys, the funny-girls and eunuchs like cunliffe need to be exorcised from society.

    Bring back a “family friendly” New Zealand!

    Morris, could you also get your lady to call my vex about the $60K she has pissed against the wall and turned to smoke over the last 4 years?

    I have education funds running for all three of mine, but am unable to contribute to the funds because of child tax.

    Comment by Sparx — Thu 30th June 2005 @ 8:55 am

  4. Want an eye-opener?

    Check out the section “Child Support” at WINZ Recommendations for DPB beneficiaries to increase benefit recovery tax.

    How is it legal for the elected government of New Zealand to put tripe like this on their web site?

    Comment by Ethos — Fri 1st July 2005 @ 8:43 am

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