A year on from the government s $25 increase to benefits, some solo parents and people with disabilities or chronic illnesses say it has made very little difference to their budgets.
For those in public housing, with income-related rent, the benefit increase meant their rent went up as well, research found.
Photo: RNZ/ Rebekah Parsons-King
University of Auckland sociologist Louise Humpage has been looking at the impact of the government s Covid-19 response on beneficiaries.
As part of that research, she conducted detailed interviews with 12 people on sole parent support and the supported living payment.
Humpage said while the $25 increase to benefits was welcomed, it had a negligible effect .
$25 benefit increase too little to make a substantive difference
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$25 benefit increase too little to make a substantive difference
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