The Government increased the benefit by $25 a week last year. From July 1, it will increase by $20 a week, and a second increase will occur again next year, bringing it in line with WEAG s advice. Families and whanau with children will also receive a further $15 per adult per week.
It means in total, weekly main benefit rates will increase by between $32 and $55 per adult by April 2022. The Government expects that 109,000 families and whanau with children will be, on average, $175 a week better off as a result of changes to income support, since 2017.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was about reversing cuts to benefits made in 1991 under National Party Finance Minister Ruth Richardson - a Budget nicknamed the Mother of all Budgets.
Thursday, 20 May 2021, 4:06 pm
The Government’s decision to invest in insulating
another 48,000 homes is a welcome move that must be built on
in coming years, says Insulation Association Executive
Officer Richard Arkinstall.
“The Warmer Kiwi Homes
programme has been enormously successful, to the extent it
was due to run out of funding early. The additional $120m
over two years committed in Budget 2021 will mean the
insulation industry can continue its work making the homes
of New Zealanders, warmer, healthier, and more energy
efficient,” says Mr Arkinstall.
“This
must be just a first step towards assisting a wider range of
income levels to full, modern insulation standards. Every