Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-KingThe number of people being denied benefits because their partner earns too much has skyrocketed. Job seeker benefits can be cut to nothing depending on partners' incomes - despite recommendations by the government's own Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) to scrap the rule. Covid-19 has put immense pressure on New Zealand's welfare system with more than 43,500 people going on the job seeker benefit between February and May. But she can't get a benefit because she lives with her partner and he earns around $945 per week before tax. "I think Covid could actually be a good catalyst for implementing some of the things that needed to be done.

Source: Otago Daily Times June 18, 2020 22:18 UTC