Churches to aid low-income families in Benefit Impact Week

For the week to be successful, a pool of Advocate Volunteers will have training with the Senior Advocates from BEST.

A Benefit Impact is an event where families with low income, Winz beneficiaries, and advocates come together for a week to check and gain assistance with their entitlements.

It has been held since the 1990s in other parts of New Zealand. The Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington started to conduct this event in 2016 in Upper Hutt, 2017 in Naenae and 2019 in Waikanae. These events have been hosted by a parish community, followed by dedicated appointments with Work and Income staff.

The Levin Benefit Impact Week will be held from March 8-12 from 10am to 4pm each day at St Joseph’s Levin, Parish Centre. This is being organised and hosted by St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Hutt Valley Benefit Educational Service Trust (BEST), Wellington Catholic Social Services, Levin Uniting Church, Pasifica Network, and other non-profit community organisations.

The Benefit Impact Week would like to provide assistance for job seekers, solo parents, youth who are entitled for youth parent payment (YPP), youth entitled for youth payment (YP), study allowance and student loan, superannuitants, families/individuals who are entitled for accommodation supplement, families who need disability allowance, parents who qualify for unsupported child benefits, families who require discretionary assistance — advance payment of benefit, food grants and special needs grant.

This also includes looking at issues such as debt repayment, sanctions and other concerns depending on their situation. And also, this could be an opportunity for those families who have been financially impacted by Covid19, to learn and understand their entitlements.

For the week to be successful, a pool of advocate volunteers will have a training on Monday, March 8, by the senior advocates from BEST.

Tuesday and Wednesday are the days when people are welcomed, have discussion and check entitlements with the advocates and fill out forms that are required if necessary.

Thursday and Friday are the dedicated appointment days with Winz staff to further discuss their concerns.

The advocates will accompany the people to their appointments. Although this event is only from March 8-12, this advocacy will continue as not all cases will be resolved for this week. The group of advocates will continue to assist those in need and follow up cases that will arise during this time.

The important part of the Benefit Impact Week is to have an opportunity for encounter and dialogue while respecting human dignity by offering hospitality, empathy and providing a warm welcome to those already involved and/or will be involved, in the benefit system, including advocates and Winz staff.

Because this event is run by the people, for the people.

For more information, feel free to email Teresa Mason: grandmateresa321@gmail. com.