Single mum not getting support
West Auckland mother-of-three Bella* never expected to end up on the benefit.
When she and her husband split four years ago, she thought she would be ‘‘taken care of’’.
‘‘I wasn’t. I have been on a benefit ever since.’’
She did casual work, cleaning or taking care of children, but every week was a struggle.
‘‘The hardest thing is covering the costs of childcare and then weighing up the benefit of a few extra dollars a week for the stress of stretching myself so much physically,’’ she said.
‘‘I don’t get a dollar-for-dollar amount per hour in my pocket. Once I earn over a certain amount, my benefit drops. I lose temporary additional support and with childcare costs, I might only have a few dollars per hour benefit.’’
Bella was degree-educated and thought of herself as highly employable.
‘‘But juggling the needs of my family really limits what is possible.’’
Of her weekly income of about $800, work depending, half goes on rent.
‘‘I have three children and we live in a small two-bedroom home. Lunch boxes can be scarce on nourishment. Bills are always behind. I have zero safety net in terms of saving for unexpected expenses.’’
Families such as hers received extra attention in the recent election campaign.
Labour leader Jacinda Ardern pledged to increase Working for Families payments, a ‘‘best start’’ payment for children’s early years and a winter energy payment for beneficiaries.
Prime Minister Bill English said he would lift 100,000 kids out of poverty.
Bella was optimistic about the future but said it’s hard work getting off the benefit.
‘‘If each hour I worked added up to greater financial benefit for me, then it wouldn’t seem so hopeless, she said.
‘‘I have just applied for a job that has reasonable pay and it looks exciting. It’s 20 hours a week, which will be a big push for me. Especially at times when kids get sick. I would love to be financially independent, though.’’
* Bella did not want her surname used.