Budget lift: Small boost for family of six
Charles Bates’ children don’t ask for much.
They know finances are tight in the family household.
When they do want a little something extra, they join their father busking outside Hornby mall.
Bates said if it wasn’t for the busking sessions, his children would miss out on the essentials.
The Christchurch father and his five children did not expect to gain significantly from Thursday’s Budget.
The single father moved to Christchurch 14 months ago with newly-acquired custody of his children.
A truck driver by trade, he had been unable to work while he juggled childcare and awaited surgery to remove a hernia protruding from his stomach.
‘‘I’ve waited 22 years and it’s just got bigger and bigger.’’
He had been told it wasn’t bad enough to operate.
On top of that, he had to pick up his seven-year-old autistic son, Xaviar from Hornby Primary school at the earlier time of 1pm each day.
‘‘I’m 51 and I’m trying to fit everything in that I can.’’
He said he received more than $600 a week in government support, and paid $105 in subsidised rent for their three-bedroom Housing New Zealand property. He also put a little away into savings each week.
The family slept in the lounge to reduce the power bill and he cycled most places as he could not afford to fix the family car.
‘‘You learn to do what you can.’’
The Budget would see some relief from April 1, 2018 when the higher family tax credit, available to children aged 16-18, would be expanded to cover all children. This would see an increase of $9.25 a week for the first child and $17.75 to 26.81 a week for each subsequent child.
The package announced by Finance Minister Steven Joyce also included an increase in the accommodation supplement and income tax thresholds.
As a non-working solo father, Bates received a Job Seeker benefit, and child assistance for four of his five children.
Online calculators indicated Bates would get $15 a week more in family tax credits and $15 a week from changes to the income tax thresholds.
The Salvation Army said for New Zealand’s most vulnerable beneficiary families the gains were not great.
‘‘For some beneficiaries’ health and childcare means work is not a realistic possibility. Government must not drop the ball in providing adequately for these people.’’