With reports of increased domestic violence, stress, workplace bullying, and job losses I thought I would have a quick look at Canterbury beneficiary stats.
The national increase across all benefits was 2 percent. In Christchurch it was 3.8 percent. On the face of it, surprisingly small.
But intriguingly, DPB numbers, against the national trend, have dropped, but only very slightly. 15 to be exact. I suspect this is because single parent families have packed up and left. Beneficiaries have, in some respects, more economic mobility than others. Their registration would shift to whichever region they moved to. There have been some significant DPB rises in places like Invercargill and Timaru.
So if many leave (transfer registration) but quite a lot go on (newly register in Christchurch) we could see either a small net loss or gain. Consequently the earthquake may have contributed significantly to more people on benefits but it isn't immediately obvious by viewing the Canterbury statistics.
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4 comments:
I agree with you when you say "Beneficiaries have, in some respects, more economic mobility than others.".
Earthquake happens. Thousands of families are struggling. Life in Christchurch is getting quite expensive - we use more petrol, our cars are wearing out faster, it takes so much longer to get things done, a lot of families have lost an income etc etc.
Since there is no financial assistance available for most, they eat into savings, if they have any. No problem, that's what savings are there for.
People are under financial stress.
But what really, really sticks in my throat, what I find particularly galling, is the plight of some beneficiaries I know.
They are still being paid every Thu.
In fact, they were paid more, to help with the extra heating and transport costs.
And instead of helping out, you know, using all their free time to shovel some silt, or do some cooking or baking for their neighbours etc, the buggers simply moved to another town nearby, and are doing very well, thank you very much.
I don't want them back here in Chch.
Rufus
You are right about beneficiaries having more economic mobility.
If i were a mother in Christchurch on the benefit i would move to another town as well.
When you do not have adequate hygienic and sanitary conditions for your children, and no water, you would be thinking about all the germs and diseases that your children become exposed to.
I see the government called in the Army to help with the clean up.
The DPB beneficiaries were right in moving out. You do not allow your babies and children to be exposed to toilet waste.
And for those families who cannot move as they are committed to Christchurch and their homes, well they are highly commended as well.
Couldn't some of them be provided with a one way ticket to Aus.
Most people leaving are leaving for Oz - where of course they are ineligible for benefits.
Couldn't some of them be provided with a one way ticket to Aus.
No need to provide - at $218 or thereabouts, even dpbers can afford it. Something called "Free Market Capitalism". NZ should try it sometime.
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