Social Security (Subsequent Child Policy Removal) Amendment Bill

Members, we now come to Part 2. This is the debate on clause 17 and the Schedule, “Transitional, savings, and related provisions”. The question is that Part 2 stand part.

Part 2 of the bill sets out transitional provisions to improve the client experience and comes into force on 11 October 2021. This allows for a 28-day transition period prior to the policy’s removal, which will improve the client experience for clients with the benefit application or change in circumstances around the time of the policy’s removal by preventing multiple changes to their benefit type and/or work, or work preparation obligations within a short period of time. The transition period also extends 28 days after the policy’s removal. The dates of application, decision by the Ministry of Social Development, and benefit commencement, or corresponding dates for a change in circumstances, can be spread across several weeks. A broad window is therefore required to ensure equitable treatment across a range of situations within the transition period and to ensure a streamlined process for clients.

Thank you very much, Mr Chair. I do note the Minister’s response earlier when we were discussing the costs of this. The Minister revealed some of the other subsequent incentives or what would happen to beneficiaries on, say, the sole parent, who would have their obligations changed, and some of the transition from jobseeker to sole parent. The other financial benefits that are available, the Minister did run through those, but I wonder if she has put a dollar figure on it for those 5,400 sole parents that would be changed, and, especially, for the 2,500 that are on the jobseeker benefit who would move over to sole parent and qualify for those other financial benefits. If she can quantify that, please, to help inform the discussion. Thank you.