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Job Ops has given ten thousand young people the chance to learn on the job skills and work ethic says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

The Job Opportunities Package, first announced in 2009 and then expanded in 2010, provides employers with a $5,000 subsidy to create a position for an unskilled 16 to 24 year old.

“We know that the younger a person is when they first go on an Unemployment Benefit the harder it is for them to come off it,” says Ms Bennett.

Recently released figures show that Work and Income are helping more people in need says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“Special Needs Grants for hardship have increased by over 50 per cent since March 2008,” says Ms Bennett.

“So yes, that does mean that more people have been asking for help, but it also means that they getting it,” says Ms Bennett.

In March this year Work and Income granted 57,831 Special Needs Grants to people who needed help with their weekly living costs.

The number of New Zealanders on a benefit fell by 12,531 during March says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“While it is encouraging to see another drop in benefit numbers I want to caution against getting too optimistic on the basis of these figures,” says Ms Bennett.

The 3.6 per cent decrease in overall benefit figures to 331,529 was characterised by another drop in the number of people on an Unemployment Benefit, which fell to 59,940 during March.

The Government has decided to reorganise a portion of its current funding for family violence into five initiatives to strengthen support for families.

Making the announcement today, Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, Tariana Turia, said $11.035 million of the $62.4 million Government currently invests each year in contracted family violence services will be re-channelled into the following five initiatives:

Tariana Turia says she will miss working with Peter Hughes – the chief executive of the Ministry of Social Development and Employment who will be departing the position soon.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today paid tribute to departing Ministry of Social Development Chief Executive Peter Hughes.

“After a nearly a decade in the job Peter Hughes is moving on and I wish him all the best, he has done an outstanding job leading MSD,” says Ms Bennett.

"A job of this magnitude demands a long tenure and Peter Hughes absolutely gave it one hundred percent," says Ms Bennett.

Mr Hughes will remain in the role until September when his contract expires.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has announced extended support for employees who have lost their jobs due to the earthquake.

The current Job Loss Cover for displaced employees will be extended by two weeks to April 18 then replaced with an Individual Support Payment.

“People who lost their jobs and have no option to stay with their original employer will get support as they look for alternative work,” says Ms Bennett.

A second round of assistance will support viable Christchurch businesses and help individuals who have lost jobs as a result of the earthquake.

“This second phase is designed to help employers transition into longer term solutions,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

The current Earthquake Support Subsidy (ESS) to help employers keep paying wages, will be extended for two weeks to 18 April, followed by a further six-week round with tighter criteria.

The next round will be available to employers who:

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is announcing significant changes to New Zealand’s flagship early intervention programme Family Start, to get better outcomes for families and children.

Independent reviews of Family Start commissioned by the Minister have found providers vary in effectiveness and practice standards.

“We know early intervention works, we believe it’s the right approach, but reviews show the programme’s focus has drifted over time,” says Ms Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is delighted to join Auckland Mayor Len Brown in co-chairing the new Auckland Social Policy Forum.

The Forum, due to meet for the first time tomorrow, brings local and central government together to work on Auckland’s social issues collaboratively.

“I felt it was important to walk beside the new Auckland City Council and address social issues together, to make a real difference,” says Ms Bennett.

The number of New Zealanders on a benefit decreased by nearly 10,000 during February says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

There are 344,060 people on a benefit now, down from 354,058 in January.

“Over February, the number of people on an Unemployment Benefit fell by 3,779 and young people account for half of that decline,” says Ms Bennett.

The number of people on an Unemployment Benefit is now 64,308, down from 68,087 in January.

There will be eight new Christchurch Recovery Assistance Centres in the hardest hit areas of Christchurch, six of which will open tomorrow says Social Development Minster Paula Bennett.

“These Centres will provide a range of services to people in localised areas in Christchurch, particularly the Eastern Suburbs,” says Ms Bennett.

"Welfare Centres are closing down so that for example Burnside High School can get back to being a school, " says Ms Bennett.

Over 8,500 applications have been made for earthquake support assistance covering more than 20,000 people says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“Most applications are straight forward and over 14,000 people have already been approved,” says Ms Bennett.

“Some are taking a little longer because they require manual data matching with IRD or have exceptional circumstances that need to be considered,” says Ms Bennett.

The Government is assisting more than 10,000 people through its support package for Christchurch says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

"Since announcing the package yesterday, applications have been flooding in from employers and workers who are relieved support is now available to help get them through the next few weeks,” says Ms Bennett.

Earthquake Support Subsidy
• 1,718 employers covering 8,271 staff
• 1,516 sole traders

Job Loss Cover:
• 788 individual employees

The initial earthquake support package for employers and employees is available now and the first payments will be in bank accounts by Wednesday says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“There is a lot of uncertainty over whether jobs and businesses will continue in Christchurch, so this measure will help ensure people can pay the bills for the next few weeks,” says Ms Bennett.

Work and Income has seven mobile vans going directly to people in the hardest hit suburbs of Christchurch says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“These vans allow Work and Income to provide help directly to people in the suburbs, who may not be able to access transport,” says Ms Bennett.

”Social workers will join Work and Income staff in the vans to provide advice and support as well as financial assistance,” says Ms Bennett.

Seven Work and Income sites are now open at locations around the city.

Emergency Payments to Cantabrians affected by the earthquake have topped one million dollars says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

So far, 6,267 Civil Defence payments totalling $1,024,202 have been made.

“The greatest need at the moment is for food, followed by clothing and bedding, it’s those basic human needs for food, warmth and shelter that we’re trying to meet,” says Ms Bennett.

About 55% of payments have been for food, 26% clothing and 11% for bedding. The average payment has been around $165.

As at 10am, 4,000 people affected by the Christchurch earthquake have received financial assistance says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

In the last three days around $700,000 has been paid out in Civil Defence payments for essential items such as food, clothing and bedding.

“Christchurch people in genuine need, regardless of income, should call the Government helpline to access these payments” says Ms Bennett.

I firstly acknowledge Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau – those iwi and hapu who have spiritual, ancestral, cultural, customary and historical interests within Tāmaki Makaurau.

I think particularly of the peoples associated to Ngati Whatua, Te Kawerau ā Maki; Ngāti Te Ata; Ngāti Tamaoho; Te Ākitai; Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki; Ngāti Pāoa; Ngāti Maru; Ngāti Whanaunga; and Ngāti Tamaterā.

A volunteer army of Christchurch students is stepping up to help people in Christchurch and we’re backing them with funding says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“Just as they did after last September’s earthquake, students led by Sam Johnson are swinging into action and it’s truly humbling to see,” says Paula Bennett.

Funding of $20,000 has been approved for the student clean up.

Almost one thousand people affected by the earthquake have accessed financial assistance in Christchurch says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“Work and Income is making emergency assistance a priority to ensure help gets to those in need as quickly as possible,” says Ms Bennett.

So far more than $163,000 has been paid out in Civil Emergency Grants which are available to anyone in genuine need, they are not income tested.

Work and Income staff continue to make contact with elderly people living alone in Christchurch and in some cases it’s proving vital says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

So far 10,234 calls have been made and 3,311 people have answered those calls.

“We’ve needed to send emergency help and home visits to a small number of people, though most are actually coping very well,” says Ms Bennett.

One of our priorities is checking on the elderly, disabled and vulnerable Cantabrians who may be alone and distressed says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

So far 5,333 calls have been made and of those, Work and Income staff have managed to get hold of 1,344 people.

“Because we just can’t get around the city physically yet, phoning those who are vulnerable in the first instance is a matter of urgency,” says Ms Bennett.

The welfare centre in Hagley park will close this evening says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“The welfare centre at Burnside High remains open, with the new addition of Cowles Stadium which is open now and Pioneer Stadium which will be open from 6 o’clock this evening,” says Ms Bennett.

With rain forecast over the next few days, the decision has been made to move everyone from Hagley Park to the other, more suitable buildings.

“People are being shifted by bus out of Hagley Park to other welfare centres,” says Ms Bennett.