Working on DBP

Nikki is talking about the Training Incentive Allowance and it doesn't go anywhere these days to pay for uni fees let alone daycare, travel, books etc. I have seen how much some woman have ben given for their Massey fees and it probably paid for 5 papers out of the 8 needed to be full time. I have seen some of these woman's grades as well and they work bloody hard to do well in the studies to get off the DPB.

The universal SA would be great if it didn't affect your accom suppliment or WFF payments.

Mel you should get some money from IRD (the old child support), you just wouldn't get the in work payment.

I personally just don't understand why they can't get a student loan and pay it back like everyone else has to. Yes it is beneficial for women to be educated and get better jobs but there are plenty of young women who get pregnant and instead of the man doing a runner he sticks around, they struggle like hell and she gets nothing, that is not fair and its not right. I'm not necessarily saying that single mothers should get nothing but they shouldn't get special treatment just because they are single.

And why should couples both work, I have recently quit work and we get nothing off WFF but we are by no means well off, I will be out of my job for a few years and it will be a struggle for me to get back into it because I work in an industry that moves quickly so even if I didn't want to change careers I would still be buggered cos I would get no help to upskill and return to the workforce and even if we did qualify for WFF I still wouldn't get any help because my husband earns over the thresholds which is a total joke.

I understand that not all women are in the situation they are in on purpose or cos they want to get a free ride but seriously put yourself in my shoes and i think you would be pretty peeved at the double standard as well.

See I really don't consider being on the DPB as 'special treatment'

As I said in my original post, while it felt like a lot of money to be getting at the time, there was no way in hell it was sustainable to live on. I don't know how people do it for years and years. I guess that's how people end up getting stupid loans from finance companies and then get themselves into real trouble!

Cuppatea it's not 'special treatment' as you deem it, it's more helping single mothers get off on the right foot.

And paying off a student loan? You have to be kidding me ...I'm on the bones of my arse some weeks and struggle just to get all our groceries and the bare essentials and thats whilst BOARDING with my parents. Lord knows how we will cope when we move out but I'm determined to see that through.

My father has been paying a large amount in taxes for YEARS because he earns a damn good wage. As he says, I'm only earning back what he's paying ....and even then I'm not earning near as much as he pays in taxes.

Mum2Lucas wrote: And just to add - every last penny I get given goes on the boy, I haven't bought any new clothes for myself since before falling pregnant, every week its board, food, medication & petrol and clothes for Lucas when need be. It's not as great as some of you make it out to be, and sure I understand there are couples that struggle just as much and thats where the WFF comes into place, if you earn over a certain amount then according to them you should be able to cope with a decent budget in place. No need to single out those of us who are eligible for AND RELY ON financial assistance to provide shelter, clothing and food for our children

yep i agree

Fantastic post about Nat's DPB policy at The Hand Mirror

Back on topic... I suggest people go and read the piece by Deborah on the National policy to get sole parents back into work once their kid reaches 6.

And howwww exactly do they propose to prevent people from having more children???

You can't exactly force sterilisations!

I would have thought that investing in people getting an education would be go some way toward decreasing birth rates. I don't have the statistics here to bring out but I'd put money on it that the birth rate of those with tertiary education is miles lower than those who don't have tertiary education.

Mum2Lucas wrote: Cuppatea it's not 'special treatment' as you deem it, it's more helping single mothers get off on the right foot. And paying off a student loan? You have to be kidding me ...I'm on the bones of my arse some weeks and struggle just to get all our groceries and the bare essentials and thats whilst BOARDING with my parents. Lord knows how we will cope when we move out but I'm determined to see that through. My father has been paying a large amount in taxes for YEARS because he earns a damn good wage. As he says, I'm only earning back what he's paying ....and even then I'm not earning near as much as he pays in taxes.

Mum2Lucas wrote: And just to add - every last penny I get given goes on the boy, I haven't bought any new clothes for myself since before falling pregnant, every week its board, food, medication & petrol and clothes for Lucas when need be. It's not as great as some of you make it out to be, and sure I understand there are couples that struggle just as much and thats where the WFF comes into place, if you earn over a certain amount then according to them you should be able to cope with a decent budget in place. No need to single out those of us who are eligible for AND RELY ON financial assistance to provide shelter, clothing and food for our children

 

Yess.. exactly. Im on a budget, and most weeks i can barely afford to get food for myself let alone pay off a loan. I too havnt bought any thing for my self since before Briahna was born!

If i relied on a job and didnt get any kind of "special treatment" as some seem to think it is then id never have the time or money to do any study as my pay would be going straight on child care, loans, rent, bills and neither me or my child would be able to eat. So my study to further my education and get a better paying job just wouldnt happen.

 

Sadly with the current system help is there but not for everyone.

It is hard to find the ones abusing the system, without making everyone suffer which is unfair for those that really need it.

The only assistance I can get from the government is a student loan and course related costs. And DH doesnt have a job and refuses to go on the Unemployment Benefit and we are classed as middle income (not sure how but we are).

I just remember when my parents split up and my dad is self employed he had no work for 3 months and had us kids, he was not entitled to any government help, not even a small food grant. That stinks I think. Not even temp help for bills, luckly we managed cant remeber how but we must have been in poverty during those months.

Sorry just a little rant.

MelanieAndBree wrote: Yess.. exactly. Im on a budget, and most weeks i can barely afford to get food for myself let alone pay off a loan. I too havnt bought any thing for my self since before Briahna was born! If i relied on a job and didnt get any kind of "special treatment" as some seem to think it is then id never have the time or money to do any study as my pay would be going straight on child care, loans, rent, bills and neither me or my child would be able to eat. So my study to further my education and get a better paying job just wouldnt happen.

I too have those problems .. and will never be able to upskill unlike those who receive this "not special treatment"

Nikki ...

Before I had Isabelle ... I was completely for helping out those in need and even though under another government I would have been better off I always supported Labour as they helped those who needed it.

HOWEVER now that I have Isabelle and see all the help that goes to "those in need" I think hell ... I could do with a helping hand too but Im obviously poor but not quite poor enough

Pearls ... your Dad is/was a

Im always amazed how people cope without family nearby... Ive supported my brother when he needed help .. My brother and I supported Mum and Dad when they were in need .. and now my brother and my parents help DH and I ... its just sad that those people who dont have family near (those on working visas for example) dont get any help when things get tough. (Which I dont understand .. they pay tax too).