'Finding a part time job for a kid is like winning the lottery' - parents worry about Jobseeker benefit changes
New Zealand parents are expressing concern over government plans to restrict Jobseeker benefit access for 18- and 19-year-olds from higher-earning households. Families argue that the benefit is a vital safety net in a difficult youth job market.
Why it matters
The policy change sparks debate over social welfare accessibility and the economic challenges faced by young people entering the workforce.
Parents say the Jobseeker benefit can be a lifesaver for their families if their teenagers can not find work after high school.
From November this year, the government will end Jobseeker Support payments for 18- and 19-year-olds whose parents earn more $67,225.
When her eldest son turned 18, solo mum Louise Hinton lost access to child support payments her family relied on.
Without his Jobseeker benefit to help keep them afloat, she said they would not have survived.
"When he went from 17 to 18, I lost $300 a week in child support and family assistance," she said.
"If he couldn't get the benefit, I probably would've lost my house."
Her eldest child moved to Australia after struggling to find work in New Zealand, and her 16-year-old son was contemplating the same.
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