Judith Collins MP
National Party Welfare Spokeswoman
28 March 2005
Sickness and invalids outnumber unemployed
National’s Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins has released figures which show that, in every region except Wellington,
there are now more people getting sickness and invalid benefits than there are getting the dole.
“No amount of Labour Party propaganda can disguise the fact that under Helen Clark, true unemployment is being obscured
by the numbers on the sickness and invalid benefits.
“Here we have vast numbers of people collecting long-term benefits that aren’t work tested, while New Zealand businesses
are facing their worst skills shortages in 30 years.
“Answers to Parliamentary questions show that in Canterbury and the West Coast, the number of sickness and invalid
beneficiaries outnumber those on the unemployment benefit by three to one.
“In the Auckland, Waikato, East Coast, Central and Southern regions there are twice (or nearly twice) as many sickness
and invalid beneficiaries as there are on the unemployment benefit.
“Yet in April last year, after two typically cynical pre-announcements, Labour unveiled its much-heralded sickness and
invalid benefits pilot strategy.
“So why is it that by the end of January this year there were even more people on those two benefits than there were
last April?
“While the pilot has had some limited success for relatively small numbers of people, Labour still refuses to accept
there is any abuse of the system.
“Labour has made a lot of noise about sorting out the mess, but nothing ever happens. They bluntly refuse to talk about
work testing and they’re predicting the number on welfare will rise.
“National will work to reduce the number on welfare by about a third over the next ten years.
“National will also implement a more thorough medical evaluation process for sickness and invalids’ benefits. In
particular, the next National Government will work with doctors’ groups to ensure consistency in the way those applying
for sickness and invalids’ benefits are evaluated,” says Ms Collins.
From December 1997 to June 1999 (under the previous Government) the number of community wage (sickness) beneficiaries
was decreasing.
Ends
Attached - Region by Region Statistics (Unemployment Benefit vs. Sickness & Invalids’ Benefit) - 6 pages.
Regional Benefit Statistics
National Sickness and Invalids Beneficiaries
Between December 1999 and the end of January 2005 there has been a 39% increase in the number of people receiving the
Invalids Benefit and a 38% increase in the number of people receiving the Sickness Benefit.
As at the end of January 2005, there were 120,048 people in receipt of the Sickness and Invalids Benefits.
Regional Sickness and Invalids Beneficiaries
For the purpose of recording regional benefit statistics, New Zealand is broken down into 11 regions. The Work and
Income service centres that are covered by each region are set out in the Appendix. In addition, some clients, for
administrative reasons, are not recorded as belonging to a geographically located service centre.
As at the end of January 2005, in every Work and Income region except for Wellington, more people were in receipt of
Sickness and Invalids Benefits than the Unemployment Benefit.
Northland
As at the end of January 2005, 1.4 times as many people were in receipt of Sickness and Invalids Benefits as the
Unemployment Benefit, or 43% more people. The numbers are:
- Sickness Benefit - 2,275
- Invalids Benefit - 3,532
- Unemployment Benefit - 4,052
Since Labour came into power, there has been a 36% increase in the number of people in receipt of Sickness and Invalids
Benefits (31 March 2000 to 31 January 2005).
Auckland Metro
As at the end of January 2005, 1.8 times as many people were in receipt of Sickness and Invalids Benefits as the
Unemployment Benefit, or 78% more people. The numbers are:
- Sickness Benefit - 15,918
- Invalids Benefit - 17,559
- Unemployment Benefit - 18,757
Since Labour came into power, there has been a 42% increase in the number of people in receipt of Sickness and Invalids
Benefits (31 March 2000 to 31 January 2005).
East Coast
As at the end of January 2005, 1.9 times as many people were in receipt of Sickness and Invalids Benefits as the
Unemployment Benefit, or 89% more people. The numbers are:
- Sickness Benefit - 2,779
- Invalids Benefit - 4,138
- Unemployment Benefit - 3,665
Since Labour came into power, there has been a 44% increase in the number of people in receipt of Sickness and Invalids
Benefits (31 March 2000 to 31 January 2005).
Central
As at the end of January 2005, 2 times as many people were in receipt of Sickness and Invalids Benefits as the
Unemployment Benefit, or 98% more people. The numbers are:
- Sickness Benefit - 2,571
- Invalids Benefit - 5,581
- Unemployment Benefit - 4,121
Since Labour came into power, there has been a 39% increase in the number of people in receipt of Sickness and Invalids
Benefits (31 March 2000 to 31 January 2005).
Bay of Plenty
As at the end of January 2005, 1.5 times as many people were in receipt of Sickness and Invalids Benefits as the
Unemployment Benefit, or 54% more people. The numbers are:
- Sickness Benefit - 4,070
- Invalids Benefit - 5,345
- Unemployment Benefit - 6,129
Since Labour came into power, there has been a 44% increase in the number of people in receipt of Sickness and Invalids
Benefits (31 March 2000 to 31 January 2005).
Waikato
As at the end of January 2005, 1.9 times as many people were in receipt of Sickness and Invalids Benefits as the
Unemployment Benefit, or 87% more people. The numbers are:
- Sickness Benefit - 3,256
- Invalids Benefit - 6,210
- Unemployment Benefit - 5,071
Since Labour came into power, there has been a 43% increase in the number of people in receipt of Sickness and Invalids
Benefits (31 March 2000 to 31 January 2005).
Taranaki-King Country-Wanganui
As at the end of January 2005, 1.3 times as many people were in receipt of Sickness and Invalids Benefits as the
Unemployment Benefit, or 31% more people. The numbers are:
- Sickness Benefit - 1,999
- Invalids Benefit - 4,483
- Unemployment Benefit - 4,958
Since Labour came into power, there has been a 38% increase in the number of people in receipt of Sickness and Invalids
Benefits (31 March 2000 to 31 January 2005).
Wellington
As at the end of January 2005, 0.9 times as many people were in receipt of Sickness and Invalids Benefits as the
Unemployment Benefit, or 7% fewer people. The numbers are:
- Sickness Benefit - 3,355
- Invalids Benefit - 5,299
- Unemployment Benefit - 9,259
Since Labour came into power, there has been a 36% increase in the number of people in receipt of Sickness and Invalids
Benefits (31 March 2000 to 31 January 2005).
Nelson-Marlborough-West Coast
As at the end of January 2005, 3 times as many people were in receipt of Sickness and Invalids Benefits as the
Unemployment Benefit, or 200% more people. The numbers are:
- Sickness Benefit - 1,617
- Invalids Benefit - 3,984
- Unemployment Benefit - 1,873
Since Labour came into power, there has been a 23% increase in the number of people in receipt of Sickness and Invalids
Benefits (31 March 2000 to 31 January 2005).
Canterbury
As at the end of January 2005, 3.3 times as many people were in receipt of Sickness and Invalids Benefits as the
Unemployment Benefit, or 234% more people. The numbers are:
- Sickness Benefit - 5,246
- Invalids Benefit - 9,820
- Unemployment Benefit - 4,507
Since Labour came into power, there has been a 33% increase in the number of people in receipt of Sickness and Invalids
Benefits (31 March 2000 to 31 January 2005).
Southern
As at the end of January 2005, 2.1 times as many people were in receipt of Sickness and Invalids Benefits as the
Unemployment Benefit, or 111% more people. The numbers are:
- Sickness Benefit - 2,849
- Invalids Benefit - 7,286
- Unemployment Benefit - 4,794
Since Labour came into power, there has been a 23% increase in the number of people in receipt of Sickness and Invalids
Benefits (31 March 2000 to 31 January 2005).
Appendix - Work and Income service centres in each region
This is indicative only. Some service centres have opened/shut down during the period.
Northland
Dargaville
Kaikohe
Kaitaia
Kamo
Kawakawa
Kerkeri
Onerahi
Whangarei Central
Whangarei Super
Auckland Metro
Albany
Auckland
Avondale
Birkenhead
Browns Bay
Clendon
Glen Innes
Glenfield
Glenmall
Helensville
Highland Park
Hunters Corner
Mangere
Manukau
Manurewa
Mt Albert
Mt Eden
New Lynn
Onehunga
Orewa
Otahuhu
Otara
Panmure
Papakura
Papatoetoe
Pt Chevalier
Pukekohe
Queen Street
Queen Street Super
Surrey Crescent/Ponsonby Road
Takapuna
Three Kings
Waiheke Island
Waitakere
Waiuku
Warkworth
West Gate
Waikato
Cambridge
Dinsdale
Five Cross Roads
Glenview
Hamilton
Hamilton East
Huntly
Matamata
Morrinsville
Ngaruawahia
Paeroa
Te Awamutu
Thames
Waihi
Taranaki
Hawera
Marton
New Plymouth
Stratford
Taihape
Taumaranui
Te Kuiti
Waitara
Wanganui
Bay of Plenty
Greerton
Kawerau
Mount Maunganui
Opotiki
Rotorua
Taupo
Tauranga
Te Puke
Tokoroa
Turangi
Whakatane
East Coast
Flaxmere
Gisborne
Hastings
Hastings West
Kaiti
Napier
Napier South
Ruatoria
Taradale
Waipukurau
Wairoa
Central
Dannevirke
Feilding
Foxton
Horowhenua
Kapiti
Masterton
Otaki
Palmerston North
Palmerston North Terrace End
Wellington
Johnsonville
Kilbirnie
Lower Hutt
Naenae
Newtown
Porirua
Upper Hutt
Wainuiomata
Wellington
Wellington City
Nelson
Blenheim
Greymouth
Motueka
Nelson
Richmond
Stoke
Westport
Canterbury
Ashburton
Christchurch
Hornby
Kaiapoi
Linwood
New Brighton
Papanui
Rangiora
Riccarton
Shirley
Stanmore
Sydenham
Southern
Alexandra
Balclutha
Dunedin City
Dunedin North
Dunedin South
Dunedin Super
Gore
Invercargill
Mosgiel
Oamaru
Queenstown
Timaru
ENDS