Judith Collins MP National Party Welfare Spokeswoman
6 January 2008
Teen sickness benefits double under Labour
The number of 16 to 19-year-olds on the sickness benefit has increased by over 100% since Labour took office, says
National's Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins.
"We know that sickness and invalid benefit numbers in general have increased by 50%, but the increase in the number of
teenagers on the sickness benefit is truly staggering.
"In 2000, there were 1,077, 16 to 19-year-olds on a sickness benefit. That figure has now more than doubled to 2,196.
"The number of teenagers on the invalid benefit has also increased from 1,934 in 2000 to 2,779 today.
"Labour conveniently only ever refers to unemployment benefit numbers. It wants to pretend that the 13,000 teenagers on
other benefits don't exist.
"What is this Government doing to help these teenagers who have barely begun their working lives?"
ENDS