Media Release
Minister Mistaken Over Growth in Incapacity Benefits
Friday, April 13, 2007

In defence of growing incapacity benefit numbers, Minister of Social Development, David Benson-Pope, is claiming the growth has slowed.

Welfare commentator, Lindsay Mitchell, says this is not so and either the Minister is badly advised or he has a very poor memory.

"Just over a year ago, in February 2006, the Minister said, '(T)he number of Sickness Benefit recipients increased by just 1,214, and the number of Invalid´s Benefit recipients increased by only 1,957 - a three percent rise for each respectively. We have seen a steep decline in the growth rate of Sickness and Invalid's Benefits.' "

"On April 11, 2007, he said, 'Despite an aging population, we are doing well in reducing the growth of numbers needing a Sickness or Invalids Benefit. In the past year Sickness and Invalids Benefit numbers have risen by just 4,000.' "

"So despite greater growth in the past year compared to the previous, David Benson-Pope is still making the same claim. It is bad enough that 'slowing growth' is the best the Minister can offer. It is worse still when that claim isn't even valid."

ENDS

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