Tuesday, 20 April 2021, 11:33 am
Covid-19 exacerbated existing levels of material
and emotional hardship for people on low core benefit rates,
a new study has found.
Dr Louise Humpage, a
sociologist at the University of Auckland who conducted the
study in collaboration with Child Poverty Action Group,
Auckland Action Against Poverty and FIRST Union, says most
benefit recipients were struggling to survive financially
before the national lockdown.
“Covid-19 cost hikes
in basic groceries and other goods really pushed them over
the edge,” she says.
The situation was particularly
bad for sole parents and people with disabilities or chronic
illness.
“Although many New Zealanders think benefit
Press Release – University of Auckland
Covid-19 exacerbated existing levels of material and emotional hardship for people on low core benefit rates, a new study has found.
Dr Louise Humpage, a sociologist at the University of Auckland who conducted the study in collaboration with Child Poverty Action Group, Auckland Action Against Poverty and FIRST Union, says most benefit recipients were struggling to survive financially before the national lockdown.
“Covid-19 cost hikes in basic groceries and other goods really pushed them over the edge,” she says.
The situation was particularly bad for sole parents and people with disabilities or chronic illness.
“Although many New Zealanders think benefit recipients got a $25 per week increase back in April 2020, many of our interviewees said it didn’t make one iota of difference because they only got a fraction of that due to clawbacks in supplementary assistance.”
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Covid-19 exacerbated existing levels of material and emotional hardship for people on low core benefit rates, a new study has found.
Dr Louise Humpage, a sociologist at the University of Auckland who conducted the study in collaboration with Child Poverty Action Group, Auckland Action Against Poverty and FIRST Union, says most benefit recipients were struggling to survive financially before the national lockdown.
“Covid-19 cost hikes in basic groceries and other goods really pushed them over the edge,” she says.
And the situation was particularly bad for sole parents and people with disabilities or chronic illness.
“Although many New Zealanders think benefit recipients got a $25 per week increase back in April 2020, many of our interviewees said it didn’t make one iota of difference because they only got a fraction of that due to clawbacks in supplementary assistance.”
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