Posts by Lilith __
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Up Front: Cui bono?, in reply to Alec Morgan,
staff are personally rewarded for denying what their “clients” seek rather than providing it!
This is not generally true, but I well remember when managers were appointed at regional level in ?2010 specifically to reduce Disability Allowance spending by the MSD. These managers directly harassed Doctors over certifying their patients' disability costs and trimmed the Disability Allowance payments of thousands of people without consultation. They did this without ever meeting any of the disabled clients or understanding our circumstances, and they were not accessible themselves for appeals.
My Disability Allowance was slashed at that time, from $57/wk to $12/wk. My doctor wrote to the MSD several times, and each time the level went up slightly. A couple of years later it was restored to the full amount by a caring case worker who was horrified at the amount I was spending without reimbursement.When cuts are made to MSD payments and entitlements the directive has come from government.
I also remember when the Disability Allowance for Counselling was cancelled altogether, some years ago. I was astonished when a case worker suggested I apply for it. It had been re-introduced with no publicity, as she said, "Because there's a need for it."
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Without wanting to derail the thread, I think making public transport free for everyone would have enormous beneficial effects in the community. All the fuss and expense with cards and tickets, why do we have it?
When I catch the bus at off-peak times I look around at all the smiling old folks with their GoldCards and wonder if I'm the only paying passenger.
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This is from 2009, but I expect the proportions are still roughly similar. You can see that the proportion of actual unemployed is vanishingly small in relation to the total welfare budget.
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I I have a blind friend who has been asked to produce his driver's licence at WINZ.
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Up Front: Cui bono?, in reply to Emma Hart,
I think we can date the high level of screw-ups from the time benefit administration was taken away from individual case managers. I have a friend who worked for DSW (as it was then) in the 80s, and at that time all the letters were handwritten by your case manager, who would have met you. And if a mistake was made, it was on that one person, who you could ring up and speak to. And if you weren’t happy you would ask to speak to their supervisor, who was in the same physical office.
Now, beneficiaries get all kinds of random mail, generated by unknown functionaries in varying locations and who you can’t speak to or hold accountable.
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Thank you Six. Couldn't agree more. And hell, you'd be in a position to know.
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Wow...that is the sound of my preconceptions shattering.
Thank you, Six, and good luck. -
Capture: Auckland City Limits, in reply to JacksonP,
You know, what with this camera thingy around my neck and “PHOTO 23” on my back.
Catch 23
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Nice pic! ;-)
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Top photos, looks like a fab time!
