A Methodist Alliance working group is campaigning to increase benefit and abatement rates. Working with ActionStation’s Fairer Futures, they are lobbying MPs and raising public awareness of the inequality, deprivation and hardship that comes with living on a benefit.

Life on a benefit is hard. Income support levels are so meagre that people are trapped in poverty. Our current welfare system is designed to be a deterrent so people will not become “welfare dependent.” This is something I don’t understand. The idea that people will make an intentional choice to live on a benefit does not ring true to me.

The reality is far more complex. Many people who try to survive on the benefit have been placed in a position where they have very few choices: take a low wage job regardless of their abilities, make money illegally, go without or go on welfare.

If you “choose” to go on a benefit, you apply to Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ). Many people report how dehumanising this is and the stigma that comes with receiving a benefit. I know some great people who work at WINZ. However, I also know the negative culture it has which lacks dignity, respect and compassion. Often people do not get their full and correct entitlements and because the system is so complex, it is difficult to find out what those entitlements are.

Caseworkers can demand bank statements and those who receive income support often feel like WINZ are looking over their shoulder. This makes people second guess themselves if they purchase something ‘non-essential’. It is dehumanising trying to prove that you are one of the “deserving poor”.

People who receive benefit support are skilled at making their dollar stretch. The issue is that there are not enough dollars to stretch far enough to cover even the basics of food, rent, power, phone, let alone incidental bills like a dentist or medical bill. The benefit levels sit well below basic living costs so the harsh reality of life means there are no luxuries – no going to the movies, haircuts or dinners out. Beneficiaries are surviving, not thriving and can only afford to participate in community events where there is no cost involved.

Supposedly WINZ is there to help; they can offer more financial support, but often this means incurring a debt to government that must be repaid to WINZ out of income support. When you don’t have enough income to cover your outgoings, this is hard. You have to decide what you will go without. Sometimes it is a choice between paying the rent, buying food or visiting the doctor.

If you are lucky enough to pick up some work but it is inconsistent, then you need to declare your income every week to WINZ and they will reduce your benefit accordingly. So while you are striving to make ends meet, taking on inconsistent work, you are also managing an ever shifting income. If you form a relationship, that affects your benefit levels. If you fail to declare a relationship, this is classed as relationship fraud.

We need to consider how we are treating our most vulnerable people. We need to have honest discussions about what a guaranteed minimum income would look like. It would have to be enough to live on, look after your children and be able to contribute to your community.

If we are dreaming of a better future, perhaps the income support could be individualised. So if you entered a relationship, it would not matter. And perhaps we could have a universal child benefit that recognises the value and importance of parenting. And perhaps we could have a system that was simple and easy to understand, where we operate from a starting point of ensuring people receive all the benefit and income support they are entitled to.

Let’s dream of a better future and work to make that dream a reality.