‘I literally don’t have enough money’: Pasifika react to Budget 2022

by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller

Sole parent beneficiaries can claim child support without it being intercepted by the state, the Government yesterday announced.

"To look at a 2-bedroom situation in South Auckland, the rent of that would be about 85% of my benefit."

"I am hoping that the increase to a solo parent's income will mean that there is an increase in a better standard of living for the children."

Currently, the Government can retain child support payments from primary caregivers to recoup the cost of welfare. This will no longer be the case by July.

“This initiative means that child support payments for sole-parent beneficiaries will be passed on directly and charged as income for benefit purposes, as they are for most other beneficiaries raising tamariki,” Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni says.

Sepuloni has opened up before about once having claimed a benefit as a single mum.

“It is estimated that 41,550 sole-parent families will be better off, with a median gain of $24 per week,” she says.

Some Pacific sole parents have welcomed the new legislation:

Fijian sole parent, recently sold family home

I’ve always felt the fact [my ex-partner] has to pay child support to the government and it comes out with tax, takes a lot of my burden from me actually.

It’s good that money will come directly, but it does make me feel a little like now do I have to manage a relationship with my co-parent in a way which was more protected before - extra pūtea is always good though.

Financial discussions and co-parenting are really challenging when one parent is working full-time and the other is a beneficiary.

I could never pay rent on a house, on the benefit.

I don’t actually have much family here.

In the last few months, I moved from my family home which was sold, to a really amazing friend who’s given us a place to say.

When I was living in the family home and had to pay for power and water in this 3-bedroom house, I had nothing.

To look at a 2-bedroom situation in South Auckland, the rent of that would be about 85% of my benefit.

Samoan solo mum of four, from West Auckland

I'm happy that the ‘tax’ taken from money that rightfully should have gone to the child and their custodial parent is finally actually going to go to them.

I am hoping that the increase to a solo parent's income will mean that there is an increase in a better standard of living for the children.

I'm grateful that [Social Development Minister] Sepuloni has been in our shoes and knows our struggles - she remembers what it was like. 

The unspoken message by the state has been a system that penalises people for being in situations beyond their control, which is atrocious.

This is at least, giving us sole parents some transparency and is sending the message to us and our children that we have every right to this money - it's not the state's to control.

Meanwhile, low income Kiwis not receiving the Winter Energy Payment will receive $350 over three months. It will be paid in $27 per week payments.

Afakasi uni student, living out of home

I’m not really that much of a spender anymore, but I don’t know if that’s because I literally don’t have money because the cost of living is so expensive.

It’s very difficult, at least for me. I’ve run out of savings. Every dinner is a frozen dinner.

I think it would’ve been better if it were a lump sum because there’s lots of immediate costs.

I can’t think of any statistics off the top of my head that I could use to back up my argument, but I would tend to believe Māori and Pacific communities are little deserving of a bit more money.

We bore a lot of the brunt during the pandemic of which we are still going through.

I’ve only been moved out of home for two months now, but I already am like `how much longer am I going to stick this out for?”.

It sucks because I really wanted this independence, I thought I’d have a lot of financial freedom but it just didn’t work out that way.

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Names of the individuals interviewed for this article have been removed for anonymity.

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