Previous information:

http://hef.org.nz/2012/still-waiting-for-letter-how-will-the-new-social-obligations-which-will-be-required-of-all-beneficiary-parents-effect-home-schoolers/

and

http://hef.org.nz/2012/new-update-on-how-will-the-new-social-obligations-which-will-be-required-of-all-beneficiary-parents-effect-home-schoolers/

and

http://hef.org.nz/2012/toby-manhire-on-benefit-slaying-nats-starting-to-look-plain-nasty/

I have now lost count on the number of times I have spoken with people at Paula Bennett’s office. I have always been treated well and the staff have been trying to be very helpful.

I have just rung the office again at 5:00pm. Paula Bennett has seen the letter and wanted a couple of changes made to it. These changes have now been made and we are again waiting for Paula Bennett to sign the letter.

My contact at Paula Bennett’s office apologized for the fact that we have had to wait so long for this letter. She then said that we would definately get it tomorrow.

So I trust I will be able to put the letter up here for you all to read and then make submissions on it if necessary.

Update 19 September 11:00am Paula Bennett has still not signed the letter. Again I have been given a promise that they will try to get her to sign it today or tonight. Trust it wont be too long before we get this letter.

Remember if you have an appointment about this over the next few days see if you can get it put off for a few weeks until there is some sort of policy about this. It is very disconcerting that some people have been turning up at interviews and finding that they have not been given all the information. I have heard of people at an interview being told that they have to work for 15 hours a week (and not told about a study option) or their benefit will be cut by 50%. I have heard of others who have turned up for their interview and told the person interviewing them that they are home schooling. They have then been told that they don’t have to do anything. So the standand is different depending on who you get and possibly their attitude towards home schooling.

Read more here: http://hef.org.nz/2012/new-update-on-how-will-the-new-social-obligations-which-will-be-required-of-all-beneficiary-parents-effect-home-schoolers/

Update 5/10/12: Make a submission: Reject compulsory Early Education for 3 year olds

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Update 19 September 11:00am Paula Bennett has still not signed the letter. Again I have been given a promise that they will try to get her to sign it today or tonight. Trust it wont be too long before we get this letter.

Remember if you have an appointment about this over the next few days see if you can get it put off for a few weeks until there is some sort of policy about this. It is very disconcerting that some people have been turning up at interviews and finding that they have not been given all the information. I have heard of people at an interview being told that they have to work for 15 hours a week (and not told about a study option) or their benefit will be cut by 50%. I have heard of others who have turned up for their interview and told the person interviewing them that they are home schooling. They have then been told that they don’t have to do anything. So the standand is different depending on who you get and possibly their attitude towards home schooling.

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Update 18 September 5:30pm Paula Bennet has not signed the letter yet. Hopefully she will be signing it tonight and it will be emailed to me first thing in the morning.

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For background information please read this link: Update on: How will the new Social obligations which will be required of all beneficiary parents effect home schoolers?

I know that many of you on benefits are really concerned about these latest moves for beneficaries and are looking for answers.

I have just finished ringing Paula Bennett’s office again and was told:

1. They talked about it this morning in the office.

2. They are wanting to make sure that they get the correct information out to me because they know I will be passing it onto others. So they are going to be sending me a formal response so that there is no confusion.

3. They don’t want to give us any wrong information.

UPDATE:

4. The letter has been written – it is just waiting for Paula Bennett’s signature. Because those in her office don’t know her movements at the moment it is not signed yet. It might be signed tonight but most likely tomorrow. As soon as it is signed it will be email to me.

5. The good news is that the letter mentions the opportunity for home educators to make submissions about the formal response we will be getting.

So not long now until we hear…

Update 5/10/12: Make a submission: Reject compulsory Early Education for 3 year olds

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Many people  are aware of these new social obligations which will be coming into effect July 2013 http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/social-obligations-mean-better-outcomes-children and are asking the question “How will this effect my home schooling?”

The main concerns are:

Social obligations require all beneficiary parents to ensure their children:

• attend 15 hours a week Early Childhood Education (ECE) from age 3
• attend school from age five or six

(Update: ECE means an approved  and registered facility)

My understanding at the moment is that you could be doing studies and still getting your benefit. We need to check to see if this will still be the case once this new law comes into place in July 2013. We are also in the process of finding out how you can be exempt from sending your children, from age three, to ECE or what that involves.

Some links:

http://hef.org.nz/2009/home-schooling-and-winz-dpb-in-new-zealand/

http://www.nchenz.org.nz/tag/winz/

http://nchenz.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/national-has-dropped-proposed-changes-to-dpb-work-rules/#comment-14

and especially this link which covers all situations:

http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/manuals-and-procedures/legislation/regulations/social_security_exemptions_under_section_105_regulations.htm#P35_2108

4. Exemption from work test obligations: all work-tested beneficiaries

1(1) Any beneficiary to whom the work test applies may apply under section 105 of the Act to be exempted from some or all of his or her work test obligations, on any ground specified in subclause (2).(2) A person described in subclause (1) may be granted an exemption from the work test on the grounds that-

(cb) the person is engaged in full-time study of a kind approved by the chief executive;

(Update: unofficially I have heard that home educators are able to do part-time study)

5. Exemption from work test obligations: work-tested spouses or partners

6. Exemption from work test obligations: work-tested sole parents

7. Exemption from work test obligations: work-tested domestic purposes beneficiaries

8. Exemption from work test obligations: work-tested sickness beneficiaries

Background information:

Supporting vulnerable children

http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/better-public-services/supporting-vulnerable-children/index.html

Interventions for Target Student Groups

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/PublicationsAndResources/AnnualReport/AnnualReport11/PartTwo/StatementsOfServicePerformance/DepartmentalOutputExpenseSpecificationsNew/InterventionsTargetStudentGroups.aspx

Every child thrives, belongs, achieves

http://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/policy-development/green-paper-vulnerable-children/green-paper-for-vulnerable-children.pdf

Interesting Facts taken from the above link:

• From available national statistics we know that 2,498 children (about five per cent) entering school in 2010 had not participated in early childhood education.
• Over 30,000 students are truant from schools on any given day
• 7,342 school leavers left with no qualification in 2009

Timeline for changes:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7656587/Cost-of-beneficiaries-78b-report

Update 15/9/12 Update on: How will the new Social obligations which will be required of all beneficiary parents effect home schoolers?