Good economic times hasn't stopped the number of KiwiSaver financial hardship claims from rising. Photo/ Getty Images.
Good economic times hasn't stopped the number of KiwiSaver financial hardship claims from rising. Photo/ Getty Images.
KiwiSaver financial hardship claims have hit a record high as the Government mulls over a recommendation to bring budget advisers into the process in a bid to cut those raiding their retirement savings.
Inland Revenue figures show hard-up New Zealanders took more than $109 million out of their KiwiSaver accountsin 2019 with 19,384 claims made to providers including a record 2000 claims in December.
That was well up on the 1677 claims made in December 2018 and is the highest monthly claim rate since KiwiSaver was launched in July 2007.
Mark Jephson, chief executive of Perpetual Guardian, a trustee company which oversees KiwiSaver hardship claims, said there was no reason that came to mind as to why the numbers were up.
"KiwiSaver is growing, although the number of new members is slowing down."
KiwiSaver's membership climbed over three million people in November last year but the percentage of hardship claims for December 2019 still remained higher than the prior December.
That's despite New Zealand's economy going through one of its strongest growth periods and unemployment hitting record lows.
Jephson said while some people were doing better it appeared others were not.
"It might be benign economic times ... but this is a measure of what is happening socially and economically."
Jephson said for most people who applied for financial hardship it was triggered by a life event.
"Whether it is a job loss, unexpected illness, family event, one wage earner out of work for a period of time."
Often those people were in some form of debt and many were repeat customers, he said.
"That is relatively common."
Jephson said that was because trustees would only advance enough money from a person's KiwiSaver account to alleviate the significant financial hardship for a period of time - usually 12 weeks.
If they hadn't found a new job by then, the person might apply again.
Jephson said it typically saw a spike in applications after Christmas when all the bills came in, but this time it appeared people had fallen on harder times before the festive season.
The rise in hardship claims comes as the Retirement Commissioner has recommended the Government establish a centralised financial capability hub for hardship applications.
In the 2019 review of retirement income policies, the commissioner's reports states this is needed to ensure a "consistent approach, improve fairness and trigger budgeting, counselling and other wrap-around assistance".
"One of the key pieces of feedback we received from a KiwiSaver review forum held with KiwiSaver providers and government agencies was that hardship applications bring a wide range of wellbeing and other considerations with them.
"Providers tell us they are ill-equipped to deal with some situations, such as when a hardship applicant shows signs of severe stress, or for example, threatens to take their own life."
More than $109 million was taken out of KiwiSaver last year by people facing financial hardship.
A survey of budget advisers who work with hardship withdrawal applicants found they were able to divert one in five from taking the money out through giving them alternative options. More experienced advisers were able to divert half of applicants.
The report recommended budgeting service FinCap provide the service and step in to give advice in between the application going from the provider to the trustee for approval.
FinCap chief executive Tim Barnett has welcomed the recommendation.
"Currently, people in financial hardship wanting to withdraw Kiwisaver may go to a local budget service to talk through options or get help completing the paperwork. The evidence is that many people do have other options.
"That can create a win-win-win situation - their retirement savings aren't reduced, the Kiwisaver scheme remains strong and they are on a pathway to financial capability. We look forward to discussing with Government and KiwiSaver companies how to progress these excellent proposals."
Jephson said he liked like the idea of wraparound services but was not convinced it would stem the flow of hardship claims.
"If they meet the test, the law provides for it. People do have to live for today - to meet day-to-day expenses."
He said those who applied had an immediate need for the money and an intermediated process could slow it down.
"The process isn't easy for a customer already. If they are in significant financial hardship, having to go through an intermediary could create more stress."
The Government has said it will respond to the recommendations in the report by mid-year.
