Call to double food grant

Welfare advocates are calling for Work and Income to double an annual special needs grant available for beneficiaries to claim for food expenditure.

Downtown Community Ministry advocate Laura Kearney said the allocations were not enough for beneficiaries grappling with recent increases in food costs.

Increases of up to 30 per cent in food prices have been reported during the past year, with basics such as dairy undergoing some of the largest hikes.

Work and Income provides a single person with no dependants an entitlement of $200 yearly for food.

The grant is provided under exceptional circumstances and can be accessed throughout the year.

"An increase must be seriously looked at, and soon," Ms Kearney said.

Clients receiving food parcels at the centre were usually left with between $50 and $100 each week after rent and power. "We know of clients who now treat foods like dairy products and meat as luxuries, and that's not right," Ms Kearney said.

- NZPA