KEY POINTS:
The number of New Zealanders collecting a benefit is rising.
Figures from the Ministry of Social Development show the number of working age people on a main benefit rose six percent last year.
The numbers receiving the Invalid's Benefit rose 4.3 percent from 80,082 to 83,501 and the number on the Domestic Purposes Benefit jumped 2.2 percent and is now back over 100,000.
Former ACT candidate and welfare commentator Lindsay Mitchell says she is concerned a lot of those collecting the DPB are teenagers. In December 2007 3,239 18-19 year-olds were receiving the DPB. That number increased by 11 percent to 3,610 in December 2008.
"Teenage recipients present a particular problem because they stay on welfare the longest and their children experience multiple disadvantages."
Ms Mitchell says while some people genuinely need help, others have just made bad choices and are taking advantage of assistance which is easy to get.
She says the government needs to look at ways to discourage the uptake of other benefits.
- NEWSTALK ZB
