Vulnerable children will be placed in foster care more quickly, and their foster parents will get more flexible pay, under law changes outlined today.

COMMENT: The rewrite of the Social Security Act is a good time to abolish the sanctions altogether.

Housing NZ has bought a motel to help meet the area's housing shortage - but the existing residents will have to move out to make room for the homeless.

A brief liaison with a man she didn't know cost a young Auckland woman $28 a week off her benefit for two years.

The Ministry of Social Development may have to pay millions to make Work and Income offices safer for staff.

A convicted fraudster and "bachelorette" who hoped to steal Art Green's heart has admitted ripping off taxpayers for more than $20,000.

A new study by Victoria University student Alicia Sudden says Work and Income is pushing many beneficiaries into jobs that don't last.

Beneficiaries received more than $120 million in advance benefit payments last year for essential costs such as schooling and health care.

The Ministry of Health has defended its stance on refusing to fund a Maori safe-sleeping device.

A highly regarded Pacific anti-violence agency has been closed down amidst concerns about using taxpayers' money to fund an ambition to "go global".

Hidden homelessness campaigners are scratching out messages of housing desperation the old-school way.

Fixing child abuse and neglect is all about building relationships with families in need, social workers say.

All sex offenders and certain high-risk violent criminals could be included on a register being set up to cover child-sex offenders.

A staffer working for Child, Youth and Family started a sexual relationship with a boy in the teen unit where she worked.

A bouncer who was told she was "worthless" and threatened with gang action from two WINZ workers says dealing with verbally abusive customers has become commonplace.

But bar owner says the two Ministry of Social Development workers who abused his staff won't be welcome back.

Better sharing of information between state agencies may have prevented the death of a child in a poorly-maintained state house, says Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.

A spend of more than $360,000 on pay television subscriptions by Government departments has been criticised by Labour.

Some agencies are expected to close in a radical revamp of social service funding unveiled by Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.

An extra 3000 tenants will be entitled to the income-related rent subsidy under changes outlined in the Budget.

The income gap between children and the elderly has widened faster in New Zealand than in other developed countries during the recent recession, a new report shows.

More than 860 victims who were abused while in state care have been given the option of a fast-track settlement.

Hine felt the centre was not a good fit for her son, and that they didn't understand her culture. Her boy would cry every day when she dropped him off.

Sexual violence survivor advocate Dr Kim McGregor has resigned from the agency because its board has decided to narrow its focus.

Pressure to broaden the use of identification numbers attached to preschoolers has concerned the Privacy Commissioner.

An 8-year-old Manurewa boy is one of 11,000 disabled children to lose a welfare benefit, even though his asthma is so bad that he missed one in every four school days.

The tragic events in the Winz office in Ashburton last September have resulted in action before the Courts. The obvious being the alleged offender facing multiple criminal charges, including murder.

Victims of the Ashburton Winz shooting and their families could be in line to receive payouts after one Crown agency prosecuted another.