The Government claims it has detected thousands of welfare fraudsters, though Labour is questioning how many have actually committed fraud.

Youth services are meant to be the model for transforming our welfare system from "gatekeeping" to "coaching" but results so far in Papakura are patchy.

Young beneficiaries share their experiences of work requirements. Intended to be 'motivational' some say staff are 'pushy' and 'racist'.

Going back to work left Jan Berry either $23 or $40 a week worse off than she was on a benefit.

Sickness will be at best only a temporary excuse to avoid work under the new welfare regime that came into force this week.

Three children under 5 and a sick husband didn't save Carla Bradley from being told to prepare for work.

Beau De Royce fears she could be forced to work on the streets if her sickness benefit is cut as part of a cull of welfare numbers.

Prisoners in privately run Mt Eden Corrections Facility were able to access the internet through faulty computer kiosks a security review of public sector computer systems has found.

A man sentenced to two months in prison begged a judge to keep him locked up for an extra day so he could pocket a $350 Winz grant.

A couple alleged to have ripped off taxpayers for $375,000 in Work and Income payments have been allowed to keep their names secret for now.

An immigration fraudster stripped of his citizenship and barred from New Zealand owes taxpayers more than $150,000.

Long-awaited rain is forecast for the drought-hit Northland region, with showers expected in some areas over the weekend.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has defended his decision to stay with a trade delegation in South America rather than returning home to contend with the drought.

No farmers have applied for hardship assistance after the Government cleared the way for the extra support by declaring five regions drought-affected.

An advocacy service helping beneficiaries, believed to be the only one of its kind in Auckland, may have to shut after running for 22 years, following a cut in government funding.

The Ministry of Social Development is set to roll out new public computers from May next year to replace the kiosks closed after a security hole was revealed in October.

A British family who have lived in New Zealand for seven years face deportation because the father has a brain tumour.

Two important points appear to be missing from the debate about child poverty.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says she left a meeting with hunger striker Sam Kuha with respect for the man and his passion for the problem of child poverty.

Redundant worker Kimberley Inu has won more than a month's backpay after Work and Income's call centre mistakenly told her she could not get the dole.

A Masterton woman who defrauded Work and Income of $91,000 was yesterday sentenced to home detention and community work.

Computer terminals used for 13 years by job seekers at Winz offices had the same security flaw as the self-service kiosks at the centre of the major privacy breach.

A Rotorua man has admitted benefit fraud which lasted more than 15 years.

Paula Bennett says she is embarrassed by the "atrocious'' performance of Winz staff who twice failed to react to warnings over public computer kiosks.