WINZ dysfunctional

Written By: - Date published: 12:07 pm, October 5th, 2015 - 22 comments
Categories: benefits, class war, spin, welfare - Tags: , , ,

I guess it’s not exactly news that WINZ is dysfunctional, but its interesting to have some actual data on one of the symptoms:

Complaints about Work and Income up almost 30 per cent under National

Since National took office in 2008 the number of complaints about incorrect information being provided by Work and Income has increased by 122 per cent from 537 complaints in 2008 to 1197 this year.

On top of the increase in incorrect information complaints, there has also been a 62 per cent increase in complaints about Work and Income staff attitudes, and a 66 per cent increase in procedural complaints.

In total, complaints at the Government department have risen by almost 30 per cent from 5695 in 2008 to 7228 this year.

Squeeze any organisation hard enough and of course it will start to break down. The fact that WINZ staff are the front line of implementing the Nat’s beneficiary bashing agenda also doesn’t help of course. Naturally the Nats propose another explanation:

A staggering increase in complaints by Work and Income clients has been written off by a Government ministry who blames the increase on more Kiwis using its services.

“In 2008 there were 850,532 people receiving a benefit from the ministry. This number grew in 2009 to 923,105 with the increase in part attributed to the impact of the Global Financial Crisis and the growth in our ageing population,” a ministry spokeswoman said. To date there are 1,045,837 clients on Work and Income’s books …

An 23% increase [updated for current figure not 2009] in users does not account for a 30% increase in complaints, especially as that increase is due to counting superannuitants who have the least cause to complain. Note that the Nats are always telling us that numbers on the benefit are falling. Now when it suits them they include superannuitants, and lo the numbers on benefits are up!

22 comments on “WINZ dysfunctional ”

  1. greywarshark 1

    I wondered Anthony how come WINZ could say that a higher number of benefit recipients were the cause for a higher number of complaints? WINZ has been saying happily that they have dropped heaps of stitches out of their unravelling security blanket.
    (Nice analogy eh. I give myself 10 out of 10 for that.)

    So us oldies get pulled in to give the appearance of balance on the scales of justice. When it comes to the nation’s welfare we tend to weigh heavy on the scales, so they must have had to juggle a bit to get a steady state reading!

    • Chris 1.1

      There’s no doubt been an increase in the number of people approaching MSD for help but the number of people getting a benefit has decreased hugely. Gatekeeping problem has got out of hand since last big shake-up. Was big enough before but is now MSD’s main MO for reducing numbers. Quite wrong for many reasons but when challenged MSD and government just deny, deny, deny.

      • greywarshark 1.1.1

        There must be many unhappy people out there. And it is interesting how people can get on top of their feelings and have some enjoyment even when times are hard, if there is hope, and some concern and help. The Great Depression is described in some reminiscences as harsh but having camaraderie, and children managed to rise above the difficult times.

        But I think the Min of SW doesn’t do as much for people in need as the governments in the Depression. I think things are worse now because the country is split through.
        On one side a man getting a rise of A LOT through Fonterra (was it $75,000 or $750,000pa), and on the other people are deprived of necessities by WINZ staff on a whim or bad mood because of indigestion or traffic problems on the way to the office.

        • Chris 1.1.1.1

          Many people have now given up applying so the problem has now taken on a new dimension. The likes of Bennett and Tolley just don’t want to know. Certainly evidence that they wanted this to happen from the start. They really must be quite heartless people.

  2. Mike the Savage One 2

    From that stuff.co article:

    “On top of the increase in incorrect information complaints, there has also been a 62 per cent increase in complaints about Work and Income staff attitudes, and a 66 per cent increase in procedural complaints.

    In total, complaints at the Government department have risen by almost 30 per cent from 5695 in 2008 to 7228 this year.”

    I also see a table listing complaints and types of them, and look at the huge increase from the year 2012/13 to 2013/14 in “action taken” complaints.

    That was a 28 percent increase of complaints about decisions WINZ staff made from one year to the following, which will include actions about sanctions, as I may presume.

    Remember that in July 2013 the very draconian new regime started, with the change of benefit types, the abolition of the former “sickness benefit” (merged with others into ‘Jobseeker Support’), and also other changes, including a stronger work ability assessment regime and also social obligations and more harsh sanctions for not meeting obligations.

    But they are not only stuffing up in making decisions based on incorrect information, or by offering incorrect information on a case by case, they present information and supposed “evidence” that is not what it is made out to be. In short, they are misinforming the public about the supposed medical scientific evidence on “worklessness”, on “health benefits of work”, on the risks associated with sickness absence:

    https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/msd-and-dr-david-bratt-present-misleading-evidence-claiming-worklessness-causes-poor-health/

    Or use this link, for a PDF with the same info, for easier reading:
    https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/msd-dr-bratt-present-misleading-evidence-on-worklessness-and-health-post-09-08-15.pdf

  3. McFlock 3

    The 8.5% increase was 2008 to 2009.
    From the article:

    To date there are 1,045,837 clients on Work and Income’s books

    850,532 to 1,045,837 is a 23% increase, by my (notoriously unreliable) math.

    Which is still significantly lower than the 30% increase in complaints – they’ve just increased by half as much again, rather than three times the rate.

  4. infused 4

    I’d expect that under a gfc since not much has really changed.

    You will find the ‘clients’ uptake will be a bell curve over the last 7 years in relation to the complaints.

    Nevermind. OP can’t maths.

  5. red-blooded 5

    McFlock, I think your math may well be unreliable. I make it 18.67%. Still more than 8, but a hell of a lot less than 30.

    • McFlock 5.1

      lol I could well have fumbled it.

      My working was:

      (1045837-850532)/850532*100

      i.e. the difference between 2008 and 2015 divided by the 2008 number, as a percentage.
      So it’s an increase on 2008, not a decrease on 2015

      • Lanthanide 5.1.1

        That is the correct way to calculate a percentage change since a benchmark.

        • red-blooded 5.1.1.1

          Hey – your method may well be correct (I’m no maths whizz). Even your way it still comes up as 22.96, though.

  6. rob 6

    i got a letter threatening me with court action about wages i had received and not declared not long ago and was stressing me out! it was all declared when i earned it BUT wasn’t put into my account until the next month as this particular person does his accounts like that.(not my fault at all) my obligation is to take any work available! i had been told by winz that i had to declare each week regardless. but because the amount was paid in total and fell in the next month i had to explain myself to some dipshit winz person who didn’t really want to listen, just spoke to me like i was scamming them. just complete assholes.

    • Lanthanide 6.1

      Yeah, this is a really difficult and typical situation.

      If you follow the letter of the law, you get pinged by idiots who don’t understand their own policies.

      If you just say “these people are idiots, the law is stupid, I’ll just report things in a way that makes sense for them”, then you get pinged for not following the law.

      My sister had similar sorts of problems when she was at university and was entitled to a student allowance. She had a variety of circumstances where some years she worked and other years she didn’t, but none of them were particularly unusual. She said that not one single time did anyone at WINZ correctly determine what she was entitled to – and this was the WINZ branch at the university for whom this should be their bread and butter!

  7. rob 7

    and didn’t complain, so just the tip of the iceberg.
    got a letter today stating i declared $85 a couple of weeks ago and was overpaid buy $3 something on my bene last week so have to pay that back. what a joke, the paper a postage would have coated more than that. they are fucking hopeless

    • Lanthanide 7.1

      “what a joke, the paper a postage would have coated more than that. they are fucking hopeless”

      Yes, but if they didn’t follow this up, a lot of people would quickly work out that they could scam the government out of $3 or $4 here and there. If only a couple of people do it, it’s not a big deal.

      But if a few thousand people do it every week, it soon adds up to a lot of money.

      • McFlock 7.1.1

        well, yes and no – all they need to do is forego a couple and then issue a totalised letter, unless it’s over a “send bill now” threshhold or remains under the “who cares” threshhold

        • Lanthanide 7.1.1.1

          Yeah, I thought of that. Probably make the threshold $5.

          Can’t be too high, because then you’d have people ending up with demands for money they can’t pay because they already spent it.

  8. rob 8

    even if all did it for 3-4 bucks still won’t come to the amount of the millions of tax avoiding pricks.
    seems so unjust me. try to do the right thing, for what!

  9. Kay 9

    Those numbers are just the reported complaints. In reality most of us haven’t got the mental or physical strength to go through the process. If we did, Tolley wouldn’t have a hope in hell of spinning her way out of it.

  10. linda 10

    this is why shot guns are becoming popular at winz

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T06:17:07+00:00