Experiences of grandparents raising grandchildren in getting income support from work and income offices in New Zealand. (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gordon, Liz
• Is Part Of: Kōtuitui. Volume 12:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 134
• Page End: 145
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: Welfare -- children -- grandparents -- social policy; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; New Zealand periodicals; New Zealand periodicals; Social sciences; New Zealand; Periodicals; 300.99305
• DOI: 10.1080/1177083X.2017.1343194
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1177-083X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Grandparents raising grandchildren in New Zealand are entitled to the unsupported child benefit (UCB) if they meet the conditions for eligibility. To access the support, they are required to attend the offices of Work and Income. In a large survey of such grandparents undertaken in 2016, participants articulated a wide range of qualitative comments around their experiences in accessing this important form of income support. While a proportion had positive experiences, most were critical of the operation of the offices. Between the policy of providing financial support for children unable to live with their own parents, and the practice of being a grandparent looking after such children, lies a complex set of systems of which grandparents were often extremely critical, for a range of reasons which are explored in this paper.