Age Concern New Zealand firmly supports the Social Security (Financial Assistance for Caregivers) Amendment Bill and supports the submission presented by Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
Age Concern’s interest in this bill is based on our engagement with older people who have sought our support when caring and housing children and teenagers on their parent’s behalf. In our experience, aroha and manaakitanga is at the centre of this care. We see older people working hard to care for their mokopuna but it is a financially, emotionally and physically draining role.
As mentioned in the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren submission and their research reference, we commonly see the older person sacrificing their own requirements to provide for their mokopuna. This includes reducing their own requirements for physical space, time, energy, paid or voluntary work in the community, as well as minimising their financial capabilities and tapping into their retirement funds.
Visit the
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren website to read their submission on the Social Security (Financial Assistance for Caregivers) Amendment Bill.