Conventions in this report
On this Page:
Focus on working age clients
Information concerning the use of main benefits is focused on working age clients. This report defines "working age" clients as aged 18-64 years, to reflect the minimum age of eligibility for most main benefits and the age of qualification for New Zealand Superannuation. To maintain consistency with earlier reports in this series, total numbers of recipients of main benefits over all age groups are also shown. Clients whose age is not specified are included under "Other" clients (ie those who are not identified as working age). If required, more information can be obtained from MSD’s Decision Support team.
Naming of financial assistance
This report uses the term "main benefit" to refer to the group of benefits that, prior to 2007, were referred to as "income-tested benefits".
Throughout this report, financial assistance is referred to:
- by the official name (as at the end of June 2008) of a specific type of financial assistance (eg Domestic Purposes Benefit - Sole Parent), or
- as part of broad groups of main benefits that are delivered for similar purposes.
The official names for financial assistance used in this report have been current since at least 1 July 2001. Where the official name for assistance has changed over time (eg Community Wage - Job Seeker to Unemployment Benefit), this is noted within the relevant section of the report.
Information sources
The report refers to SWIFTT and SOLO as data sources. SWIFTT is the system used by Work and Income to record information about recipients of financial assistance and the assistance they receive. MSD's statistical systems hold a comprehensive record of information collected in SWIFTT since 1996. SOLO is the system used by Work and Income to record information about registered job seekers and about employment services being provided. MSD's statistical systems contain a comprehensive record of information collected in SOLO since 1999. MSD also holds some information for earlier years concerning financial services, employment services and registered job seekers.
Statistics shown
The statistical information in the report is focused on the last five years (from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2008), and descriptions of trends in statistics are also focused on that period. Statements about trends in statistics should be read as descriptions of what is shown by the data presented, and not as a complete summary of historic trends in the use of assistance offered by MSD service lines.
Trends over time in the numbers of people receiving assistance from Work and Income are shown as numbers receiving assistance at the end of June each year. This aims to show both broad trends over time in use of assistance and the actual numbers of clients receiving services.
Please note, however, that this approach gives no information about numbers receiving Work and Income assistance at other times of the year. Large numbers of people may be granted this assistance, and later cease receiving it, without being reflected in numbers receiving assistance at the end of June. Assistance provided to such clients is, however, reflected in statistics showing assistance granted, assistance cancelled, and expenditure on assistance. Because of this, the difference between assistance granted and assistance cancelled during the financial year will not correspond to the change from June to June in numbers of people receiving assistance.
All data showing trends in the use of main benefits excludes spouses, partners and dependents of people receiving these benefits. Data on the use of pensions includes non-qualified spouses receiving pensions, but excludes any other dependents of the client. This report therefore doesn't indicate the total number of people, or the proportion of the population, who are dependent on benefits or pensions.
It should also be noted that a substantial number of work services clients are not registered job seekers, and are excluded from job seeker statistics. These clients consist of:
- recipients of main benefits who are being case-managed toward employment without needing to be registered as a job seeker (eg recipients of a carer's benefit)
- vacation workers
- people who are already working full-time but are seeking assistance to change jobs or to retain the job they have.
This report therefore doesn't indicate the total number of people, or total proportion of the population, who are work services clients.
All percentages shown in tables are rounded to one decimal place. Because of rounding, percentages may not add to 100.0%.
Expenditure information in the report
This report presents expenditure information which differs from official MSD expenditure data, doesn't reflect state sector financial reporting conventions, and should not be cited as official MSD expenditure data. These differences arise because of:
- smoothing of expenditure data presented for particular Main Benefits, for New Zealand Superannuation, for Veteran's Pension, for Supplementary Benefits and for Hardship Assistance. This aims to give figures which are comparable across time, despite changes in operations, policy or accounting practice
- the treatment of debt established. This is deducted from expenditure figures shown in Overall trends in use of financial assistance and employment services and Table 8.2 It is not deducted from expenditure data presented for particular Main Benefits, for New Zealand Superannuation, for Veteran's Pension, for Supplementary Benefits and for Hardship Assistance
- the adjustment to standardised payment periods of expenditure data presented for particular Main Benefits, for New Zealand Superannuation, for Veteran's Pension, for Supplementary Benefits and for Hardship Assistance
- the inclusion in expenditure data on selected Supplementary Benefits in expenditure data given for particular Main Benefits, for New Zealand Superannuation, for Veteran's Pension, and Table 8.2
In this report, the presentation of expenditure information which differs from official MSD expenditure information reflects the aim of showing:
- the "net gain" to clients from receiving financial assistance paid by Work and Income
- expenditure series which allow meaningful comparison between points in time, regardless of significant change in both operational policies and accounting conventions.
Official MSD expenditure data is available from the MSD Annual Report.
Treatment of civil unions
MSD service lines treat clients who are in a civil union in the same way as clients who are married or living as married. All references in this report to clients who are married or living as married should be read as including clients who are in a civil union.
Treatment of age-related payments to older people
The primary form of financial assistance to older people is New Zealand Superannuation, but Veteran's Pensions and War Pensions are also paid. While New Zealand Superannuation is not a pension, the report from time to time refers to New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran's Pensions together as "pensions", in order to aid the flow of the text.
