Are Christchurch people getting the right assistance from W&I after the Quake?

"Many Christchurch people are likely to be suffering post traumatic stress disorder after the quake. This means that they qualify for a Sickness Benefit, rather than the Unemployment Benefit that it would seem that they are being offered," says Kay Brereton of the Wellington People's Centre.

"There are several forms of assistance available to people affected by the quake;

• Those who suffered trauma and we know many people did, may well now be suffering post traumatic stress disorder. These are not people ready and able to immediately re-enter the work force and a work tested benefit is not appropriate.

• One-Off Civil Defence payments under the Special Needs Grant Programme. This contains payments for accommodation costs, and loss of livelihood weekly payments for evacuees who have been billeted, and higher rate of payments for accommodation costs, and loss of livelihood weekly payments for evacuees not billeted.

• People whose employer can not currently offer them work are entitled to assistance under the Earthquake Employment Support Package. This is either a subsidy to the employer at a gross rate of $500 for a full time employee and $300 for a part time employee. Or a payment to the employee of $400 for a full time worker, and $240 for a part time worker. This package relies on employees and employers being in contact and having discussions about what is best. Given the level of trauma and stress that people are under this can be a very difficult requirement to fulfil.

• Given the chaos that NZ has been thrown into following the quake it is important that W&I staff are empowered to make wise and compassionate decisions about people's entitlements and do not impose bureaucratic requirements which are unreasonable in the circumstances and cause undue stress to traumatized people.

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