“From September 27, DPB claimants whose youngest child is six will have to be available to work at least 15 hours a week.

Failure to comply will see their benefit cut by half, but they will retain additional assistance.

Exemptions will be available for those in fulltime study or with mitigating circumstances such as special-needs children.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3498073/Unemployed-face-work-tests

We welcome your comments.
We are asking for homeschooling to be considered mitigating circumstances.

Please join us in emailing Paula Bennett . Her email address is paula.bennettmp@parliament.govt.nz

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Update

The reply from our email so far:

Hello Tarnya

The Hon Paula Bennett, Minister for Social Development and Employment, has asked me to thank you for your email.

Consideration is currently being given to the matters you raise and you may expect a reply at the Minister’s earliest opportunity.

Kind regards

Nicky Uriaro

Private Secretary, Office of Hon Paula Bennett

Minister for Social Development and Employment | Minister of Youth Affairs

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the email we sent:

Good Morning Paula Bennett

We ( National Council of Home Educators www.nchenz.org.nz) request thathomeschooling be considered as mitigating circumstances in regard to the work requirements for DPB claimants. We request that a home educating parent who holds, for their child/ren, an exemption from attendance at a public school also be issued an exemption from these work requirements.

We submit to you that a home educating parent is involved in full-time work, albeit unpaid.

“We understand that exemptions will be available for those in fulltime study or with mitigating circumstances such as special-needs children.”
from
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3498073/Unemployed-face-work-tests

Regards
Penny Bilton, Tarnya Burge Maddy Maxwell, Dawn Jones and Michelle Campbell
NCHENZ executive committee

www.nchenz.org.nz