50 signatures reached
To: New Zealand Government
Fairness for the Hospitalised: Stop Benefit Cuts After 13 Weeks
We, the undersigned, call on the New Zealand Government to urgently review and amend the policy that reduces benefits to $56.58 per week for individuals hospitalised for over 13 weeks. This policy disproportionately affects vulnerable individuals, like Rhiannon Purves, who are already facing immense physical and emotional challenges.
We urge the government to:
1. End the automatic reduction of benefits for hospitalised individuals.
2. Implement a case-by-case review process to assess individual needs.
3. Ensure that no one is left without the financial means to survive during hospitalisation.
Sign this petition to stand with Rhiannon and others like her. Together, we can demand a fairer, more compassionate system.
Why is this important?
We envision a compassionate and equitable society where individuals who are hospitalised can recover without financial hardship or fear of losing their benefits. In this future, we prioritise the dignity and wellbeing of all members of our community, ensuring that support systems are fair, sustainable, and centered on shared values of empathy and care. By making this change, we build stronger, healthier communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Rhiannon, a 34-year-old suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), was bedridden in Wellington Hospital for months. Her benefit was reduced from $480 to $56.58 per week, leaving her unable to afford essential medications and personal items. This automated reduction process exacerbates the suffering of those who are too unwell to advocate for themselves. It affects anyone on a benefit and hospitalised for over 13 weeks, unless they have a partner and child, or are a veteran.
Rhiannon, a 34-year-old suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), was bedridden in Wellington Hospital for months. Her benefit was reduced from $480 to $56.58 per week, leaving her unable to afford essential medications and personal items. This automated reduction process exacerbates the suffering of those who are too unwell to advocate for themselves. It affects anyone on a benefit and hospitalised for over 13 weeks, unless they have a partner and child, or are a veteran.
Even when patients are gravely ill and hospitalised, their financial obligations do not pause. Mortgages, rent, insurance premiums, subscription fees, and other living expenses continue to accumulate. For those in shared accommodations, contributions toward utility bills must still be made—unlike individuals living alone, who might have the option to disconnect services temporarily.
Additionally, many patients as severely unwell as Rhiannon are unable to consume hospital-provided meals. Instead, they rely on liquid nutrition and essential supplements, leading to ongoing expenses even while confined to the hospital.
Patients like Rhiannon often face the additional burden of purchasing essential medications privately because the hospital system fails to provide the necessary prescriptions. This issue arises when hospital doctors either misattribute complex medical conditions to psychological causes or fail to fully understand associated conditions, leading to the omission of crucial treatments. In many cases, these medications are consistently prescribed by GPs who recognise and address their patients' needs. However, the lack of alignment within the healthcare system forces patients to bear unnecessary financial and health burdens for treatments that should be accessible through public healthcare. Cutting benefits under such circumstances only exacerbates an already untenable situation, as $56.58 per week is grossly inadequate to cover even the most basic living and medical expenses.
You can find out more about Rhiannon’s story here: https://www.renews.co.nz/cant-afford-to-be-sick-womans-benefit-cut-to-55-because-shes-in-hospital/ but she is not alone. This happens to anyone on a benefit, after 13 weeks in hospital. This is unacceptable.