Stop treating child support as income on benefits
The issue
I am a solo mum of three, working part-time while receiving a sole parent benefit. Like many other parents in New Zealand, I rely on the child support my ex-partner provides to make ends meet. However, the current policy treats this child support as income, which significantly affects my benefit amount. In essence, the child support equates to a full five-hour workday for me, severely limiting my ability to take on extra work and improve my family's financial situation.
Under the existing rules, every dollar of child support is counted as income, reducing the benefit I receive. This approach is not only unfair, but it also creates a disincentive for parents like me to work more hours, as any additional income quickly results in a loss of much-needed support. Every parent wants to provide the best for their children, and it feels unjust that the system penalizes us for the child support we receive.
The current policy disproportionately affects those of us striving to balance work, childcare, and financial responsibilities. By not allowing us to retain all the child support on top of our benefits, the system restricts our ability to advance our careers, contribute more to society, and build a stable financial foundation for our children.
It's time for a change. We need the New Zealand government to reform the rules surrounding the treatment of child support as income for sole parent benefit recipients. Let us keep more of what we earn, and allow child support to play the role it was intended to play—cushioning the financial load of raising our children.
Implementing this change could mean that thousands of parents across the country can work more hours without the penalty of reduced benefits, providing better futures for our kids and reducing poverty in single-parent families. Such reform would align with New Zealand's strong values of fairness and support for families.
Please, sign this petition to urge the government to stop treating child support as income on the sole parent benefit. Let us work towards a fairer system that truly supports our children and empowers us as parents.
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The issue
I am a solo mum of three, working part-time while receiving a sole parent benefit. Like many other parents in New Zealand, I rely on the child support my ex-partner provides to make ends meet. However, the current policy treats this child support as income, which significantly affects my benefit amount. In essence, the child support equates to a full five-hour workday for me, severely limiting my ability to take on extra work and improve my family's financial situation.
Under the existing rules, every dollar of child support is counted as income, reducing the benefit I receive. This approach is not only unfair, but it also creates a disincentive for parents like me to work more hours, as any additional income quickly results in a loss of much-needed support. Every parent wants to provide the best for their children, and it feels unjust that the system penalizes us for the child support we receive.
The current policy disproportionately affects those of us striving to balance work, childcare, and financial responsibilities. By not allowing us to retain all the child support on top of our benefits, the system restricts our ability to advance our careers, contribute more to society, and build a stable financial foundation for our children.
It's time for a change. We need the New Zealand government to reform the rules surrounding the treatment of child support as income for sole parent benefit recipients. Let us keep more of what we earn, and allow child support to play the role it was intended to play—cushioning the financial load of raising our children.
Implementing this change could mean that thousands of parents across the country can work more hours without the penalty of reduced benefits, providing better futures for our kids and reducing poverty in single-parent families. Such reform would align with New Zealand's strong values of fairness and support for families.
Please, sign this petition to urge the government to stop treating child support as income on the sole parent benefit. Let us work towards a fairer system that truly supports our children and empowers us as parents.
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Petition created on 2 August 2026