By Paloma Migone of NZPA

Wellington, Nov 26 NZPA - Many people are on the dole because of "horrible" incidents in their life and feel vulnerable when portrayed as lazy, a welfare report released today says.

Welfare Justice, established by Caritas, the Anglican Social Justice Commission and the Beneficiary Advocacy Federation of New Zealand in July, released its first report today.

Welfare Justice was established in July following the launch of the Government's Welfare Working Group as concern grew the latter would demonise beneficiaries.

Chairman Mike O'Brien, a Massey University social policy professor, said today's report aims at giving beneficiaries the opportunity to become part of the welfare reform debate.

It outlines the views and experiences of over 400 people who participated through written submission and public meetings.

"Many people who spoke or wrote to us were at pains to explain that they had not chosen to be supported by a social security benefit, but that this was a consequence of something horrible happening to their life," he said.

Beneficiaries felt information in the media were portraying them as lazy or fraudulent, which causes them anxiety and feelings of vulnerability.

People were on the dole because of circumstances such as marital relationships that had turned violent, being a solo-parent, caring for a family member with a disability or being born with a health condition that impairs opportunities for paid work.

"There was a strong sense about people actually wanting to have the resources and opportunities and support to be able to take charge of their life, to make things happen for themselves," Dr O'Brien said.

"But to know that when that doesn't work, there was some good support and that support was sustained over a period of time."

Barriers of employment, included lack of affordable and quality childcare, the scarcity of available jobs, and the few work opportunities for health impaired people.

Dr O'Brien said another issue that came through strongly was the narrow view about the definition of work.

"There is a lot of work that people do that is not paid for, which is very important, like caring for children, like looking after people who are sick and disabled," he said.

In the report, beneficiaries also described Work and Income as an intimidating institution, with one person saying it was a menacing and punitive environment.

"In the last five years my Work and Income environment has got increasingly menacing," a beneficiary said. "Key principles are being undermined by language and practices that are more punitive and negative that in the past."

"I have to explain my medical conditions to a different case manager every three months who is a complete stranger. It is totally humiliating."

Changes creating a shift in Work Income culture went from open plan offices to the move away from personal case managers, Dr O'Brien said.

Public and political opinion around welfare, which has become more critical and less helpful, also played a part.

Participants also said public services, such as Work and Income, health services, justice, housing, and ACC, were fragment and needed better integration.

The group's report today follows Wednesday's release of the Government's Welfare Working Group's options paper, which gave wide-ranging options focused on assessment, expectations, interventions and financial incentives all aimed at getting people back into the workforce.

The report provided options from the status-quo to overhauling changes, of which the more radical were having solo parents get part-time work from when the child is one years old; introducing a limited work-for-the-benefit programme; placing up to a five year time limit; and having it reflect an ACC-type model.

Justice Welfare's final report will be released December 9.