Why teenage dole figures are low - and sickness and invalids beneficiaries have almost doubled

The number of teenagers on sickness benefits has doubled since 2000 and "turn a blind eye to issues in her portfolios" Minister Ruth Dyson doesn't seem to care at all. Furthermore, the Ministry of Social Development has been trying to hide figures on the number of teens getting the sickness and invalids benefits, despite several OIA requests and requests from National MP Judith Collins for figures broken down into age bands.

That could be because a few years back, Minister Maharey said that by 2007 all teens will be in either work or training that will lead to long-term economic independence and well-being. Now that it is 2008, some teens are off the Independant Youth Benefit (employment benefits to make the figures look good - even if the Household Labour Force figures say otherwise.

But the most of the rest of the teens on benefits are on sickness and invalids benefits - the rest are on the DPB. Last year to June, nearly 950 18-19 year olds went from the unemployment benefit to the sickness benefit - the biggest transfer number of any age group. Just about any unemployed who has depression can go on a sickness benefit. More teens than ever went from the unemployment benefit to the invalids benefit as well - and to do this they have to have a WINZ- funded and nonminated doctor to doctor to certify them as permanently incapacitated or unfit for any form of work for at least two years. update incorrect, Invalids beneficaries can work for up to 15 hours a week.)

Weirdly enough, this time last year, more than twice as many invalids beneficiaries were working and declaring income than sickness beneficaries. These are people who are working and at the same time are declared by WINZ nominated doctors as unfit for any type of work for at least two years. for more than 15 hours a week.

Finally the Household Labour force put Maori Youth unemployment at 14.1 percent. That doesnt worry Ruth Dyson at all because she probably thinks most of them are students.