Budget 2011: Changes to better target Working for Families

Budget 2011 will see Working for Families remain a large and generous scheme, but its cost has almost doubled from about $1.5 billion in 2005/06, to about $2.8 billion this year. That is unsustainable.
Better targeting to lower income earners will ensure it remain sustainable into the future, and save $448 million over four years. About 280,000 families will receive an increase.
The changes are expected to take place in four steps between 1 April 2012 and 1 April 2018.
For information on these changes visit: http://national.org.nz/budget2011/Working_for_Families-targeting_families_in_need.pdf