Senior Citizens

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• Establish a Seniors Commissioner to be a champion for all seniors
• Ensure the NZ health system is responsive to the needs to seniors
• Provide couples on superannuation an extra $1,000 and singles an extra $560 from our economic stimulus package
• Ensure adequate protections exist to prevent elder abuse: incluidng physical, psychological and financial abuse
• Maintain superannuation payments at no less than 66% of the average ordinary wage for couples and the universality of the superannuation scheme
• Maintain the Wintere Energy Payment and Super Gold Card

• Shift all services for seniors out of WINZs office to newly created ‘Seniors Hubs’ in recognition that Superannuation is an entitlement not a benefit
• Dedicate Housing New Zealand case managers to work with those in social housing to plan their way to home ownership 
• Develop a Seniors Housing plan to address the increasing number of Seniors in rental accommodation and requiring Accommodation Supplement support
• Fund pilot programmes such as Hokonui Huanui in Gore and the Wairoa Community Partnership Group to create resilient communities by providing prevention and early intervention services 
• Resource the Minister of Community and Volunteer sector so that the Office of Community and Volunteer Sector can expand resilient communities throughout New Zealand
• Look to implement the recommendations of the WEAG report around increasing financial support balanced with employment support that incorporates incentives for employers to take on trainees, apprentices and new employees
• Resource and support better initiatives with those seeking employment through Work and Income New Zealand so that they all receive a Personalised Employment and Education Plan and support to achieve it – reducing their time on the benefit
• Re-establish Workbridge as the leading employment agency for New Zealanders with a disability to provide greater support for both the employer and employee
• Create a sustainable funding mechanism for “supported employment” such as Altus Enterprises ensuring that this design is led by both employers and employees in this specific employment sector
• Read more here.