Cost-of-living payment

The Government copped criticism when ineligible New Zealanders living overseas and a small number of deceased people received the first instalment.

The initiative, which is projected to cost $816 million, was announced in Budget 2022. By August 29, 4782 people had opted out. [requested an independent investigation](https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/02/nats-call-for-review-into-embarrassing-cost-of-living-error/) of the $350 cost of living payment, wanting to determine the scale of the issue. [August 1](https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/01/cost-of-living-support-payments-begin-today/). [voluntarily opted out](https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/02/more-than-2000-ineligible-kiwis-opt-out-of-cost-of-living-payment/) of the cost of living payment. [reduce the likelihood of overseas New Zealanders receiving the payment](https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/04/opinion-errors-put-dampener-on-cost-of-living-sweetener/).

With the second $116 payment expected to be made from Thursday, Revenue Minister David Parker has announced changes that will mean some eligible people have ...

and it would have taken many months to process the millions of people that needed to be processed." "Of course, the rushed law could have been avoided if only the government had taken a much simpler approach. We think that we have got some better data sets to scrub the data that we've already got." I also encourage Inland Revenue to remind ineligible recipients that they are obliged to repay any payment received immediately." People in prison or who already receive the winter energy payment were ineligible. They won't always be, because in respect for example of that student loan data people are not recorded as being in New Zealand until they've been back for more than six months."

Watch: Some Kiwis overseas have received the Government's cost of living payment despite not paying tax here for years. Credits: Video - Newshub; Image - Getty ...

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will front her post-Cabinet press conference after the Auditor-General criticised the rollout of the cost of living payment f.

money has gone to people who were not eligible for it," Willis said. The other options were to get people to apply, which she thought would have meant those in most need of it missed out. They have a moral obligation to answer," she said. The Minister of Revenue has been quoted by media as saying that it could be around 1 per cent of payments. These include greater use of data to ensure people receiving the payment are actually eligible and in New Zealand. This is, in my view, unacceptable," he wrote. "Ultimately we always seek to make sure those who are eligible receive it. The second payment is due to go out this week. National's Nicola Willis wanted the Government to investigate how many ineligible people received the payment and to apologise for the sloppy rollout. Yes." She said she disagreed with the Auditor-General's assertion that the criteria was not clear, saying it was very clear and the issue was how it was tested. Ardern said it was the Government's duty to help people though the cost of living crisis.

Eligible people will receive $350 in total in three instalments of $116 to hep with rising living costs. The money is supposed to go to New Zealand tax ...

and it would have taken many months to process the millions of people that needed to be processed. We think that we have got some better data sets to scrub the data that we've already got." "Of course, the rushed law could have been avoided if only the Government had taken a much simpler approach. I also encourage Inland Revenue to remind ineligible recipients that they are obliged to repay any payment received immediately." "There were two choices here - you run an application process that is absolutely thorough, or you run it based on data sets. They won't always be, because in respect for example of that student loan data people are not recorded as being in New Zealand until they've been back for more than six months." New Zealand is never immune to these international pressures but as with Covid-19 the Government response is putting us in a better position than many." These include greater use of data to ensure people receiving the payment are actually eligible and in New Zealand. But this is better than running an application process for two million people, which would cost more than it would save." Revenue Minister David Parker this afternoon announced changes to the cost-of-living payments. Tighter checks were not done earlier because IRD was working on getting the payment through the door, and was now making extra refinements, she said. "Ultimately, we always seek to make sure those who are eligible receive it.