Woman who lied to Winz had better get used to making a buck in India – by begging, maybe

It’s not as demanding as being a barista…

Are we supposed to sympathise with a silly woman who lied to welfare officials to get more money?

More of my money and yours, by the way.

As a sob story, accordingly, what this bint did does not amount to much.

But the Herald on Sunday is dining out on it here.

A young mother facing a new life in India has spoken of her regret after telling Work and Income she had split from her husband so she could get a bigger benefit.

Now the family faces an uncertain future as her husband is ordered out of the country.

So – have we got this right? – she did the lying but he is being ordered out.

And she deserves our sympathy – why, exactly?

Or is the story merely intended to serve as a lesson against lying?

Hughes’ news about the work test is worth celebrating – but it is subject to an appeal

And I'm pleased to say you won't have to work for another 26 years or so...

Taxpayers will be tempted to celebrate on learning they no longer have to fill the trough from which a former gang leader and his family have been slurping for 26 years.

But don’t pop the champagne tops just yet. Darryl Harris – the bloke in question – has three months to appeal against the decision.

Harris, who lives in Christchurch, apparently has been told his benefit will stop from January 10 because “he no longer meets standard eligibility requirements”.

The information comes from Social Development Ministry chief executive Peter Hughes and is published at Stuff today.

The decision comes at a time when – nudged along by the likes of Alf behind the scenes – the Government is taking a harder line on benefit claims, including work-testing for sickness benefits from this May.

Stuff reminds us that this Harris feller and his wife, Marcia Robins, made headlines a year ago when it was revealed they had been claiming unemployment and sickness benefits continually since 1984.

They had received $30,000 in special-needs grants since 2000, including payments for new tyres for their 2007 Chrysler saloon and to fence a swimming pool at one of their Christchurch properties.

Bugger that.

Many of Alf’s mates can’t afford a 2007 Chrysler or properties with swimming pools.

Crusher puts the squeeze on Govt loans to disqualified drivers while Bruiser takes a learning tour

Alf applauds the Acting Social Development Minister, Judith Collins (fondly known as Crusher among her admiring colleagues).

She has moved promptly on learning that some disqualified drivers have been given loans by Work and Income to apply to the courts for a temporary driving licence.

In other words, taxpayers were providing interest-free welfare loans for drunk or dangerous drivers.

No, it aint bollocks – taxpayers are enabling beneficiaries to over-ride being banned from driving

Check out Alf’s previous post. It featured a set of balls.

Pretty balls they are too.

Today Alf wonders if they belong to Paula Bennett, because it seems she has lost hers.

Burgeoning burger business good for jobs

A deal struck between Work and Income and McDonalds sounds great to Alf, which means we can count on it being dumped on by Greenie grouch Sue Kedgley. He’s surprised she hasn’t issued her condemnatory press release already.

Under the deal, thousands of beneficiaries could soon be flipping burgers, to provide customers with food they want regardless of Kedgley’s daft dietary demands.

The urge to munch burgers is so great – it seems – that McDonald’s is aiming to open 30 new restaurants over the next five years.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett revealed the agreement during a select committee meeting at Parliament yesterday. The agreement will provide up to 7000 unemployed for the fast-food chain’s restaurant expansion plans over the next five years.