Advocates Call For Urgent Policy Change To Protect Hospitalised Kiwis From Financial Hardship

Advocates across New
Zealand are calling on the government to urgently review a
policy that reduces benefits to $56.58 per week for
individuals hospitalised for over 13 weeks. This policy has
left vulnerable individuals, like 34-year-old Rhiannon
Purves, unable to afford essential medications and personal
items while battling severe illness.

Rhiannon, who
suffers from ME/CFS, was bedridden in Wellington Hospital
for months. Her benefit was slashed from $480 to $56.58 per
week, leaving her unable to meet basic living expenses.
Advocates say this automated reduction process exacerbates
the suffering of those already facing immense physical and
emotional challenges.

Advocates are urging the
government to:

1. End the automatic reduction of
benefits for hospitalised individuals.

2. Implement a
case-by-case review process to assess individual
needs.

3. Ensure financial security for all,
regardless of their circumstances.

“This policy
punishes people when they are at their most vulnerable,”
said Fiona Charlton, ANZMES President. “We need a welfare
system that protects, not penalises, those who rely on it
during critical times.”

Even when
patients are gravely ill and hospitalised, their financial
obligations do not pause. Mortgages, rent, insurance
premiums, subscription fees, and other living expenses
continue to accumulate. For those in shared accommodations,
contributions toward utility bills must still be
made—unlike individuals living alone, who might have the
option to disconnect services
temporarily.

Additionally, many patients
as severely unwell as Rhiannon are unable to consume
hospital-provided meals. Instead, they rely on liquid
nutrition and essential supplements, leading to ongoing
expenses even while confined to the hospital.

Patients
like Rhiannon often face the additional burden of purchasing
essential medications privately because the hospital system
fails to provide the necessary prescriptions. This issue
arises when hospital doctors either misattribute complex
medical conditions to psychological causes or fail to fully
understand associated conditions, leading to the omission of
crucial treatments. In many cases, these medications are
consistently prescribed by GPs who recognise and address
their patients’ needs. However, the lack of alignment within
the healthcare system forces patients to bear unnecessary
financial and health burdens for treatments that should be
accessible through public healthcare. Cutting benefits under
such circumstances only exacerbates an already untenable
situation, as $56.58 per week is grossly inadequate to cover
even the most basic living and medical expenses.

The
petition is open for signatures at Fairness for the
Hospitalised: Stop Benefit Cuts After 13 Weeks Advocates are
calling on the public, community organizations, and
policymakers to join the movement for fairness and
compassion.

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