Children and young people have what they need
Joint Ministers agreed in September 2019 to priority areas of focus for cross-agency work on debt to government departments over the shorter term. This includes seeking alignment of approaches to relief and improving information exchange to support better management of debt.
Cabinet has also endorsed the medium-term work programme for the welfare overhaul, which includes addressing debt - both through the cross-agency work and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) continuing to improve its operational approach to preventing debt.
Some work in reviewing hardship assistance progressed, but work was largely put on hold due to the prioritisation of COVID-19 response work. Next steps includes agencies in the cross-agency debt working group providing advice to joint Ministers.