Overseas travel on the benefit

The Herald reports:

More than 30,000 New Zealanders had their benefits cut last financial year for travelling overseas without letting officials know.

Ministry of Social Development figures show 31,714 people had benefits cut for going overseas without telling Work and Income – down on the previous year’s 35,565.

Benefits related to jobseeker support were those most often cut.

Poverty advocates claim that benefit levels are so low, that those receiving them are in poverty.

Yet at least 31,000 can afford overseas travel.

Actually – may be much more than that. 31,000 is the number who didn’t tell MSD of their travel. No idea how many more traveled and did.