Advice for the Unemployed

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 12, 25 December 1977, Page 4

Advice for the Unemployed

In the present unemployment situation many of our people are losing their jobs. You may be next! When you lose your job, this is what you should do.

Contact your union. Telephone your Union office or speak to your delegate immediately. They will see that you receive all wages, redundancy pay and other payments due to you. Register at the Department of Labour Employment Service. The address is in the phone book under Government Departments. They will ask you to complete a job application form with information about yourself that will help them find you employment. The officials are there to assist you, don’t be afarid of them and if you do not understand English take a friend with you who does. When you have filled in the form you will be told when to return for a private interview with an employment officer. After this interview the officer will send you to an employer if a suitable job is available. Make sure you apply for unemployment benefit if suitable work is not available. The Employment Service will give you two forms. On one is the date when you are to contact them again. The

other form is for the Social Welfare Department where you will complete a written application for unemployment benefit. This application form includes many questions about you and your family, your income and jobs you have had. The application will take two or three weeks to be checked and if you are entitled to unemployment benefit it will be posted to you regularly. The cheques can be cashed at the Post Office or your own Bank. How much you are entitled to A single person over 15 and under 20, $31.50 a week. A single person aged 20 and over, $41.30 a week. A married couple, $68.84 a week. A married couple with one child, $71.84 a week. In addition there is $1.25 for each child other than the first and family benefit and supplementary benefit. Married couples include those living together but not married. Enquire about these and other entitlements at the Social Welfare Department. Some point worth Remembering. Don’t be intimidated by officials in Government Departments. They are there to help you and your taxes pay their wages. Be polite and firm with them. Do not let them put you off. Unemployment and other benefits are not a privilege or charity. You have paid for them by taxation. Don’t feel ashamed to claim your rights. If you are turned down for a benefit make sure you understand why. You have the right of appeal against such decisions. As all benefits are based on various factors answer all the questions on the forms. In most cases Social Welfare and Employment Service Departments are controlled by people who do not understand the language or culture of people who are not English speaking Europeans. If you don’t speak good English take a friend with you who can help you answer questions and complete

forms. Ko tatou jte iwi Maori i ngaro ana o tatou mahL Mehamea koutou i ngaro o mahi, whiwhi kite “unemployed benefit”. Kaua e whakama. Korapurapu tenei mea. Ka tika te ture nei mo tatou katoa.