Support kiwi family through study journey

UPDATE:

Time for an update on the financial front.

On Friday after labour speaking with all govt departments involved , an updated certificate from my GP and the help of my social worker WINZ have changed some rules around and decided that now I am eligible for job seeker support, with mat as my dependant (instead of the other way around) no work obligations but a (still tight) but stable source of income until next semester. After all the tears and trouble we have been through , all of the rejections from multiple different types of applications, the thing we fought for so hard we finally got. So for now, we live to see another day, with a stable income (for now at least) as of wed we will officially be receiving a benefit. Thank you everyone for your support through this stressful, tearful time. I think meritias story among other media articles have helped my case, and it just goes to show, if you think you aren't getting a fair try, fight for it, get MP's involved, dont give up even though it can leave you feeling helpless, nothing will change unless you fight for your rights. It's so funny that after 3 weeks of fighting for it we got what we originally asked for and was so clearly told that it "wasn't an option", never let any govt department make you feel like your life or story doesnt matter because it does. No one deserves to go through the stress that we have so i also want you all to consider voting for Labour, as even though I have managed to get through, the policies still stand they have just made an "exception" for me. Labour plan on changing these policies if they get in which has directly been said to me by their team. Enabling young vulnerable families to be able to survive while studying and trying to further their career, And also allowing people with illness or injury to survive during their time unable to work.

In march 2017 Cassandra mother of 2 had a head injury, leaving her unable to work, drive or maintain daily tasks, I am currently 6 months into my recovery program and making great progress, however, still currently unable to work, as soon as I get the green thumb from my occupational therapist I will be seeking part time employment asap. I have 2 kids ages 2 and 4, beautiful Autumn and Luna. In February 2017 my wonderful loving partner moved in with us, and started supporting us, little did he know I was about to go through a life changing event. He is in fully time study at Otago university as a philosophy major, a passion he has wanted to study for many years, up until recently he was working in hospitality and although we were well below the living wage we got by okay, in survival mode. Stressful enough with loads of appointments, therapies etc to recover, raise children and keep the house clean. Now his full time study has made it difficult to get a part time job both because of whats available around the hours he is in uni and also as he is still helping with the children as i continue treatment. We have been caught in what one of my social workers attempting to help us calls "the most frustrating confusing cases she has had" she has never experienced in her career the run around we have been getting. We have done everything we can, food banks, talking to local MP's, getting social workers involved etc.

But the "system" is broken, policies need to be changed so when a young solo mum gets with a person wanting to educate themselves and try to further their future career options we can survive.

I am entitled to $157 Working for families tax credits . . . . . . PERIOD.

Thats All I receive each week to support myself and my 2 children.

Due to previously not passing a course when he was 19 my wonderful partner is not entitled to Studylink until he has passed a semester. So in the interim... He is only entitled to a loan of $178 per week.

The reason we are only entitled to this is because me being 23 means that studylink do not see us as a "defacto relationship", However work and income do. So with social workers and MP's on the case we are still being told by WINZ "go to studylink you aren't entitled to anything because mat is studying full time and unable to meet work obligations, cassandra even with a medical note from a gp, if you have a partner studying you are not entitled to sole parent payment, or job seeker (as this now covers people on the sickness benefit too), therefor Studylink is responsible for me, to this studylink says, my children and I are not entitled to anything as I am not studying. However he MAY be entitled to $120 accommodation supplement meaning our maximum total income for an entire semester at best will be $455 per week for a family of 4.

We pay $475 per week in rent and have a boarder to cover some of those costs.

But we also have groceries, petrol so mat can actually travel to university so he can actually pass his first semester therefor being able to be eligible for student allowance in future, power, internet, mobile top ups, I have signed a document paying back $40 per week I have to pay, $10 a week petrol for childcare provider, $10 a week into an account which covers christmas and birthdays (without this we wouldn't be able to do anything for the children), Clothing, medical costs (which are quite frequent currently), insurance, then theres car needs too WOF, REG, Repairs etc, just basic living needs that every human should be entitled to.

Do the numbers, $455 maximum per week minus $475 rent per week, even with the boarder its not enough for basic survival.

Please help, so I can provide for my 2 children without becoming homeless and going into even more poverty than we already are.

We pay Taxes, yet where is our support when we are at our most vulnerable?

I as a woman with 2 children under 5 should be entitled to something, anything.

We have been told to either break up, or drop out of university after already taking out a loan.

My children and I would be heartbroken if I had to loose the love of my life in a time where I am still recovering just because the govt has contradictory rules.

I am the type to take in people who have no where to go and help them, get them on their feet and send them off into the world with the skills and mind set to take on the world and thrive, i love helping people but this time I am swallowing my mighty pride and asking for some help, with the promise that when I can, I will continue to help others until the day I take my very last breath.