Get Action! Fairness for the Hospitalised Stop Benefit Cuts After 13 Weeks w/ President of New Zealand ME Society Fiona Charlton: 30 April, 2025

In March this year, the government made the decision to reduce the benefit for hospital patients who remain hospitalised after 13 weeks.

After 13 weeks, those experiencing long-term hospitalisation would see their benefit reduced to their "hospital rate" which was $55.35 a week (after tax), unless the person has a partner and a child or is a veteran.

For this week’s Get Action! I spoke to Fiona Charlton, volunteer president of New Zealand ME Society, who’s started a petition calling on the government to roll back benefit cuts to people experiencing long-term hospitalisation.

If you’d like to sign this petition, you can find it here: