Yep. Had an uneventful flight, now in possession of ridiculous amounts of American junk food.

Soon. *removed externally hosted image*

Is this not already controlled by the banks?

Not totally sure what brand, tbh

There is no way this can go wrong

It's a default with the software, same payment thing is all over the USA.

We need our own software.

Mostly just because I think we should be eating the rich anyway.

I agree UBI would be nice and then WINZ could just provide extra help for people who want to work but have no idea how to present themselves, or who have other complicated problems (like needing a no interest loan to escape a bad living situation, hardship grants, stuff like that).

On the messaging thing, basically IRD has way, way, WAY less services and often MSD needs a bunch of info to do anything. So they try to steer everyone into forms that in theory elicit all the information. Doesn't work, but also they definitely don't have the resources to have involved email conversations with everyone. They can't even answer their phones and unlike with taxes people can't wait 2-6 weeks for a response.

Would be really nice if they could though.

I know the turn on upload thing is because they're afraid if it's always there someone will DoS them by uploading way too much stuff.

Because it'd cost too much to integrate the system that holds the files and the system that uploads them so that anyone loading too many could get blocked...

If two working people split expenses, it's easier for both. If two beneficiaries split expenses they're expected to do so on less than theyd get if they just had a flatmate. And if one of them is on benefit and the other isn't, it's even worse - no relationship for beneficiary unless their new SO is willing to start financially supporting them.

Hahaha yeah I'm here for another week

It's not entirely design, though again the last Nat. Govt. added some true bullshit. It's also a whole lot of under-investment in IT, lack of coordination between policies and results, unwieldy legislation, truly stupid KPIs, etc.

I'd love a UBI though.

Or at least stop assessing people for benefit on their relationship status. It's stupid and it punishes people for normal human behaviour.

A mosquito bit my knee. #summerproblems #northamericaholiday

Nope, and people on benefit who are sick get the same jobseekers rate but are expected to keep bringing medical certificates regularly, which of course their GP charges for. That stops if they can get on the supported living payment, but the last National made that extra difficult.

I'd like to see free GP visits for anyone low income and standard prices for everyone else.