The Families Package was introduced in 2018 and provided targeted assistance to improve incomes for low- and middle-income families with children. The package was implemented as part of the Government’s focus on reducing child poverty, and ensuring children get the best start in life. This report monitors trends in receipt and expenditure for the different payments that comprise the package.

Key Findings

The package increased Family Tax Credit payment rates and raised the Working for Families abatement threshold with the aim of boosting incomes of low- and middle-income families. Trends to the end of June 2019 show:

1. a rise in the number of people receiving a weekly or fortnightly Family Tax Credit payment from Inland Revenue from 149,849 in the final fortnight of June 2017, to 159,100 during the final fortnight of June 2019.
2. an increase in the average amount a recipient received from Inland Revenue from $117 per week at the end of June 2017 to $157 at the end of June 2019.
3. a fall in the number of people receiving a weekly Family Tax Credit payment from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), from 64,858 in the last week of June 2017 to 61,509 in the last week of June 2019.
4. an increase in the average amount a recipient received from MSD from $147 per week at the end of June 2017 to $188 at the end of June 2019.