Latest news with #MinistryOfSocialDevelopment
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Will I have to pay for my wife's care? Ask Susan
RNZ's money correspondent Susan Edmunds answers your questions. Photo: RNZ Send your questions to My wife is chronically ill, 10 years older than me at 71 and will at some point need care. We are renting at the moment, pending the wind-up of my mother's estate. We will then either buy a section and put a tiny home on it, or continue renting, using interest income to offset the rest. Were we to invest to offset rent costs, would our investment be considered equivalent to a family home, since the investment returns would be creating exactly that - we would not be able to afford both a house and a substantial investment? Whether you get any help with paying for care will depend on your assets. The Ministry of Social Development group general manger of client service delivery Graham Allpress says, in this situation, the asset test that would be applied for access to a rest home subsidy would be $155,873, not the higher limit that can be applied, if a house's value is taken into account. "A family home must be a residential dwelling you own, and your partner or dependent children live in." The asset limits will increase from 1 July, taking the limit in this situation to $159,810. I have a question regarding secondary income tax. If my primary job is on part-time hours and my secondary job is on a casual contract, would I still need to use the secondary income tax code? The short answer is yes, probably. "In most instances, you should determine which is your 'main job' and determine the correct tax code, and then determine the right secondary tax code for other sources of income," Deloitte tax partner Robyn Walker said. "Secondary tax codes may 'feel' like you are being taxed more, but it should, in general, all work out over the course of the year. The reasons why secondary codes are higher are they are taxing you at a higher rate, based on your expected income for the year; whereas your primary source of income benefits from a blending of the lower 10.5 percent and 17.5 percent rates." If, at the end of the year, you have paid too much tax you are entitled to a refund. She said, if your income was variable, you could have other options. "If you have lumpy or variable income - which makes it difficult to determine which is your main job, or you have other sources of income or tax losses from a business - you can also consider applying to Inland Revenue to obtain a tailored tax code. Through this process, they will help you determine the best way to get your tax as accurate as possible throughout the year." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
State of emergency as rare cold snap kills seven in South America
Uruguay has declared a state of emergency after an unprecedented cold snap swept across the small South American nation, claiming the lives of at least seven homeless people. The unusual gust of frigid air extending from Antarctica dumped the mass of freezing weather on Monday, shocking a coastal nation with flat terrain accustomed to mild winters in the Southern Hemisphere. Light snow dusted parts of the country for the first time in four years as temperatures hit minus 3 Celsius (26 Fahrenheit) and wind chill readings dipped far below that. But the freeze was breaking on Thursday, with temperatures expected to rise across the country in the coming days. Health officials issued numerous warnings about the dangers of frostbite and hypothermia, with homeless people facing potentially devastating circumstances. Outreach workers fanned out around the city, trying to convince people to come indoors. The seven homeless people who died from exposure to the cold were found in various parts of the country — one man who had been sleeping under a bridge, another in a bus station, another in a tent near the river. The homeless population in the economically stable nation of 3.4 million has steadily climbed in recent years, with the Ministry of Social Development in 2024 reporting over 2,700 homeless people — the vast majority in the capital of Montevideo. President Yamandú Orsi this week invoked rare executive emergency authorities that empowered police and other officials to forcibly remove homeless people from the streets, citing a level of risk for the rough sleepers that Uruguay has seldom seen. "The possibility of mandatory evacuation has been applied for the first time because the scale of the problem really requires other tools,' said Leandro Palomeque, director of Uruguay's National Emergency System. Authorities opened 32 new warming centers and three more sprawling evacuation spots — including by converting public gyms and a police academy — and prepared some 1,000 extra beds. Inside one shelter, social workers distributed blankets and hot meals to scores of people who warmed themselves around the steaming vats of meat stew, their faces flushed from the searing winds. Some said police forcibly removed them from the street. 'I was lying on a small table, and the police came and told me I couldn't be on the street,' said Mauricio Rodríguezs. ' I didn't want to come.' Others, reaching the limit of how much they could withstand, sought out a warm bed. 'The worst time of winter is dusk, when the cold starts to set in and your body can't take it anymore,' said Lucas Bilhere, 19, wrapping himself in a blanket in the Montevideo evacuation center. His puppy, Alaska, pranced around the orderly rows of vinyl mattresses strewn with donated sheets where hundreds of people slept bundled up on the polished gymnasium floor. Rumpled shirts and damp socks hung from the nets of soccer goals. Unlike in normal shelters, the warming centers allowed homeless people to bring pets and personal belongings and remained open during the daytime. As much as Bilhere said he dreaded this wintry weather, he feared just as much what would happen when the cold snap passed and the emergency shelters closed. 'My dream is to have my own home ... and sleep warm,' he said. ' I wish that for everyone.'
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- Health
- Times of Oman
'A Nation Free from Drugs" awareness campaign held in Salalah
Salalah: The Ministry of Social Development, in Dhofar Governorate, organised on Wednesday a community event titled 'A Nation Free from Drugs" to raise awareness about the dangers of narcotics and psychotropic substances. The initiative aimed to educate the public on the threat of drug abuse, its societal risks, and the importance of collective prevention while fostering health, social and cultural awareness. The event featured a panel discussion titled 'A Nation Free from Drugs," where experts addressed the societal impacts of addiction and strategies for prevention and treatment.
Times of Oman
7 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Oman participates in meeting of ESCWA Social Development Committee in Algeria
Algiers: The Sultanate of Oman on Monday took part in the 16th session of the Social Development Committee of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The meeting was held in the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria. Oman's delegation to the meeting was headed by Dr. Laila Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development. During its sessions, the ESCWA committee discussed topics related to social protection systems in the Arab region as a means of promoting equality. It also underlined the importance of adopting innovative and more comprehensive policies to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of social programmes. The meeting reviewed ESCWA's efforts in the field of social development, recommendations issued by the Committee at its 15th session, activities of ESCWA 'Intersessional Expert Working Group on Persons with Disabilities' and the organisation's 'Expert Group on Social Protection Reform'. The session will include the "Fourth Arab Forum for Equality", which will highlight the ability of social protection systems to address the most serious forms of inequality. The participation of the Ministry of Social Development in the meeting stems from its commitment to enhance regional cooperation, exchange expertise and support efforts for achieving sustainable development and ameliorate citizens' quality of life.
Times of Oman
16-06-2025
- Times of Oman
Ministry of Social Development launches child protection guide
Muscat: Acting in cooperation with the office of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Muscat, the Ministry of Social Development on Monday launched Oman's 'Child Protection Guide (CPG)' to enhance unified national response mechanisms. The guide's launch ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr. Laila Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development. The CPG serves as a comprehensive practical reference aimed at supporting personnel operating in the field of child protection (including social workers, teachers and healthcare providers). It unifies concepts, simplifies referral procedures and enhances coordination among relevant stakeholders. This ensures rapid and effective intervention deemed necessary for child protection and furnishing a safe and supportive environment for children in the Sultanate of Oman. Sayyida Maani Abdullah Al Busaidi, Director General of Family Development at the Ministry of Social Development, said in a speech that the CPG constitutes a strategic step towards enhancing the integration of all national efforts for the protection of children, in addition to enabling national cadres to professionally respond to all cases of abuse, neglect and child exploitation. Practical measures For his part, Dr. Bilal Al Kiswani, Program Director at UNICEF Oman, said, 'The CPG embodies our collective commitment to take practical measures whenever children are exposed to any form of risks. It reflects the significance of partnership between the UNICEF and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman in building child protection systems.' The event included a dialogue session titled 'Next Steps and Training of Trainers Plan', run by Safia Abdullah Al Abri, Assistant Director of the Family Protection Department at the Ministry of Social Development. The session dealt with the CPG training plan, elaboration about general frameworks, basic concepts of the case management system and training on the system's stages of implementation.
