Hardship grants for over-65s on the rise

The number of Work and Income hardship grants being handed out to pensioners has increased by 50 percent in the last five years. The grants are available for people in need to cover food, accommmodation, power, medical and other costs. In 2013, 36,000 grants were made to over-65s. That figure jumped to almost 56,000 in 2017. The chief executive of Age Concern Auckland, Kevin Lamb, told our social issues reporter, Sarah Robson, that he's not surprised by the increase.