Recommendation 16 a. Review and amend the Social Security Act 1964, including the sanctions regime and ensure that human rights principles, such as the best interest of the child are taken into account in all benefit decision-making processes. b. Review core benefit levels for adequacy in meeting cost of living and consider implementing a universal child benefit. c. Take steps to ensure appropriate uptake levels of targeted benefits is sufficient amongst vulnerable populations groups (ie. disability allowance, child payments etc). Right to an Adequate Standard of Living ICESCR Arts: 11 LOIPR Paras: 19 | 21 | 29 SDGs: 1 | 10 82. The 2015 OECD Economic Survey on New Zealand97 reported that while New Zealand has generally done well in enabling economic and social participation of its people, income inequality and poverty have increased, rising housing costs have hit the poor hardest, and the rate of improvement in many health outcomes has been slower for disadvantaged groups than for others. 83. The number of children in New Zealand who experience poverty and material deprivation remains stubbornly high. In 2017, the annual Child Poverty Monitor published by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner reported that 290,000 New Zealand children, 27% of New Zealand’s child population, live in households whose income falls below the income poverty line.98 The Child Poverty Technical Report,99 an extensive epidemiological report which accompanies the Child Poverty Monitor, reports strong correlations between income poverty, inadequate housing (including overcrowding) and high rates of hospitalisation and child mortality rates. 84. These figures are further compounded by ethnic and socio-economic disparities, including family status and disability. Disproportionate numbers of Māori and Pacific children live in households with incomes below the relative income poverty line. Children living in sole parent households also experience much higher levels of hardship.100 In 2015, 46% of children aged 6+ from sole parent families were in 27