My uncle earning almost $400k per year, with multiple investment properties, etc qualifies for a pension.. How about we means test the bloody thing and we'd be able to make life a little easier for those who have it as their only source of income?

[–] Xcf456 7 points 8 months ago (9 children)

I can see the case for this, but my view is means testing super itself is the wrong way to go about addressing this.

You create a whole bureaucracy around applying means testing and a cottage industry of wealthy people avoiding it through trusts and so on.

Then when it becomes means tested it becomes a target to slash and burn politicians, just like all the other benefits. The fact it's universal is the only reason it's survived in the relatively good shape it's in, because so many have a stake in it.

Imo it'd be far better to claw it back by taxing wealth, property and high incomes.

[–] Viper_NZ 3 points 8 months ago (8 children)

What’s hard about it? If you’re paying PAYE on a $400k job you don’t get super.

We can means test every other benefit without issue.

[–] Xcf456 3 points 8 months ago

I'm not saying we can't, I'm just saying I think it's a bad idea that undermines the scheme as a whole. Better to address the issue through the tax system.

Our means tested benefits are dogshit compared to super.

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