Wellington (dpa) – New Zealand's conservative government announced details Monday of a program to get welfare beneficiaries working, including single mothers at home with young children. Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said the government was fundamentally changing a welfare system introduced in 1935. More than 351,000 people – 13 percent of the working-age population – are currently on welfare. Changes will force parents receiving benefits to look for part-time or full-time work. Jobless teens will no longer get cash in the hand, but payment cards for essentials that cannot be used for alcohol and tobacco. Opposition politicians dubbed the scheme “beneficiary bashing.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/bP0TU Tags: Benefits, New Zealand, Welfare Section: Oceana