HIGHER BENEFITS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 236, 5 October 1945, Page 7

HIGHER BENEFITS

SOCIAL SECURITY

NEW UNEMPLOYMENT SCALE

Parliamentary Reporter. WELLINGTON, this day. Increases foreshadowed in the Budget had been included in the Social Security Amendment Bill, said the Minister of Social Security, Mr. Parry, in the House of Representatives last night, when the measure was introduced and read a first time. The Minister added that there was provision for increased rates for age, widows', invalid, miners', sickness and unemployment benefits. The new rates operated from October 1. The age benefit at 60 years for a married couple, both eligible, is increased from the present amount of £3 5/ to £4 weekly, which, with the allowable income of £1, will provide a total income of £5 a week. Where the wife is under age, the benefit has been increased from the present amount of £2 3/ to £4 a week

(£2 each for husband and wife), again with the allowable income of £1, providing the same maximum of £5 a week for the couple. This provision is an extension of the proposal set out in the Budget, where it was con- . templated that £1 a week would be provided for the under-age wife. For single age beneficiaries, the rate has been increased from £1 12/6 a week to £2, which, with the allowable income of £1, will bring the total income to £3 a week. Widows and Dependents For widows with dependent children, the present rate of £1 10/ „a week is increased to £2 a week, with an allowable income of £1 10/, and in addition to this benefit 10/ will be available under the family benefit procedure for each child of the widow. The Commission may in its discretion when circumstances warrant supplement the benefit for a widowed mother with children by a further £1 a week. In the case of widows who have had children, but now have none under the age of 16 years and who otherwise qualify, the benefit is increased from £1 5/ to £2 a week, with an allowable income of £1, bringing the total income and benefit to £3 a week. The rate for widows who have had no- children and who otherwise qualify has been increased from £1 5/ to £1 10/ a week, with provision for-an allowable income of a further £1' 10/ a week, or total income and benefit of £3 a week. Invalids' benefits have been improved by providing for a benefit for a married male invalid of £4 a week for himself and wife (£2 each), with an allowable income of £1, or a total of £5 a week. Where the wife is the invalid, the benefit will be increased from the present rate of £1 12/6 a week to £2 a week with an allowable income of £3, or a total of income and benefit amounting to £5 a week. In the case of a single adult invalid, the rate has been increased from. .£1 12/6 a week to £2, with an allowable income of £1, making £3 a week in all. Invalids under 20 years of •. age. will . have their benefits increased from £1 2/6 a week to £1 10/, with an allowable income of £1, making a total of £2 10/ a week. The Maori War benefit has been increased from £1 12/6 to £2 a week. There is only One beneficiary. The miners' benefit for the miner and his wife has been increased from the present £2 3/ to £4 a week (£2 for each person). The benefit for the single' miner has been raised from £1 12/6 to £2 a week. Miners widows' benefits have been increased from £1 to £1 10/ a week, with the right to receive, if she so desires, the ordinary widow's benefit if that procedure is to her advantage. Sickness Benefits Kaised Sickness benefits have been raised from the present £1 15/ for a married couple to £4 a week (£2 for each person), with an allowable income of £1 a week, or a limit of income and benefit of £5 weekly. The rate for single persons has been raised from £1 a week to £2, again with the same income exemption of £1 or a maximum of income and benefit of £3. Persons under the age of 20 years, qualifying for sickness benefit and now receiving 10/6, will receive £1 a week with an allowable income of £2 a week. In all cases of sickness benefits the total income may be increased by a further £1 a week where the beneficiary is in receipt of a grant from a friendly or like society. ■ Unemployment benefits are raised from £1 15/ a week for a married man to £4, with allowable income from other than salary or wages of £1, : making a total of £5 a week. A single person who is unemployed and who previously qualified for £1 a Week, now qualifies f<?r £2 a-week with an allowance for income other than salary or wages of a further £1, making a total of £3 a week. Unemployed persons under 20 years will draw £1 a week instead of 10/6, with allowable other income not wages or salary of £I—a total of £2 a week. The universal superannuation has been amended by providing for extension of the benefit from the present limit of £84 10/ to £104 a year. Except for unemployment benefits, where improvements have been effected, the property qualifications for social security benefits in general - have not been altered.