SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23415, 23 August 1941, Page 5

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Sir,—Like "Scant Allowance,” I was pleased to see the. comments of Mrs Stewart, M.P., upon the need of increasing age benefits. I think a more urgent need is the removal of the drasr tic restrictions on the amount of income age beneficiaries may earn. This is a most unfair restriction, and the removal of it would hurt no one, as men and women over 60 cannot compete in the labour market with young people. Why put a limit on the earning of an age beneficiary if he is able and. willing to supplement his earnings? No one can live on 30s a week, Many, especially single people, have no home. To pay for room and board leaves nothing over for other necessaries,' and the fact that their pensions will be reduced is a deterrent to earning. Besides, no one is allowed to earn the £52 allowed in one year—unless it is earned at the rate of not more than £1 a week. Mark that.

In an answer to a correspondent last week, you stated that it made no difference over what period the money allowed was earned. This is not. so, according to inquiries made at a social security office.. When the inquirer pressed the question, he was met with rudeness. :

I am acquainted with a case in which a woman earned £2 a wdek for a short period (in all over the year less than £4O), and her pension was reduced for the period she was in receipt: of the £2 weekly. This is most unfair,- and this restriction did not obtain before 1935. To allow age beneficiaries to earn whatever they are capable of earning would be beneficial all round. For instance, many women with young children or aged invalids are often oadly in need of domestic help. It is almost Impossible to get young women for this class of work, or for work by the day at 10s a day, which is the usual wage. Older women on a pension are often able and willing to take work of this kind, but they argue, “Why work and lose my pension?” Again gardeners and oddjob men could earn good wages over short periods—seasonal work—but are deterred by the thought of losing their pension. The money earned is spent and is good for .trade. Those who qualify for the age benefit have fully earned the right to draw it in full, with no irritating restriction on earnings.—Yours, etc.. WILLING TO WORK. August 20, 1941.