SOCIAL SECURITY

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25061, 18 December 1946, Page 8

SOCIAL SECURITY

Sir, —Could you inform me whether everyone, irrespective of what income he earns, is entitled to social security benefits if he is off work through illness. I have heard of an application for social security being refused on the ground that hardship had not been proved.—Yours, etc., CURIOUS. December 16, 1946. [‘‘Persons 16 years of age and more who have lived in New Zealand for more than one year, and who, by reason of illness or accident, are temporarily incapable of continuing work, thus suffering loss of salary, wages or other earnings, may receive a sickness benefit,” said the registrar of Social Security in Christchurch to whom this letter was referred. “The amount of the benefit may not exceed the loss of earnings. With £1 a week other income allowed, the total income permitted to a married man from al! sources, including the benefit, is £5 a week. Where a member draws sick pay from a friendly society the total income permitted is £6 a week. In fixing the amount of the benefit, the means of the applicant and his wife are to be taken into consideration. To meet the case of deserving persons, where hardship is apparent, who are not eligible for other .benefits, provision is made for an emergency benefit, at the discretion of the Social Security Commission, to be granted. No amount is fixed but the sum granted is to be as close to that of the type of benefit for which the applicant nearly qualifies.]