SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27426, 12 August 1954, Page 6

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

INCREASES PROMISED IN BUDGET OPERATION FROM AUGUST 1 (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 11. “The 10s a week increase in the mother’s allowance payable to recipients of social security widows’ benefits and war widows’ pensions, and also the provision enabling the double age benefit to be continued for the whole of the month after the death of husband or wife, will operate from August 1,” said the Minister in charge of the Social Security Department (Sir William Bodkin) today. The Minister said that the necessary legislation would be introduced as soon as practicable to give effect to the proposals contained in the Budget. “At present,” he said, “a person receiving a widow’s benefit may receive an additional £2 5s a week as a mother’s allowance if she is required to maintain a home for a dependent child or children. It is now proposed to raise the amount of the mother’s allowance by 10s a week to £2 15s a week in the case of a widow with two or more dependent children. The allowance for a widow with only one child will remain at £2 5s a week. War widows will also receive the 10s a week increase if they have two or more dependent children.” Discretionary authority would be given to the Social Security Commission to continue an age benefit beyond the date of death, if either husband or wife was left. To help the survivor to cope, with immediate financial problems the double age benefit might be continued to the end of the month after the month in which death occurred. “Although it may not be possible to bring these’ improvements into operation with the August benefit and pension instalments,” said Sir William Bodkin, “those who will be affected by the changes will not suffer any financial loss because of any delay.”