SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27796, 22 October 1955, Page 11

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Operation Of Budget Proposals

INCREASES TO BE PAID FROM AUGUST 1

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 20. “The passing of the Social Security Amendment (No. 2) Bill, 1955, on Tuesday makes the way clear for the Government’s Budget proposals for the new benefits to be put into operation,” said the Minister of Social Security (Mr E. H. Halstead) today. “Of principal interest is the provision whereby, in general, the rate of benefit for unmarried persons is to be increased by £l3 a year, or 5s a week. The increase will be effective from August 1, 1955, for all benefits current on that date, and the arrears due will be paid with the November instalments of benefit.” The Minister also referred to provisions in the amending legislation allowing the Social Security Commission to grant an age benefit to any unmarried woman who has attained the age of 55 years and for health or other reasons is unable to undertake regular employment. The Minister explained that it was now open to women coming within this category to lodge their applications with the nearest office of the Social Security Department, and provided a claim was lodged before the end of December next, anv benefit grafted would be retrospective to August 1. 1955. “The amendment act also widens the scope of the domestic service concession, which has been in operation for some years.” continued Mr Halstead. “and female beneficiaries drawing the benefit in their own right, or as the Wives of beneficiaries. Or engaging in domestic' or nursing services in private homes, or for cleaning contractors for hospitals, or in hospitals and homes for the care of the aged, or in charitable institutions, may have the first £7B of their earnings disregarded for social security benefit purposes. Beneficiaries who wish to claim this concession should apply at the nearest Social Security office.” The Minister also said that unmarried persons receiving economic pensions or war veterans’ allowances would, in general, be paid an extra 5s a week, retrospective to August 1.

The arrears due would be paid with the November instalments of war pensions or war veterans’ allowances.”. The Minister added that amending legislation had also given the War Pensions Board authority to disregard the first £7B of the earnings of any woman engaging in domestic or nursing services in private homes, hospitals, homes for the care of the aged, or charitable institutions.