INCREASED BENEFIT

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31770, 29 August 1968, Page 6

INCREASED BENEFIT

Question On Payment

The method of paying an increase in the Social Security Benefit of 50c a week to elderly people who are resident in North Canterbury Hospital Board institutions was questioned by Mrs R- M. Macfarlane at yesterday’s board meeting. It was reported that the Social Security Commission had decided tbit where beneficiaries were residents of hospital board institutions, but were not in receipt of hospital benefits, there would be no variation in the amount reserved for the beneficiary’s own use. Mrs Macfarlane said some people who ran private homes for the elderly had complained that they were not receiving the 50c and they seemed to think that the board should hand the increase on to them.

The secretary (Mr J. G. Laurenson) said where a subsidy was paid by the board for the care of the elderlv person it would be reduced by 50c a week. Mrs Macfarlane said a letter had been sent by the board to at least one home owner stating that the amount would not be paid. She said it was a question of paying for the same amount of food, but more money was required.

It was decided that a full report should be made on the mechanics of payment