Age Benefit

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31809, 14 October 1968, Page 16

Age Benefit

Sir, —We are age pensioners, married, with a certificate as evidence. In the vicinity there are age pensioner couples living like us who are uncertificated. Because of this, the Government gives them a dollar each a week more than we get, and grants them the right to earn £2OB a year more than we are allowed before affecting the amount of the pension. It behoves young people who are looking forward to their graduation day for their bed licence to ponder before accepting it. We appeal in mercy to the Government to give some status to our “scrap of paper” by granting the

right to earn even a quarter of the extra amount the uncertificated are allowed.— Yours, etc., NEEDFUL. September 27, 1968. [The Minister of Social Security (Mr McKay) replies: “There is a specific provision in the legislation which enables the Social Security Commission, if it is satisfied that a de facto relationship exists, to assess and pay a benefit as if the couple were married. In other words, the rate of benefit and the allowable income are the same as for a married couple. The Social Security Commission is naturally not aware of all beneficiaries living in the manner mentioned by your correspondent.’’]