Social Security Benefits Raised

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31982, 8 May 1969, Page 26

Social Security Benefits Raised

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 7.

Increases in social security benefits costing more than sl4m a year, were announced today by the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake).

The maximum rates of benefits will be increased by $1.50 to $24 a week for married couples, and by $1 to $13.25 a week for unmarried beneficiaries.

The rate for a widow or sole parent with one dependent child will be increased by $1.75 to $22.75 a week. The increase is effective from next Wednesday, May 14. The previous increase was granted in June, 1968. Universal superannuation is included in the new increases. Where a married person is entitled to superannuation but his partner has not yet reached 65, he will receive 75c. Where the individual is unmarried, he will receive $l, and married couples both qualifying for the universal benefit will receive a total entitlement of $1.50. The present rates for universal superannuation are $11.25 for married people, and $12.25 for unmarried. Extra Earnings Also, beneficiaries will be allowed an extra $3 a week income without affecting their benefits. This will increase the allowable amount of other income to $7BO a year for widows with dependent children, and to $572 a year for other beneficiaries.

Mr Holyoake said it was not proposed to increase the family benefit, but orphans’ benefits and other benefits paid to persons under 20 without dependents would be increased 50c a week. Mothers’ allowances and family maintenance allowances for sole parents with dependent children will be increased 75c a week in addition to the $1 a week increase in the basic benefit. Married beneficiaries with two or more dependent children will receive a further increase of 25c a week in their family maintenance allowances.

Similar increases will be made in economic pensions, wives’ pensions and war veterans’ allowances payable under the war pensions legislation. Review Policy “These increases are in accordance with Government policy of, periodically reviewing benefits other than the family benefit,” Mr Holyoake said.

“They will ensure that benefits and pensions are once more placed ahead of increases in living costs as measured by the consumers’ price index. “The present basic income exemptions are extended by

$156 a year and will replace the present restricted earnings concession available only to female beneficiaries in approved domestic or nursing employment Mr Holyoake said the Min- > isters of Social Security and j War Pensions would shortly announce full details of the s increases and paying arrange- ■ meats. War Pensions Increases in war-disable-i ment and war widows’ pen- . sions from April 1 this year . were announced by the Minis- . ter in charge of War Pensions (Mr Thomson). , War-disablement pensions . for total disablement are in- . creased by $1.50 to $13.30 a - week, and proportionate in- . creases for pensioners with a lesser degree of disablement. The additional pension pay- , able in certain cases of more . serious disablement are in- > creased by 90c to $7.90 a . week.

Mr Thomson said the combined effect of these two increases was an increase of up to $2.40 a week for more seriously disabled former servicemen.

The increase in the basic war widows’ pension was $l.lO a week, making the rate of pension payable in these cases $9.80 a week, the Minister said.

Full details of paying arrangements would be announced as soon as possible.