Increases in pensions

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32777, 30 November 1971, Page 1

Increases in pensions

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, November 29.

Superannuation, age, widows’, invalids’, miners’, sickness, unemployment and related emergency benefits are to be increased by $l.lO a week for single beneficiaries and $2 a week for married couples from February 16, 1972, the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) said today.

These increases will also apply to economic, wives’ and war service pensions and war veterans’ allowances paid under the war pensions legislation.

The increase represents an advance of nearly 7 per cent on current benefit rates, ■which were last increased in June.

The Royal Commission on Social Security is due to report by March 31, 1972; and any recomendation by the Royal Commission on the rates of social security benefits will be given immediate consideration in the light of these increases. Had the Government waited for the commission’s recommendations before reviewing benefit rates, it could

well have been June or July next year before the beneficiaries and pensioners received any additional payments, said the Prime Minister. Department’s work There are some 300,000 benefits and pensions to be increased in addition to the regular commitments of the Social Security Department in the preparation and distribution of benefit and pension orders. It was not possible to pay the last general increase which was announced on June 8 until October 19 for age benefits; it was intended to pay the new increase as

soon as possible after February 16 and this would include payment up to the expiry of order books, said Sir Keith Holyoake.