Sickness benefits

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34130, 17 April 1976, Page 14

Sickness benefits

\ Sir, — Although the main ; bone of contention at the moment seems to be solo mothers, I would like to (know a few facts about another sector worthy of inI vestigation. In the resume of current court action in “The Press" (6/4/76), four of the ■charges were against sickness beneficiaries, whom, it | seems, are capable of committing everything from as- • sault to burglary, but incapable of doing a good day’s work. I w’ould be grateful- if lan official from the relevant i department could specify ■ w’hat entitles a person to I this form of state aid (besides the obviously immobile and those suffering from i progressive diseases) and benefits are paid while the beneficiary is in I gaol serving his sentence. — Yours, etc., J. COHEN. April 6, 1976. • [Mr C. L. Waters, assistant director. Department of Social Welfare, replies: “The Social Security Act provides that in order to qualify for a sickness benefit, an applicant .must: (a) Have attained the age of 15 years; (b) Have rej sided continuously in New [Zealand for not less than 12 months at any time; (c) Be .temporarily incapacitated or will, for an indefinite period, be incapacitated for work through sickness or accident; 1(d) By reason of such incapacity, have suffered a loss of salary, wages or other earnings. Every application must be supported by a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner. [Confirmation of work record and the amount of earnings I lost is obtained from the last employer. The benefit is subject to a means test and would immediately cease if a beneficiary were committed to gaol.”]"