Minister announces benefit increases

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 18

Minister announces benefit increases

PA Wellington All increases in incometested benefits in the Budget will be paid by the week ending August 21. Announcing this the Minister of Social Welfare, (Mr Walker) said that the increase, from July 27, raised the basic benefit for a married couple by $4.48 to $68.84. A single beneficiary now received $41.30, an increase of $2.90.

These increases apply to widows, domestic purposes, invalids, miners, sickness, unemployment, related emergency benefits, and incometested war pensions.

The amounts of other increases were also announced by Mr Walker. The rate of additional benefit for the first dependent child of a solo parent has been increased by $1.94 to $24.54 a week. Persons under 18 receiving sickness and invalids benefits and persons under 20 on unemployment benefit will receive $31.50 a week, an increase of $220.

I Benefits for orphans will be increased by $1.40 a week, bringing the rate to $20.60. Payments of all increases and arrears from July 27 was now under way and some beneficiaries would already have received the additional payment, Mr Walker said.

increases in invalids’, miner’s, orphans’, and widows benefits will be paid on August 16, war veterans' and war service and economic pensions by August 18, and the domestic purposes, sickness, and unemployment increases not later than the week ending August 21.