Adult students to get benefits

Press, 10 November 1980, Page 5

Adult students to get benefits

Parliamentary reporter | Adult students attending secondary schools will, from , the beginning of the next 1 school year, be eligible for < Social Welfare assistance by s way of an emergency grant. I The member of Parliament i for Christchurch Central (Mr i G. W. R. Palmer) made representations to the Minister I of Social Welfare (Mr Gair)'] earlier this year on behalf ofj adult students attending Hagley High School. 1 These sought a change in ’ I the situation under which < the increasing number of; people staying on at school j 1 after the age of 18, or re- i turning to school over that|l age, did not qualify for an; unemployment benefit and were also not entitled to a family be- jfit. Mr Gair has reviewed the situation and has decided

I that from the start of the 1981 school year the Social Security Commission: will have discretion to pay an emergency grant to such students at a rate equivalent to that of a family benefit, where there is an 'assessed need for such assistance. The eligibility of students for the grants will be determined on the merits of each individual case. “I trust this measure will be of assistance to persons who fall into this category, and. ensure that they are in J a comparable position to ■ other full-time students who are eligible for a family benefit, Mr Gair said. I T