No benefits overseas for unemployed, sick

Press, 6 July 1985, Page 5

No benefits overseas for unemployed, sick

PA Wellington Legislation doubling the period people can receive benefits while overseas will not enable unemployed and sickness beneficiaries to collect their payment while holidaying outside New Zealand, says the Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs Hercus. “Some concern has been expressed that unemployment beneficiaries may be able to enjoy an overseas holiday while being supported at the taxpayers’ expense,” she told Parliament during the second reading of the Social Security Amendment Bill. Under the bill, national superannuitants and beneficiaries temporarily leaving New Zealand on or after June 14, 1985, will receive payments for up to 26 weeks, provided they return within 30 weeks. People planning to return within 30 weeks but prevented from doing so for reasons beyond their control will also receive 26 weeks payment on their return. The bill was introduced last month to implement a Budget measure overturning the 1979 limit of 13 weeks on payments to beneficiaries who leave the country. Mrs Hercus said the Social Security Commission would be allowed to pay

benefits to unemployed and sickness beneficiaries outside the country for 26 weeks, but only if they continued to be eligible for the benefits. However, in practice this meant the benefits would not be paid because the unemployed were required to seek work in New Zea-

land and invalids had to furnish sickness certificates at regular intervals. The commission would pay out in some cases, such as sickness beneficiaries travelling overseas for medical treatment, or an unemployed person travelling to be with a terminally ill relative.