PENSIONS CHANGES

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 60, 4 December 1942, Page 4

PENSIONS CHANGES

Benefits Not To Be Lower

Amendments to the Social Security and Pensions Emergency Regulations gazetted last week do not raise the question of reductions in allowances, the Commissioner of Social Security, Mr. H. Digby-Smith, states. It is possible, he says, that beneficiaries will find on making their applications that, everything being in order, they are entitled to more than they have been receiving.’ •

The question arose from tbe modification of the Social Security Act which provided that “the-Social Security Commission may, in its discretion, increase by any amount not exceeding £26 a year the rate of the age-benefit payable under the Act to any beneficiary who satisfies the Commission (a) that the beneficiary was the parent of a deceased member of the. forces whpse death was. attributable to his service

as a member ot the forces, and (b)

that the beneficiary was wholly or partially dependent upon the member during tbe period of 12 months immediately preceding the date oii which he became a member of the forces.” The alteration applied to both the last war and the present war.

Benefits payable to dependants prior to the Social Security Act coming into force are not affected, except that it would probably be found that some beneficiaries would be better off.