SOCIAL SECURITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 93, 21 April 1939, Page 7

SOCIAL SECURITY

SICKNESS BENEFIT

IMPRESSION CORRECTED

Referring to a published summary of a circular issued by the Friendly Societies Council about sickness benefits, the Minister of Social Security (the Hon. W. Nash) said last night that the summary gave the impression that sickness benefits were limited to persons who received friendly society sick pay. This was not correct and the circular itself did not state this.

"Any qualified person who loses his livelihood through temporary sickness or accident may apply for sickness benefit," said the Minister, when his attention was drawn to the summary which was contained in a Press Association message telegraphed from Christchurch last week. "Special arrangements have been made with friendly societies in respect of their members and the Government has appreciated their co-operation. "Applicants who are not in friendly societies will apply direct to the Social Security Department."

The message sent out from-Christ-church was as follows: —

Arrangements for adminstering sick benefits to friendly society members under section 50 of the Social Security Act have been tentatively agreed to as a result of a conference between the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, and representatives of the Dominion Council of Friendly Societies. The decisions are subject to amendment as experience may dictate and are open to review by a general meeting of the Dominion Council, states a circular issued to friendly societies throughout New Zealand. The circular states that pending introduction of part 111 of the Act (medical, hospital, and related benefits) the department will accept a medical certificate or signed duplicate of the form used by friendly societies in payment of lodge sick benefit for the immediate present. Applicants for the social security temporary sick benefit will be limited to members entitled to lodge sickness benefits.