SOCIAL SECURITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 3, 3 July 1940, Page 5

SOCIAL SECURITY

PAYMENTS MADE

FIRST YEAR'S WORK

REPORT PRESENTED

Tbe report on the first year's activities of the Social Security Department. which has been- presented to Parliament by the Minister of Social Security (the Hon. W. Parry), reveals that 46,708 persons applied for benefits during the year. Of these, 34,762 (32,500 males and 2202 females) were granted benefits. The applications declined totalled 9898, and 2048 other persons -whose applications were declined were : granted emergency benefits on the ground of hardship. At March 31. 1940, there were 3743 males and 310 females receiving unem. ployment benefits. Many of those at present in receipt of benefit may be considered for health and other rea- . sons as unsuitable for ordinary employment. The report adds that a year earlier 7256 males were receiving sustenance relief from the employment promotion fund. Almost 40 per cent, of the male beneficiaries had a period of unemployment of less than four weeks, and this was the largest period of unemployment group. The largest similar group for females was the four to thirteen weeks group, in which 37.2 per cent of the females who actually received benefit were included. In age grouping the largest number of applicants was from 20 to 29 years inclusive among men, and from 16 to 19 years among women. A large group for males -was from 50 to 59 years, and this was probably due to the fact that many men, displaced through age and general physical failings, had registered as unemployed. SICKNESS BENEFITS. The total expenditure on sickness benefits during the year for 17,800 persons was £208,790. In addition, £10,458 was provided for 632 persons, who could not qualify for various rea-< sons for sickness benefits but who were granted emergency benefits on the* ground of hardship. At March 31, 1940, there were 1917 males and 648 females receiving sickness benefits, a total of 2565. Under the provision made in the Act for the Social Security Commission to use its discretion in granting any special benefits on account of hardship to the individual, 3223 emergency benefits were granted, involving an expenditure of £86,711. The report shows that the Social Security registration fees, the charge on wages and other income, penalties, fines, and interest brought £9,557,750 into the fund. The Budget surplus transferred amounted to £809,367, and £1,000,000 was paid.in as a grant from the Consolidated Fund, making ,a total of £11,367,117. Of this £9,337,243 was expended as monetary benefits, £1,056,699 as hospital benefits, etc. and £449,274 as administration expenses, making a total of £10,843.216, and leaving a balance of £523,901. WAR PENSIONS. The total amount paid as war pensions during the year was £1,673,730, an increase over the previous year of £57,482. The statement on the annual liability for pensions for soldiers, dependants of disabled soldiers, and of deceased soldiers, and widows shows that the number of pensioners is 23,874 and the total annual value of pensions is £1,676,937, giving an average value of £70. These pension payments provide for 5670 children. The annual liability for war pensions payable outside New Zealand during the year was £101,940. At March 31 economic pensions were payable to 4753 persons, their annual value being £326,720, an average of £69. War veterans' allowances in force at March 31 numbered 2079 with an annual value of £212,500. The total number, of all benefits and pensions "in force at March 31 was 164157 the annual value amounting to 'fi1i.194,182. Total payments for the year were £11,494,202, but in addition to this £38,947 was paid for pensions outstanding at the beginning of the year and £43,967 for medical treatment, railway concessions, etc., for war pensioners. The total cost of administering all payments during the year was £338,044, or 2.92 per cent.