CIVIL PENSIONS

Evening Star, Issue 22525, 18 December 1936, Page 2

CIVIL PENSIONS

HOST OF NEW RECIPIENTS FORMER RESTRICTIONS WIDENED [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, December 17. Since the passing of the Pensions Amendment Act on August 31 this year 11,071 new civil pensions have been granted, stated the Minister of Pensions (Mr W E. Parry) to-day. The majority of the new pensions, he said, were granted on claims based on the amended legislation, which eases the age, property, and residential qualifications of the applicants. Details of the claims received and the pensions granted since August 31, together with the number of pensions in force as on Wednesday, were given by the Minister as follow; New

Mr Parry added that the pensions in fore© at August 81 had increased from 50,681 to 60,448 on December 16, an increase of 9,767. “ Many of the old age pensions which have been granted during the_ past three months,” the Minister continued, “ have been in cases where the qualifications of applicants did not comply with the provisions of the original Act. The departmental files showed some very sad cases, particularly those in -which the, applicants owned property which brought them little or no income, but which debarred them from the receipt of the pension. The requirements for widows’ pensions have also been modified, with the result that the lot of many women is now much happier.” INVALIDITY PENSIONS. Referring to the 4,277 invalidity pensions granted out of 8,699 applications received under the new legislation, Mr Parry said that every effort was being made to deal with the cases as expeditiously as possible. The departmental officers bad a difficult task in considering the various claims, but they were keen to get as many as possible approved before the holiday season. “ The legislation is being generously administered,” the Minister added. “ Every applicant whose claim for a pension is rejected on medical grounds has the right of appeal to a board of three registered medical practitioners.” The Minister said it was hoped that a start would be made next week with the hearing of the invalidity pensions appeals. The registrars of pensions would notify applicants when and where to appear before the appeal boards, which would consist of doctors who had not been concerned with the original applications.

penTotal Claims. sions. pensions. Old age 8,147 6,179 50,047 Widows 849 421 4,609 Invalidity 8,699 4,343 4,793 Miners ... . 193 128 999 Totals 17,888 11,071 60,448