OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Evening Star, Issue 25617, 18 October 1945, Page 6

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

BENEFITS INTERPRETED UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNIVERSAL PENSION (Special.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 18. Two important explanations regarding the unemployment benefit and universal superannuation were given to the House last night during the debate on the Social Security Amendment Bill. Referring to the provision for an unemployed man and his wife, Mr Nash explained that such a couple could have an extra pound a week, but it could not be earned money, because if it was earned money then that meant that the person concerned was employed. The reason for giving that right to an extra pound -was that over the last six years people had been urged to save their money, and had done so. To suggest that, having that income from their own exertions, it ought to be taken from them because they were unemployed, was not As far as the emergency benefit was concerned that was to enable the' Commissioner of Social Security to make payments in cases which did not come under the Act. For instance, a person might be in need of assistance, but had only been out from Britain for 19 years, when the period required for the benefit was 20 years. That case could be covered by an emergency benefit. The universal superannuation provision had been introduced to provide an age benefit without a means test. It was a good scheme to supplement the incomes of those on the middle levels. It would increase by £2 10s a year until it reached the maximum in 1978. There were people just over the border from the social security benefit schemes who would get, the £22 10s this year and £25 next year (£SO for a married couple who qualified). That was a good nest egg for the person with £3OO a year, and would be of assistance in helping to meet taxation liabilities.