FAMILY BENEFITS FOR SERVICEMEN’S CHILDREN

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1947, Page 8

FAMILY BENEFITS FOR SERVICEMEN’S CHILDREN

P.A. WELLINGTON, May 2. The applications for ' family benefits for children of members of the armed forces are to be reviewed,” said the Minister of Social Security, Hon. W. E. Parry, to-day. “This follows the recent announcement of the new rates of pay to members of the armed services and the payment of family benefits, with effect as from April 1, 1946, to applicants where such benefits have been withheld from payment while awaiting these revised rates of pay.” The Minister said the review would embrace all claims previously withheld from payment where the fathers of the children remained in the armed services, and would also include those cases where payment commenced subsequent to April 1, 1946, following the discharge of servicemen after that date. Payment would be made from April 1, 1946, to the present date or otherwise from April 1, 1946, to the commencement of the current family benefit, was authorised from the date of the termination, of service with the forces. : ; Mr. Parry said he hoped to bav? the whole of these payments made available to those concerned by the end of June. He pointed out that there was no need for fresh applications for family benefits where claims have already been lodged, but urged immediate application where claims had not been made. If such new applications were not lodged by June 30, 1947, the payment of the beneiT would not commence prior to thfirst day of the month during which the applications were lodged.