SICKNESS BENEFITS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 48, Issue 2922, 30 June 1939, Page 8

SICKNESS BENEFITS

SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME POSITION MADE CLEAR NO PAYMENT FOR FIRST WEEK While weekly increases are being noticed in the number of applications to the Social Security Department for sickness benefits, two factors are operating which have resulted in a much smaller pay-out than was anticipated. One factor is that some persons who made applications have not been eligible and the second is that many others who would have been justly entitled to the benefits have been prevented from obtaining them through a misunderstanding of the Act. Loss Of Income Test Benefits were stated to be not payable unless there was a loss of income bringing the sick persons within a means test applied on the basis laid down in the Act. This meant that such employees as civil servants and others who had departmental or office sick pay funds on which or other wage-earners whose salaries were not reduced during incapacity, did not become a charge on the social security funds.

Including the social security benefit, the maximum allowable income was £2 a week for a single man, and ranged up to £4 a week for a married man with four children. The benefits payable ranged from £1 a week for single men to £2 15s for a man with a family of four children, and £4 weekly where there were nine children.

It was explained, that the integral part of the scheme was the production of a doctor’s certificate by the applicant. In all cases these were limited to a fortnight, after which they could be renewed for a month if the incapacity was expected to continue over an extended period. The benefits became payable only after the first week from the date of the initial certificate which should be the duty of the first examination by the doctor, so 'that if patients wished to obtain benefits it was absolutely essential that they should get a certificate as soon as they became ill, even if they did not except to be ill for more than a few days. Seasonal Ailments

The benefits continue after the first week from the date of the initial certificate and cease when the applicant has recovered and is able to return to work. In some cases of seasonal ailments the benefits are limited’ t« part of a week, being computed on a dairy basis which is one-fifth of the weekly rate. It was- stated that the failure to obtain a certificate immediately on the onset of illness had! resulted in many missing their benefits. In many cases this had happened because the applicants had not realised when they became ill that they would suffer loss of income for more than one week, but as a result of complications they had been away from work for a much longer period. The official view, however, is that sickness begins with the medical certificate.

. No application was granted', it was also explained, until there had been a personal interview between the department and the applicant and his' agent. 'Wives, husbands, parents or relatives were included 1 in the list of bona fide agents, and these could act for the patient until he was sufficiently well to undertake the task himself.

Among the cause's of loss of income for which payments have so far been made have been accident injuries, amputations, rheumatism, innumerable complaints which have required hospital attention, and complications, from simple ailments. Girls and youths have also received benefits for loss of income caused through injuries suffered at sport.