Social Security Act And its Offering Set Out by Mr Nash

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1938, Page 10

Social Security Act And its Offering Set Out by Mr Nash

[Per Press Association. Copyright ] WELLINGTON. This Day. INTERVIEWED TO-DAY. THE HON. W. NASH STATED THAI’ ON THE * OCCASION OF HIS TAKING UP HIS NEW PORTFOLIO OF SOCIAL SECURITY, IT WAS FITTING HE SHOULD AGAIN SET OUT THE BENEFITS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.

“The inclusion of the emergency benefit ensures that no case of need that just fails to qualify for a specific benefit will be left without redress,” he said.

“Health benefits under the Ministry of Health will enable the whole population to receive medical services, supplies of medicines, hospital treatment, maternity treatment and supplementary services." he added.

He had been concerned, he said, to find how much misunderstanding still existed concerning the effect of the Act on contributors to superannuation funds. A Common Mistake. “The most common mistake is the belief that social security provides superannuation and nothing else, and that contributors to superannuation funds, therefore, pay to two funds, and can benfit from only one of them. “This is utterly wrong, but it seems necessary to set out the true position again.

“The average family in New Zealand is probably living on an income of £5 per week, on which the social security contribution will be 5/- a week.

“Employment tax is already claimhig 3/4, so the increase is only 1/8, and for that the family is covered for benefits without parallel anywhere in the world.

“Both parents and every child will have a free family doctor, free hospital treatment and free medicines all their lives.

“The birth of a child will bring a maternity benefit worth the whole of the increase in the contribution for more than three years.

Continuing Income,

“The insurance cover,” Mr Nash continued, “guarantees to that family a continuing income, in spite of inability to work, through temporary sickness, permanent invalidism or unemployment. It provides a means of livelihood for the widow and her children and for orphans in the event of the premature death of the breadwinner.

“In addition there is the age benefit, which guarantees a minimum income of 30/- for every individual, and £3 to every married couple at the age of 60, and universal superannuation which every man and woman now aged 37 or younger will draw in full, irrespective of the amount of any other income or value of property.

Position ,of Annuitants,

“In regard to the Civil Service and other annuitants coming within the scope of the Act, in the case of those married couples whose retiring allowances and other incomes is under £4 a week, they will receive such part of the maximum age benefit as is necessary to bring their total income up to £4.

“Any persons who were previously receiving the age benefit may, on reaching 65 or more, relinquish the age benefit and take universal superannuation, or continue the age benefits and not claim universal superannuation, according to which benefit lias the greater value. Universal Superannuation.

“Universal superannuation is payable without any conditions, and therefore every married man on £5 a week or less will receive all his contributions back in national superannuation alone.

“The explanation lies in the fact that those on high incomes will contribute more than they will receive, and they can afford to. That enables those with lower incomes to receive more than they pay. On Balance. “I think I should make it clear that very person on an average income who contributes both to a superannuation scheme and to social security will receive much more than full vaue for his contribution if he considers again what hospital, doctors and maternity expenses, unemployment and sickness have cost him in the last few years before 1935. “He might even find he would be better off after paying his contribution, quite apart for the security it gives for his family and provision for his later years. ’’