More Benefits for Hospital Dependents

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1939, Page 4

More Benefits for Hospital Dependents

In. view of the increased scale of benefits now provided, the Health Department is requesting hospital boards to grant an increased allowance to beneficiaries who are in their institutions;,,

In a circular letter dated May 3, received at the Whangarei Hospital Board meeting yesterday, Dr. R. A. .Shore, Acting Director-General of Health, had the following to say: ‘‘ln to outdoor relief recipients, previously ineligible for pensions, but now entitled to benefits unddr the Social Security Act, inquirer has been received as to whether arrangements could be made tc reimburse hospital boards for the cost of relief granted during any period covered by the retrospective payments of benefits.

“A similar position in connestior with? the Pensions Amendment Act. 1936, when it was considered that arrears of pensions accrued to the date? from which payments became available, would enable recipients to re pair their genuine needs. The department is of the opinion that the s'ame principle applies in the present instance, and that boards should -recognise the procedure as recommended in November, 1936. “It is hoped, therefore, that except in?-special circumstances, boards will not steps to obtain a refund of relict •' ..• Increased Benefits. “35ie question Was now been raised as whether, with the increased Scale of benefits now provided, boards’ allowances to beneficiaries under the Act who are in institutions, should not be increased. Following consideration of the matter, the opinionj! is held that the beneficiaries would share in the increased payments, and I have therefore to recommend that boards’ allowances froth benefits collected on account of inmates be increased in proportion to the higher scale of benefits now in force.’’ --

„“S,o far as this board is concerned, I didn’t think there was ever an i'n- , .to recover from recipients,” remarked the board's chairman, Mr J. . A: Mac Kay. : ‘‘With regard tof the second matter. • there- is no certainty that these benefits will ever take place. We have been told from time to time that the benefit's would be in by April 1. A

month before the Minister said that nothing would induce the Government to depart from this date. Until the benefits actually come into operation, we don’t need to take any steps. We don’t know what they will be, or when they will be available.”

Consideration of the points raised has been held over.