Social Security Payments Quadrupled In 10 Years

Northern Advocate, 5 August 1949, Page 3

Social Security Payments Quadrupled In 10 Years

■ WELLINGTON, Fri. (Sp.).—During the year ended March 31 social security benefits cost £34,455,758, or £1,681,433 more than in the previous year. This figure excludes the cost of medical and allied services and of war pensions.

The department's annual report, presented to the House of Representatives yesterday, stated this. The number of beneficiaries was 463,785. Family benefits, the largest item, cost £14,242,202; age benefits, £13,790,971. There were 30 persons receiving unemployment benefits on March 31. against 16 in the previous year. The growth in payments since the scheme began in 1940 is shown in the following table:— Year £ 1940 9,337,243 1941 10,405,460 1942 10,701,237 1943 11,711.465 1944 12,397.773 1945 13,533,463 1946 16,673,690 1947 29.909,454 1943 32,774.325 1949 34,455,758 The report shows an increase in the number of bigger families in New Zealand. At March 31 family benefits were paid to 360 families of 10 children or more, against 287 the previous year.

The following table shows the number of children in families which received benefits in the last two years:—

In 1949 the total number of children for which benefits were paid was 548.330, compared with 521.394 the previous year. The total amount paid in family benefits during the year was £14,242,202, compared with £13.798.648 the previous year.

No. of Children No. of Families in Family 1949 1948 10 or more 360 287 9 531 462 8 . 1.098 988 7 . 2,088 1.984 6 3,737 5 . 8,586 8.040 4 . 19,741 18,552 3 . 41,488 38,871 . 75,178 08,883 1 . 95.681 101,325