FAMILY PAYMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23115, 13 August 1938, Page 17

FAMILY PAYMENTS

AMOUNTS FOR CHILDREN MAINTENANCE OR EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER BILL [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday The rate of benefit for a qualified family with, three children under 16 years, under the Social Security Bill, will be 4s a week; with four children under 16, 8s a week; with five children under 16, 12s a week; to be increased 4s a week for each additional child under 16 years. The family benefit, together with the weekly income of the family, must not exceed £5 a week' added to 4s for each child in excess of two. In the case of a family whose income is £5 5s a week, where there are five children under 16, the maximum total income within which the benefit is payable will be £5 12s. The amount of benefit in that case will be 7s. The residential qualifications are that the applicant must have resided in New Zealand for not less than one year immediately preceding the date of application. The family benefit will apply to children who were born in New Zealand, or who have been permanently resident for not less than one year immediately preceding the date of application. Either a father or mother may apply for the benefit. The benefit is payable to the mother of the child or to whomever makes the application. In special circumstances, however, the benefit may be paid to the father or any other person or for the benefit of the child. The benefit must be expended for the maintenance or education of the child. MATERNITY BENEFITS MEDICAL AND NURSING CARE PAYMENTS TO SPECIALISTS [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday Provision for maternity services is made in the Social Security Bill. It provides that every woman who requires maternity benefits will be entitled to the following services:— (A) If she is confined in an approved maternity hospital, she will receive all necessary medical and nursing attendance required and maintenance in the hospital at her confinement, and for 14 days after the birth of the/Child. (B) If she is confined in her own home she will receive the services of a doctor and maternity nurse or midwife at her confinement, and for 14 days after the birth of the child. (C) In any case she is entitled to advice and treatment by a doctor during the ante-natal and post-natal period. The Minister will arrange so that every approved maternity hospital and every registered maternity nurse and midwife accepting the terms and conditions provided, may participate in the provision of the maternity benefit. Every doctor who desires to do so may participate in the provision of the maternity benefit if he accepts the arrangements made by the Minister. Where the maternity benefits are provided in a maternity hospital carried on by a hospital board or by the Government, the services shall be free of charge.'Where the patient receives the benefit in a private maternity hospital, the payment made out of the Social Security Fund will meet part or the whole of the cost, according to the arrangement made by the Minister with the hospital. All the services of doctors, maternity nurses and midwives _ in respect of maternity benefits will be free of charge, except where the patient chooses a specialist to attend her, in which case the Social Security Fund will make the standard payment for the service. WORK OF PROFESSIONS ADVISORY BODIES RECOGNITION PROVIDED [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday In order to promote co-operation with professional men and others engaged in the operation of the social security scheme, the bill introduced to-day authorises the Minister in charge to recognise any committee elected to foster the interests of a profession or calling as an advisory committee for the purposes of the Act. Where the interests of the profession or calling are concerned, half the members of the relative committee, other than the chairman, are to be members of that profession or calling. If any person giving his services, or providing any supplies in respect of any health benefit, has committed a grave breach of his contract, or if his continued participation in the scheme would be likely to affect prejudicially the efficiency of the-scheme, the Minister may refer to a special tribunal the question whether or not that person should be declared ineligible to participate in the scheme. The tribunal is to have as its president a judge or a magistrate, and the other members are to be members of the profession to which the person affected belongs. If the tribunal considers that the person concerned should not be allowed to continue under the scheme, his contract may be terminated.