ARMY DISCHARGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23717, 25 July 1940, Page 12

ARMY DISCHARGES

INFORMATION GIVEN PENSIONS AND ALLOWANCES SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE Soldiers being discharged from the Army are being issued with a booklet detailing what privileges and assistance tliev are entitled to receive. This includes provision for making application for allowances and war pension. On discharge through medical unfitness, soldiers are granted full pay find dependants' allowances up to the date of discharge, plus full pay and allowances for seven days. After this soldiers who report to any branch of the Social Security Department tfill, if their circumstances warrant it, receivo extra pay and allowances at Army rates for a period not exceeding 14 days. Preference in Employment Special instructions have also been given Social Security Department branches arid placement offices to give preference to discharged soldiers seeking immediate employment. A further provision is that on discharge from a hospital a soldier may be granted convalescent leave on full pay up to seven days. ' .

Soldiers discharged from cither Expeditionary Force or home defence units who have not served overseas will not, be given civilian outfit allowances, but arrangements are made for. tho* care of the clothing the men take into camp with them. If, a fortnight before scheduled departure for overseas, there is no likelihod of a man being discharged, the stored clothing is then forwarded to an address nominated by him without cost. Application for Pension The booklet states that in somo cases a discharged soldier will be entitled, on application, to a war pension, if lie is suffering from any disability resulting from enemy action or misadventure suffered in the performance of duty .Each application will be determined bv the War Pensions Board. It is "pointed out that there must necessarily be some delay in dealing with applications for pensions, and soldiers in need of immediate assistance should claim a benefit under tho Social Security Act, as they could probably be helped either by way of sickness or unemployment benefit. Receipt of a benefit under the Social Security Act would not prejudice the application for a war pension, although receipt of a pension would cause adjustment to the social security benefit.