FAMILY ALLOWANCES

Southland Times, Issue 20172, 7 May 1927, Page 2

FAMILY ALLOWANCES

OPERATION OF ACT. EXPLANATORY CIRCULAR. Some confusion seems to exist as to who are entitled to receive benefit under the Family Allowances Act of last session, which came into force on April 1. A careful study of an explanatory circular which is being issued by the Commissioner of Pensions should remove doubts on that score. The Act, the pamphlet explains, provides, on application by a father of three or more children under fifteen, for an allowance in respect of each child in excess of two at the rate of 2s a week, but so that the average weekly income from all sources of the family, including any allowance under the Act, does not exceed £4, plus 2s. for each child in excess of two. “For example,” continues the circular, “an applicant with eight children under fifteen years of age, whose weekly income does not exceed £4, would be eligible for an allowance of 12s weekly—i.e., at the rate of 2s. weekly for each child in excess of two. In the case of an applicant with the same number of children, but whose weekly income was more than £4 weekly, the allowance would be at the rate of the difference between his weekly income and £4 12s. —e.g., if his income was £4 ss. weekly, then his allowance would be 7s. weekly.” The circular defines “child,” and cites the factors to be taken into consideration in the computation of the weekly income. Except in except ional cases to be determined by the Commissioner, all allowances under the Act are to be paid to the wife of the applicant, and must be applied towards the maintenance or education of the children. The Commissioner may, however, pay the allowance to any other reputable person to be applied for the benefit of the children. An allowance is not payable unless the applicant and also his wife, if the allowance is to be paid to her, have been permanently residing in New Zealand for one year, and unless the children in respect of whom the allowance is payable have also been residing in New Zealand for not less than one year, or have been born in New Zealand. A father employed outside of New Zealand, whose home is in New Zealand, is not debarred from applying for an allowance. Allowances are authorised for a period of twelve months, and are payable by equal monthly instalments at any post office.