PENSION RATES INCREASED

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 8

PENSION RATES INCREASED

Economic Grants To Disabled Men ALLOWANCES FOR BOER WAR VETERANS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 9. The promised alterations to war-pen-sions are made in a section of the Finance Bill which was introduced bv Governor-General’s Message in the House of Representatives today. The increases in pensions and allowances will come into force on April 1 next year. The maximum rate of economic pensions granted to disabled members of the forces is extended to 31/- a week and it is also provided that step-child-ren and adopted children will be classed as dependants if they became members of the pensioner’s family before August 1, 1936. The rates of allowances under the War Veterans Allowances Act are also increased. In the case of a veteran •who has no wife or dependent children the allowance will be at the rate of £65 a year, diminished by £1 for every complete £1 of annual income in excess of £52. In every other case the allowance will be at the rate of £65 a year for a veteran’s personal claim, with additions of £39 a year in respect of a wife and £l3 a year for each dependent child. The same income.limitations will apply and the total allowance to any family must not exceed £156 a year, although in special cases an extension may be granted up to a maximum of £lB2 a year. Authority is also given for the payment of forfeited allowances to dependants when a veteran is in prison or a public institution. Allowances for children may be continued beyond the age of 16 years for educational purposes, although they will cease at the age of 18. . . , . There is a further provision by which veterans of the South African War will qualify for allowances.