SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Southland Times, Issue 24109, 24 April 1940, Page 6

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Periodic Statements Of Earnings REQUIREMENT DESCRIBED AS VEXATIOUS (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 23. The opinion was expressed by a member of a deputation which interviewed the acting Minister of Social Security (the Hon. W. E. Parry) that the provision in the Social Security Act making it necessary for those in receipt of benefits to submit at required periods particulars of their earnings, was the only part of the legislation that - beneficiaries felt was vexatious and a hardship.

Mr Parry said that Parliament had expressly provided that the benefits should be based on the income from all sources received by the applicant or beneficiary. Unfortunately there were a few cases of persons who, while in receipt of the benefits, had after a while been able to earn fairly good incomes. Some had voluntarily notified the department of the position, and asked that their Social Security benefits be cancelled, said Mr Parry. There were other people, however, who left it to the department to find out that, while drawing the benefits, they were earning more than the Act allowed. Whatever the personal circumstances of the person concerned, an overpayment made because of previously undisclosed earnings must be refunded to comply with the law.