INVALIDITY AND OLD AGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20509, 29 August 1936, Page 22

INVALIDITY AND OLD AGE

PENSION PAYMENTS PROPOSALS BEFORE HOUSE By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, August 28. Increases in the rates of civil pensions and proposals for the payment of invalidity pensions as outlined in the Budget are provided for in the Pensions Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day by Governor-General’s message. The Bill provides that every person over the age of 16 who is totally blind or permanently incapacitated for work by accident, illness or congenital defect is to be entitled to a pension. However, the disqualifications imposed generally in the original Pensions Act in respect of old age pensions will apply, and further conditions for the grant of an invalidity pension are that the applicant must have resided continuously in New Zealand for at least 10 years, although occasional absences amounting to six months will be permitted, and blind persons will be permitted to travel abroad for vocational training; that a blind person must have been born blind in New Zealand or become blind while permanently resident in the Dominion; that other applicants must have been born in New Zealand with the condition to which their incapacity for work is attributable, or that they must have become incapacitated by accident or illness during their residence in the Dominion. It is also laid down that self-induced incapacity for work wil be a disqualification, and the tame will apply to incapacity brought about with a view to qualifying for the pension. Payments The rates of invalidity pensions are to be computed as follows: In the case of a married man with a dependant wife or children £1 a week, increased by 10/- a week in respect of his wife and 10/- a week in respect of each Cxiild. In the case of a widower with dependant children £1 a week, increased by 10/- for each child. In every other case £1 a week. The annual amount o. pensions is Lo be computed in accordance with the following provisions—in the case of a married man or widower with dependant children, the amount will be diminished by £1 for every complete £1 of the total income of the applicant, his wife and dependent children in excess of £lO4. and by £1 for every complete £lO of the net capita) value of the accumulated property of applicant. his wife and children, computed as in the case of an application for an old age pension. In every other case the amount will be diminished by £1 for every complete £1 of annua) income in e: cess of £52. and by JI for every complete £lO of property lue as out lined above. The mode of

computing the annual income will be the same as that followed under the Pensions Act. In computing the annual income of any blind person, account is to be taken of any personal earnings up to £2/15/- a week. Another provision is that no invalidity pension is to exceed £4 a week. In every case the term “child” in relation to an applicant for an invalidity pension means a child under the age of 16 and includes a stepchild or a child legally adopted before the date of the application, although the Commissioner of Pensions may take into consideration the case of a child maintained by the applicant. Persor al Earnings Proves!on is also made for the payment of an additional bonus to blind pensioners in respect of their personal earnings. This will be calculated on a basis of 25 per cent of the average weekly earnings for the year, and will be paid as an extra weekly allowance. However, the total receipts of a blind pensioner in his own right, whether from pension, personal earnings or any other source, are not to exceed £3/15/a week. No person will be entitled to receive an invalidity pension for any period during which he is undergoing a sentence of imprisonment or reformative detention or is being maintained at the expense of the Government in a public institution, although the Commissioner may in such circumstances make payments for the maintenance of the wife and children of the pensioner. The Comissioner may require applicants for invalidity pensions to be medically examined by a doctor nominated by him. If the application is rejected on medical grounds the applicant will have the right of appeal to a board of three medical practitioners appointed by the Commissioner. All pensions granted within a month of the passing of the Bill will be made retrospective to July 1. Old Age Pensions The provisions regarding old age pensions are dealt with in a separate part of the Bill. The rates of the pension are to be increased to £52 a year from July 1 and to £5B 10s a year from December 1. The residential qualification for an old age pension is' reduced from 25 to 20 years. Widows pensions are to be increased to £1 a week with an additional 10/- a week for each dependant child, and a maximum rate of £4 10s a week. A widow’s pension may also be granted to a woman who has been deserted by her husband and who has satisfied a Magistrate that she has unsuccessfully taken proceedings for maintenance against her husband and is not aware of his whereabouts. A woman whose husband is classified as mentally defective may also be granted a widow’s pension although the husband’s income will be taken into account as if it was that of applicant. Miners’ pensions may be paid to men who have contracted occupation.!. l diseases or heart disease in addition to the afflictions already enumerated in the previous legislation. 2'iners widows’ pensions are to be restored co the rate ' ' 17, 6 a week. If any person in receipt of a pension leaves Nev. Zealand and returns within jvc years he will be able to apply for a similai pension without having to comply v. the usual residential qualifications.