H.—9.

BENEFITS AND PENSIONS IN FORCE. Annual Value and Total Payments.

COST OF ADMINISTRATION. In addition to £12,510,608 paid by way of benefits and pensions during the year the sum of £28,729 was expended for medical treatment, rail concessions, &c., for war pensioners. Excluding expenditure of £12,497 on capital items, the administration costs for the year amounted to £294,008 after making allowance for £3,542 received from other Governments for services in connection with the payment of their pensions in this Dominion. An additional amount of £34,219 was also provided towards the cost of payment of war pensions and allowances. The total cost of administering payments of £12,539,337 during the year was £331,769, or 2-65 per cent. GENERAL. The coming into operation of superannuation benefits on the Ist April, 1940, with the resultant influx of a very large number of applications, again taxed to the full the Department's machinery and organization. Another factor which occasioned some anxiety in the maintenance of smooth departmental running was the entry into the armed forces of so many experienced members of the staff, the number of officers absent on war service at 31st March, 1941, being 197. In spite of these difficulties, and with the whole-hearted and loyal co-operation of the staff, the Department was able to function smoothly, thus enabling all applications received to be expeditiously dealt with. In submitting this report I would again like to express my appreciation of the staff's efficient and uncomplaining loyalty in carrying a difficult year's work to a successful conclusion. J. EL Boyes, Chairman, Social Security Commission.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (665 copies), £14.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l94l.

Price 6!<?.]

8

As at 31st March, 1940. As at 31st March, 1941. Class of Benefit or Pension. Total Total Numbei Annual Value. Payments, Number Annual Value. Payments, m Force. 1939-40. m Force. 1940-41. £ £ £ £ Universal superannuation .. .. .. .. .. 36,602 366,020 240,336 Age .. .. .. .. 93,262 6,859,420 6,517,899 97,606 7,127,821 7,101,346 Widows .. .. .. .. 10,174 830,623 785,952 10,569 843,516 836,368 Orphans .. .. .. .. 330 16,743 14,880 350 17,888 17,713 Family .. .. .. .. 11,053 314,458 252,562 16,626 485,337 411,811 Invalids .. .. .. .. 11,811 1,005,116 942,196 11,936 998,792 999,648 Miners .. .. .. .. 988 90,179 92,653 931 85,394 88,656 Maori War .. .. .. 12 936 1,103 7 546 744 Unemployment .. .. .. 4,053 .. 434,497 1,906 .. 299,161 Sickness .. .. .. .. 2,565 .. 208,790 3,452 .. 279,581 Emergency .. .. .. 1,043 .. 86,711 2,034 .. 130,096 War (War Pensions Act, 1915) .. 23,874 1,676,937 1,673,730 23,458 1,653,534 1,649,076 War (War Pensions Extension Act, 1940) .. .. .. 551 61,644 14,376 War veterans'allowances .. .. 2,079 212,500 203,439 2,033 209,445 211,325 Boer War .. .. .. 50 1,876 1,993 47 1,777 1,858 Mercantile marine pensions .. .. .. .. .. 9 1,128 916 Emergency Reserve Corps . . .. . . .. .. 1 104 3 Sundry pensions and annuities .. 138 13,207 12,106 83 9,832 10,152 Civil Service Act, 1908 .. .. 8 2,970 3,130 6 2,337 2,647 War and other pensions paid on behalf 2,717 169,217 262,561 2,721 175,900 214,795 of the Governments of Great Britain, Australia, India, Canada, South Africa, and Crown colonies _____— Totals .. .. .. 164,157 11,194,182 11,494,202 210,928 12,041,015 12,510,608