H—9

1946 NEW ZEALAND

SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 31st MARCH, 1946

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to the Provisions of the Social Security Act, 1938

In so far as the social security legislation is concerned, this report deals with Part II of the Act only. Reports on the operation of Part 111 and Part IV of the Act will be submitted by the Health and Land and Income Tax Departments respectively.

REPORT

To the Hon. the Minister of Social Security. Sir,— Social Security Department, Wellington, 19th June, 1946 I have the honour to submit for the information of Parliament the seventh annual report of the Social Security Department for the period Ist April, 1945, to 31st March, 1946. NEW LEGISLATION During the year the undermentioned legislation affecting social security benefits was passed:— (a) Social Security Amendment Act, 1945 : (b) Finance Act (No. 2) 1945, section 57. (a) The Social Security Amendment Act, 1945, became operative from Ist October, 1945. The main features of the legislation were : (1) The establishment of the office of " Minister of Social Security " ; (2) Increases in the basic rates-for age, invalids', widows', miners', unemployment, sickness, and Maori War benefits ; the raising of the maximum income scales to conform with the increased benefit rates; and the increasing of the maximum rate for universal superannuation to £IQ4 a year ; (3) The provision, in special cases, of a supplementary benefit of £52 a year for widows with dependent children ; (4) The abolition of the means test for family benefits after Ist April, 1946. For the period from Ist October, 1945, to 31st March, 1946, the income exemption in respect of family benefits was raised from £5 10s. to £6 10s. a week. From Ist April, 1946, however, all provisions regarding income lapse. From that date a family benefit of 10s. a week is payable in respect of each child under sixteen years of age, irrespective of the income or property of the family. (b) Section 57 of the Finance Act (No. 2), 1945, amended the Social Security Act, 1938, by providing that the payment of a family benefit would not operate so as to take away or restrict any liability imposed by the Destitute Persons Act, 1910, on any person for the maintenance of any other person, or so as to affect the power of a Magistrate to make any maintenance order under that Act.