tt—9

BENEFITS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS The following figures show the number of applications for unemployment benefits dealt with during the years, ended 31st March, 1945, and 31st Maroh, 1946, respectively :

SICKNESS BENEFITS The following figures show-the number of sickness benefits dealt with during the years ended 31st March, 1945, and 31st March, 1946, respectively: —

EMERGENCY BENEFITS Under the provisions of section 58 of the Social Security Act, 1938, the Social Security Commission may, in its discretion, grant a special benefit on the grounds of hardship to any person who is not qualified for any other benefit under the Act, but who, by reason of age or of physical or mental disability, or for any other reason, is unable to earn a sufficient livelihood for himself and his dependants. Full and sympathetic use is made of this section, and emergency benefits granted during the year totalled 1,547. OTHER MONETARY BENEFITS Details regarding other monetary benefits under the Act are included in the table on page 9. RECIPROCAL AGE AND INVALIDS' BENEFITS Under the Age-benefits and Invalid's Benefits (Reciprocity with Australia) Act, 1943, the Social Security Commission is empowered to make grants of age and invalids' benefits to persons living in the Dominion who have also had residence in Australia.

3

1944-45. 1945-46. Males. Females. Totals. Males. Females. Totals. Persons granted benefit Number of applications declined Number of persons whose applications were declined, but who were granted emergency benefits on the ground of hardship 1,151 3l6 238 99 642 568 1,250 958 806 1,149 402 210 85 746 502 1,234 1,148 712 Totals 1,705 1,309 3,014 1,761 1,333 3,094

1944-45. 1945-46. Males. Females. Totals. Males. Females. Totals. Persons granted benefit Number of applications declined Number of persons whose applications were declined, but who were granted emergency benefits on the ground of hardship 18,489 1,455 135 8,433 895 390 26,922 2,350 525 22,493 2,159 111 8,154 1,076 331 30,647 3,235 442 Totals 20,079 9,718 29,797 24,763 9,561 34,324