H—9

1947 NEW ZEALAND

SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 31st MARCH, 1947

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

This report deals with Part ll of the Social Security 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. Social Security Department, Wellington, sth June, 1947. Sir, — We have the honour to submit for the information of Parliament the eighth annual report of the Social Security Department for the period Ist April, 1946, to 31st March, 1947. SECTION I. —SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS NEW LEGISLATION The only new legislation affecting monetary benefits under the Social Security Act, 1938, was contained in the Social Security Amendment Act, 1946. The following is a brief summary of the legislation : (1) WIDOWS' BENEFITS (a) The basic rate for a widow's benefit was increased to £lO4 a year for all classes of widows. Previously only widows who had or had had a child or children received this rate. Widows who had never had a child were limited to a benefit of £7B a year. (b) Provision was made for the additional payment of a mother's allowance of £65 a year for widows with a dependent child or children. (c) On reaching the age of sixty years widows without a dependent child now have their widows' benefit computed in respect of both income and property on a similar basis to an applicant for an age-benefit.