"PRESUMED DEAD"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 170, 21 July 1942, Page 4

"PRESUMED DEAD"

IS IT OFFICIAL?

NSURANCE AND PENSIONS

When a member of the . forc anre presumed dead is his J policy paid to his next-of-kin. Ho soon afterwards does his wife or mother receive a pension? Is tnere any lapse of time between the payment of his allotment and the pe sion, causing possible hardship These questions must n occurred to many and tney must in some cases have caused coi cern to relatives. f or . I . n ! 1 t woman the case of an Auckland woman whose air force son was presumed dead. He was reP orted ™ ls f\ n e f about nine months ago a™ l 'ate came the official report mining, believed killed." Now he is officially presumed dead. The Public Trus has been trying to settle his estate without delay. , - v, The insurance company holds his policy, however, will not recognise his death without a certificate, as death is only presumed. Ine settlement cannot be made for six months. Consequently the case would appear to involve the anomaly of the mother continuing to pay premiums on the policy or her dead S °But there are two sides to every question, as it was realised when inquiries were made from various life insurance companies in Auckland this morning. He May Tarn Up The outstanding fact pointed out was that there is always a possibility of the serviceman turning up again. There was actually a case in Wellington not long ago in which a death certificate was issued and the insurance settlement made, and the person concerned was reported safe shortly afterwards. The wife returned the cheque to the company. It is obvious, therefore, that an insurance company has every right to be sure of death before paying out money. A second point was_ that relatives are under no compulsion to pay premiums while confirmation of death is awaited. . The same general policy is followed by companies m Auckland. When a man is "presumed dead, the insurance will be paid on submission of a death certificate, for which relatives may apply to the registrar in Wellington. If, however, the place of burial cannot be established, although documentary evidence, such as letters from the dead man s officers and friends, points to his death, the insurance will be paid after the elapse of six months. If a court of law grants probate, of course, the money is paid immediately. Every case is judged on its own merits and so long as evidence is conclusive the companies recognise death after six months. Premiums May Lapse In the case of a man reported missing most companies suggest that the premiums continue to be paid in case he is later reported safe. Relatives are, however, under no compulsion to keep up the premiums and if he is later found to be safe the back premiums may be paid and the policy continued. If he is eventually reported killed and it is established that the premiums had been paid up till the time of his death the money is also paid, even though the premiums may have lapsed after he was reported missing.

It is clear from these facts that the question of paying premiums on a policy after death is presumed, or even when a man is only missing, rests with the relatives concerned, and that no loss is suffered if the premiums are not paid during the interval.

As far as pensions are concerned, the procedure also appears to involve no hardship. It may not be known to everyone, for instance, that the allotment from army, navy or air force continues for three months, not only after a serviceman is reported missing but even when he is officially known to be dead. After that the pension is paid. If he turns up after being reported missing or dead the allotment is taken up again, adjustment being made between pension and allotment.