NO MEANS TEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 February 1940, Page 4

NO MEANS TEST

SUPERANNUATION SCHEME. TAKING EFFECT IN APRIL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 9. “According to the law, universal superannuation in New Zealand will come into existence on April 1,” said the Acting-Minister of Social Security, Mr Parry, in a statement. i“This superannuation will be paid without a means test. “The law says that every person in New Zealand of 65 years or more, -who qualifies, will be entitled Jo the superannuation, which has been fixed at £lO for the first year,” the Minister continued. “No person is entitled to two benefits under the Social Security Act, however, so that no old. age pensioner already in receipt of his full amount will benefit under the superannuation scheme. “It will be necessary to make application for the benefit at the pensions office in the same way as for other pensions,” Mi - Parry added. He said it had not yet been decided whether the first year’s payment of £lO would be made in a lump sum, or quarterly. “There is no part of the Act that gives any indication of any such thing,” the Minister said, when it was brought to his notice that many old-age pensioners believed that they would receive £lO extra this year, under the superannuation scheme. Replying to questions at a public meeting in the evening, Mr Parry said the introduction of the medical practitioner benefits under the social security scheme was under negotiation. While he could say nothing definite, he felt that, as the doctors had accepted the maternity benefits scheme, it was an indication that the general benefits would be arranged at an early date. To another questioner he said that he had no doubt that if the people all put their shoulder to the wheel and increased production it would be possible to send and maintain the Expeditionary Force overseas and to continue with the full benefits of the social security scheme.