UNIVERSAL PENSIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 March 1940, Page 4

UNIVERSAL PENSIONS

STARTING AT £lO A YEAR SCHEME TO TAKE EFFECT ON MONDAY. APPLICATION PROCEDURE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Universal superannuation provided by the Social Security Act passed by Parliament in 1938 is to come into operation on Monday. The Acting-Min-ister of Social Security, Mr Parry, stated last night that everything was in readiness for the reception of application forms which were available at all Social Security offices and post offices throughout the Dominion. All persons of the full age of 65 years and upward and who are not already receiving any benefit under Part II of the Act are eligible, provided they were resident in the Dominion prior to 1938 and have resided continuously in the Dominion for at least ten years. The Minister said that no inquiry would be made as to the income or property of the applicant, who would not be required in any way to disclose his financial circumstances. The applicant, however, must satisfy the Social Security Department that he had reached 65 years of age, that he had resided in New Zealand continuously for the past ten years, and that he was not already receiving an age benefit or any other benefit under Part II of the Act.

Continuous residence might be interrupted by occasional absences from New Zealand within prescribed limits and if any intending applicant had had occasion to have been absent from New Zealand during the past ten years he should inquire as to his eligibility at the nearest Social Security office. Universal superannuation commenced from the first of the month in which the application was received by the Social Security Commission. “Naturally a scheme of such vast prospects,” said Mr Parry, “must have small beginnings. For the year, April 1, 1940, to March 31, 1941, the amount will be £lO, payable in quarterly instalments of £2 10s, the first instalment falling due at the end of June, 1940. For the year, 1941-42, the amount will be £l2 10s, or £3 2s 6d at the end of each quarter, and the rate will increase by £2 10s each, subsequent year till a maximum of £7B per annum is reached. In the case of a married couple where both husband and wife are eligible, each will require to lodge an application and each will receive the statutory amount of universal superannuation.”