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EMERGENCY BENEFITS In cases of hardship a special benefit may be granted at the discretion of the Social Security Commission to any person who is not qualified for any other benefit under the Act, but who by reason of age, 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 was made of this section, and during the past year 2,518 benefits were granted, an increase of 816 over the number of grants for the previous year. The number of benefits in force increased from 1,845 as at the 31st March, 1947, to 2,141 as at the 31st March, 1948, and the expenditure for. the year was £227.857, as against £134,288 for the previous year, an increase of £93,569. FINANCE STATEMENT SHOWING THE RECEIPTS AND. PAYMENTS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUND FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1948 Receipts * . Payments Balance at Ist -April, Monetary benefits—--1947— £ £ Universal super- £ £ Cash .. .. 1,227,836 animation .. 1,593,757 Imprest .. .. 183,140 Age .. .. 12,976,286 Investments .. 4,000,000 Widows'.. .. 1,770,622 5,410,976 Orphans' .. 24,187 Social security charge Family .. .. 13,798,648 on wages and other Invalids' .. 1,367,300 income .. .. 26,176,635 Miners' .. .. 110,106 Miscellaneous receipts, Maori War .. 11l interest, penalties, Unemployment .. 8,358 and fines .. 97,433 Sickness .. .. 897,093 26,274,068 Emergency .. 227,857 Recoveries under main- 32,774,325 tenance orders, Medical benefits, &c.— widows benefits* .. .. 60,569 Medical benefits .. 2,167,825 Grants from Consolidated Fund, Hospital benefits .. 1,949,489 vote, "Social Security" (Social Maternity benefits 800,030 Security Act, 1938, section 105 (c)) 16,000,000 Pharmaceutical benefits .. .. 1,558,350 Supplementary benefits .. .. 545,793 7,021,487 M \ Administration expenses : Social Security Department ... 707,883 Balance at 31st March, ft 1948 Cash .. .. 1,342,701 Imprests outstanding 890,055 Foreign imprest .. 9,162 Investments .. 5,000,000 7,241,918 £47,745,613 £47,745,613

* This item reduces the cost to the fund on account of .widows benefits by an ; equivalent amount.

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