H.—9

BENEFITS. UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. The following figures show the number of applications for unemployment benefits dealt with during the years ended 31st March, 1941, and 31st March, 1942, respectively, and illustrate the decline in unemployment in the Dominion : —

SICKNESS BENEFITS. The following figures show the number of applications for sickness benefits dealt with during the years ended 31st March, 1941, and 31st March, 1942, respectively :—

EMERGENCY BENEFITS. Under the provisions of section 58 of the Social Security Act, 1938, the Social Security Commission may, in. its discretion, grant a special benefit on grounds of hardship to any person who is not qualified for aiiy other benefit under the Act, but who, by reason of age .or of physical or mental disability, or for any other reason, is unable to earn a sufficient livelihood for himself and his dependants. Two thousand and ten emergency benefits were granted during the year. OTHER MONETARY BENEFITS. Details with regard to other monetary benefits under the Act are included in the table on page 4. FINANCE. Statement showing the Receipts and Payments of the Social Security Fund foe the Year ended 31st March, 1942. Receipts. Payments. £ Monetary benefits — £ £ Balance .. .. •• •• •• 1,867,440 Universal superannuation .. .. 445,686 £ Age .. .. .. .. 7,190,694 Social security registration fees .. 605,222 Widows .. .. .. .. 844,928 Social security charge on wages and other Orphans .. .. .. .. 18,275 income .. .. •• •• 10,432,314 Family .. .. .. .. 539,183 Penalties,fines,interest, and miscellaneous 50,146 Invalids .. .. .. .. 1,011,375 • 11,087,682 Miners .. .. .. .. 83,258 Grants from Consolidated Fund, vote " Social Maori War .. .. .. 440 Security" (Social Security Act, 1938, section 105 (c)) 3,600,000 Unemployment .. .. .. 138,528 Sickness .. .. .. .. 304,154 Emergency .. .. .. 124,716 10,701,237 Medical benefits, &c.— Medical benefits .. .. .. 205,673 Hospital benefits .. .. .. 1,372,405 Maternity benefits .. .. .. 549,850 Pharmaceutical benefits .. .. 279,698 Supplementary benefits .. .. 27,962 2,435,588 Administration expenses' — Land and Income Tax Department—.. 90,000 Health Department .. .. 35,266 Social Security Department .. .. 269,196 394,462 13,531,287 Balance .. .. .. .. .. 3,023,835 £16,555,122 £16,555,122

2

1910-41. 1941-42. Males. | Females. | Totals. Males, j Females. Totals. Persons granted benefit .. .. .. 21,720 1,191 22,911 8,999 630 9,629 Number of applications declined .. .. 10,199 1,010 11,209 5,122 790 5,912 Number of persons whose applications were 557 958 1,515 344 1,124 1,468 declined, but who were granted emergency benefits on grounds of hardship Totals .. .. .. 32,476 3,159 35,635 14,465 2,544 17,009

1940-41. 1941-12. . Males. | Females. Totals. Males. Females. Totals. Persons granted benefit 17,189 6,236 23,425 17,862 7,294 25,156 Number of applications declined .. .. 1,997 958 2,955 1,938 918 2,856 Number of persons whose applications were 186 309 495 113 242 355 declined, but who were granted emergency benefits on grounds of hardship Totals .. .. 19,372 7,503 26,875 19,913 8,454 28,367