INVALID AND OLD-AGE PENSIONS.

No. 15 of 1923.

An Act to amend sections seventeen, twenty-two, twenty-four, twenty-six, thirty-one, forty-five, and forty-seven of the Invalid and Old-age Pensions Act 1908-1920.

[Assented to 1st September, 1923.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Invalid and Old-age Pensions Act 1923.

(2.) The Invalid and Old-age Pensions Act 1908-1920 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Invalid and Old-age Pensions Act 1908-1923.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall commence on a date to be fixed by proclamation

Conditions as to grant of pension.

3. Section seventeen of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from paragraph (e) thereof the words “Three hundred and ten” and inserting in their stead the words “Four hundred”.

Conditions for grant of invalid pensions.

4. Section twenty-two of the Principal Act is amended by adding at the end of sub-section (2.) thereof the words “or has resided in Australia continuously for twenty years”.

Limit of pension.

5. Section twenty-four of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-section (1.) thereof the words “Thirty-nine pounds” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “Forty-five pounds ten shillings”; and

(b) by omitting from sub-section (1.) thereof the words “Sixty-five pounds” and inserting in their stead the words “Seventy-eight pounds”.

Computation of income.

6. Section twenty-six of the Principal Act is amended by omitting therefrom the words “Ten shillings” and inserting in their stead the words “Twelve shillings and sixpence”.

Recommendation by magistrate.

7. Section thirty-one of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from sub-section (2.) thereof the words “two shillings” and inserting in their stead the words “three shillings”.

Pensioners entering asylums or hospitals.

8. Section forty-five of the Principal Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the following proviso:—

“Provided that when a pensioner has remained an inmate of a hospital for a period of twenty-eight days he shall, upon the expiration of that period and so long thereafter as he remains an inmate, be entitled to receive a pension at the rate of three shillings per week.”.

9. Section forty-seven of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section inserted in its stead:—

Benevolent Asylum inmates.

“47. If a successful claimant of a pension is an inmate of a benevolent asylum he shall not, so long as he remains an inmate of such asylum, be entitled to receive a full pension but shall be entitled to receive a pension at the rate of three shillings per week.”.