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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 33, No. 3 18 March 1970

answer to a pregnant problem

page 3

answer to a pregnant problem

Margaret Bryson is to present submissions to the Royal Commission on Social Security in her capacity as President of the Association. The submission concern the non-payment of Social Security benefits to unmarried pregnant women students.

Margaret raised the matter at the NZUSA National Executive meeting held on 1 March. She asked that. NZUSA make available to her any information on pregnant women students.

At present, women students who are in this situation are not given the usual benefit for the final three months of pregnancy unless they give up their studies and commence outside employment This appears to be because the benefits are based on loss of income, not individual need

In her submissions, Margaret points out that it is only on paper that a student who is on a bursary, and who continues her University studies, suffers no loss of income. She argues that the Social Security Commission has disregarded the loss of potential holiday earnings or part-time work.

Margaret's three main submissions are as follows:
1.That pregnant students who wish to continue their University studies be entitled to receive the full benefit payable to unmarried pregnant women, for the usual term of such benefit.
2.That the criterion of need should always be taken into account in determining such benefits, as well as that of loss of income.
3.That the procedures of consideration and notification of the availability of such benefits be considerably accelerated in recognition of the urgency of decision.