§ (1) Where a woman who, having before marriage been an insured person, marries, she shall be suspended from receiving the ordinary benefits under this Part of this Act until the death of her husband, and if she is a member of an approved society one-third of her transfer value shall be carried to a separate account called the married women's suspense account, but if at any time after the death of her husband she again becomes employed within the meaning of this Part of this Act, the period between her marriage and the expiration of one month from death of her husband shall be disregarded for the purpose of reckoning arrears, and there shall be transferred from the married women's suspense account to the society of which she is a member the proper reserve value calculated according to tables to be prepared by the Insurance Commissioners:
§ Provided that where a woman who, having been employed within the meaning of this Part of this Act before marriage, proves that she continues to be so employed after marriage, she shall not be so suspended so long as she continues to be so employed, and that where a married woman so suspended from the ordinary benefit becomes employed within the meaning of this Act before such death, contributions shall thereupon again become payable in respect of her, and she shall cease to be suspended from receiving the ordinary benefits, but, subject to regulations made by the Insurance Commissioners, she shall for the purposes of those benefits be treated as if she had not previously been an insured person.
§ (2) Where a married woman being a member of an approved society is so suspended from the ordinary benefits as aforesaid, she may, if she so elects within one month after such suspension, or, subject to the consent of the society, after the expiration of that month, and notwithstanding that she is not engaged in any regular occupation, become whilst so suspended a voluntary contributor, subject to the following modifications, but not otherwise:—
- (a) The rate of contributions payable by her shall be threepence a week;
- (b) The benefits to which she shall be entitled shall be—
- (i) medical benefit; and
- (ii) sickness benefit and disablement benefit at the rates and
715 subject to the conditions specified in Table D. of Part I. of the Fourth Schedule to this Act; - (c) No part of her contributions shall be retained by the Insurance Commissioners for the purpose of discharging their liabilities to approved societies in respect of the reserve values created under this Act:
§ Provided that where a married woman elects not to become such a voluntary contributor she shall be entitled to have a sum equal to the remaining two-thirds of her transfer value applied in accordance with regulations of the Insurance Commissioners towards the payment of any of the benefits specified in Part III. of the Fourth Schedule to this Act until the same is exhausted, except that where a reserve value was credited to the society in respect of such woman at the date of her entrance into insurance so much of such sum as aforesaid as may be prescribed shall not be so applied but shall be written off the amount of the reserve value credited to the society.
§ (3) Where the husband of a married woman who has been so suspended from ordinary benefits as aforesaid and who is a member of an approved society dies, she may, if she is qualified to become a voluntary contributor, and elects to do so within one month after the death of her husband, become an ordinary voluntary contributor paying contributions at the rate which would have been applicable to the case had she become such a contrbutor at the date of her entry into insurance:
§ Provided that she may, whether or not so qualified, if she so elects within one month after the death of her husband, continue to be or become a voluntary contributor on the same terms and subject to the same conditions as above provided as respects married women.
§ In either such case there shall be transferred from the married women's suspense account to the society the proper reserve value calculated as aforesaid.
§ (4) Where a married woman who was at the date of her marriage a deposit contributor is by virtue of this section suspended from the ordinary benefits under this Part of this Act, two-thirds of the sum standing to her credit in the Post Office fund shall be applied in accordance with the regulations of the Insurance Commissioners towards the payment of any of the benefits specified in Part III. of the Fourth 716 Schedule to this Act until the same is exhausted.
§ (5) Where a woman who was a married woman living with and supported by her husband at the commencement of this Act at any time subsequently either before or within one year after the death of her husband becomes an employed contributor and a member of an approved society, she shall be entitled to full benefits notwithstanding that at the time of so becoming she is over the age of sixteen.
§ (6) Where any arrears of contributions have accrued due in respect of a married woman during coverture such arrears shall, on the death, of her husband, be disregarded and she shall be thenceforth entitled to benefits as if such arrears had never accrued due.
§ (7) Except as provided by this section a married woman shall not be entitled to become a voluntary contributor, and if a woman is before marriage a voluntary contributor she shall on marriage not be entitled to continue to be such a contributor.
§ (8) If a woman, whilst a voluntary contributor at such reduced rates of benefit as are provided by this Section, becomes employed within the meaning of this Part of this Act she shall be entitled to a certificate (to be granted in manner hereinbefore provided) exempting her from liability to become an employed contributor so, however, that such exemption shall not exempt the employer from his liability to pay contributions in respect of her, or deprive him of his right to recover such part of those contributions as is payable on her behalf, but of each weekly contribution so paid by the employer three-pence shall be treated as her contribution as a voluntary contributor and the balance shall be applied for her benefit in such manner as the society may determine.
§ (9) If at any time the married women's suspense account is insufficient to meet the liabilities imposed on it by this Section the deficiency shall be made good out of the sums retained by the Insurance Commissioners for discharging their liabilities in respect of the reserve values created by this Act.
§ (10) Transfer value for the purpose of this Section shall be calculated in such manner as the Insurance Commissioners may prescribe.
§ (11) Where a deficiency has been found in respect of the society or branch of which a woman is a member at a valuation 717 previous to the time when she became suspended from ordinary benefits under this Part of this Act, and that deficiency has not been made good at that time of her marriage, or where a woman is in arrears at that time, such adjustments in the sums transferred to the married women's suspense account, and the balance of her transfer value, and in the rates of benefit to which she is entitled under this Section, shall be made as the Insurance Commissioners may prescribe.
§ (12) Save as aforesaid, the provisions of this Part of this Act shall apply to a woman who has been married, both during and after coverture, in like manner as if she had never been married.
§ (13) This Section shall apply in the case of a woman whose marriage has been dissolved or annulled, or who has for a period of not less than two years been actually separated from or deserted by her husband, as if her husband had died at the date at which such dissolution or annulment took effect, or, as the case may require, at the expiration of such period of two years.
§ Amendments made: In Sub-section (1) leave out the word "having" ["having before marriage"], and insert instead thereof the word "has."
§ Leave out the word "again" ["she again becomes employed."].
§ Leave out the words, "employed within the meaning of this Part of this Act," and insert "an employed contributor."
§ After the word "from" ["from death of her husband"] insert the word "the."
§ Leave out the word "having" ["having been employed"] and insert instead thereof the word "has."
§ After the word "this" ["this Act"] insert the words "Part of this."
§ Leave out the words "such death" ["before such death"] and insert instead thereof the words "the death of her husband."
§ In Sub-section (5) leave out the words "living with and supported by her husband."
§
In Sub-section (10), at end, insert,
(11) Where a woman is a member of an approved society at the time when she is entitled to exercise an option under this Section, it shall be the duty of the society to give her full information as to the nature of her rights.
§ In Sub-section (11), leave out the word "that" ["at that time"], and insert instead thereof the word "the."
§ After the word "and" ["and the balance of her"], insert the words "in."—[Mr. Lloyd George.]