Colonel BATHURSTasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact that, under the National Insurance Act, a man, having paid six months (twenty-six weeks) contributions and then falling seriously ill, is able to draw six months' sick benefit only, and can under no circumstances draw further benefit of any kind until he has paid 104 contributions; and whether he will take care that this point is made clear by means of a leaflet or through the lecturers engaged in explaining the Act?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAfter paying contributions for six months—i.e., twenty-six weeks—an insured person is entitled not only to sickness benefit for six months, but also to the other benefits of the Act, including medical benefit, sanatorium benefit, and maternity benefit when and for as long as they are required, with the single exception of disablement benefit. Permanent disablement benefit can only be drawn after 104 contributions have been paid. The position is exactly and fully stated on page 2 of the official explanatory leaflet No. 10, and is also explained by the official lecturers.