§ 37. Mr. Skinnardasked the Minister of National Insurance whether persons who, by reason of increase of salary to over £420 a year within two years prior to 5th July, 1948, ceased to be compulsorily insured, and who did not then become voluntary contributors, are now ineligible for sickness and unemployment benefit; and whether they will receive reduced pension at retiring age.
§ Mr. SteeleAs the answer is necessarily rather long and contains a number of dates I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SkinnardCould the Parliamentary Secretary help the House by saying briefly whether getting benefit entails the payment of arrears.
§ Mr. SteeleThe fact is, I cannot say briefly because this is a very technical subject, and I want to see that the proper information is given.
§ Following is the answer:
§ Title to unemployment benefit cannot be affected by the non-payment of contributions under the old Health and Pensions Insurance Scheme. But nonpayment of such contributions in the circumstances stated might make the insured person ineligible for sickness benefit during 1948, and also during the succeeding benefit period beginning in January, 1949. The rate of any retirement or widow's pension ultimately payable on the insurance of such a person might also be adversely affected by the non-payment of contributions during the year ending July, 1948. Whether this is so or not will depend on a number of individual factors, including the credit of contributions given for insurance prior to July, 1947, and the contributor's record under the present scheme. Contributors with less than 50 contributions paid or credited for the year ending July, 1948, are now receiving notices giving them an 199 opportunity of making good the deficiency in order to safeguard their benefit and pension rights under the new scheme.