§ Sir HENRY KIMBERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what benefit under the National Insurance Bill would 337W a member of an approved society be entitled in the event of his claiming sickness benefit in respect of an illness occurring within twelve months after his recovery from a previous illness in respect of which he has been in receipt of disablement benefit; and whether the provision in Clause 8, Sub-section (5), of the National Insurance Bill only refers to the benefit to which a member is entitled in any subsequent illness occurring within twelve months after having been in receipt of sickness benefit?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEAs the weekly payments for the first twenty-six weeks of any illness are classed as sickness benefit, an insured person will not receive disablement benefit unless he has previously received sickness benefit in respect of the same illness. Clause 8 (5) refers not to an illness occurring within twelve months after receipt of sickness benefit, but to an illness occurring within twelve months after recovery from a previous illness in respect of which sickness benefit or both sickness and disablement benefit have been received.
§ Sir HENRY KIMBERalso asked the Chancellor whether he is aware that the usual practice of friendly societies is to provide in their rules against a member delaying his claim for sickness benefit in order that he might obtain a higher rate of pay than he would otherwise be entitled to; and whether, in view of the fact that he now proposes to pay twenty-six weeks' benefit at 10s. per week, he intends to make a similar provision in the National Insurance Bill?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEAs Clause 8 (5) applies to cases where a subsequent illness begins within twelve months of recovery from the previous illness, whether a claim to benefit is made within twelve months or not, it would be within the power of a society to make rules for the purpose indicated in the question under the Bill as it stands.