§ Mr. CONNOLLYasked the Minister of Health whether an insured person who is in receipt of full sickness benefit under the National Health Insurance Act, on attaining the age of 65 years, or under the 1908 Act at 70 years, will be compelled to give up sickness benefit and apply for the old age pension?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINUp to the present time the position has been that an insured person's right to sickness or disablement benefit has ceased on his attaining the age of 70. Under a provision of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, the right to these benefits will cease at age 65 in all cases as from 2nd January next, after which date old age pensions will be payable to persons aged between 65 and 70 who are duly qualified.
§ Mr. CONNOLLYasked the Minister of Health whether, in the case of a widow of an insured man who died two years before the 2nd January, 1928, and who was on sick benefit before his death for a prolonged period but in receipt of full sick benefit at the time of his death, his Department grants an old age pension to her on reaching the age of 65 years or, if she is over that age, at the appointed day?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer is in the negative. There is no provision in1394W the Contributory Pensions Act which authorises the payment of an old age pension between the ages of 65 and 70 in the circumstances indicated in the question. As the husband died before the inception of the Act, no contributions under the scheme can have been paid in respect of him.
§ Mr. CONNOLLYasked the Minister of Health if it is the practice of his Department to grant a pension in the case of a person who was insured at the commencement of the Act and continues in insurance for some years, but, owing to his wages or salary exceeding the amount allowed under the Act, ceases to be a contributor and does not continue as a voluntary contributor, and then after a period again through reductions of wages becomes a contributor but will only have two years and four months stamps contributed on the last period on reaching the age of 65?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe practice of my Department must conform to the provisions of the Act. If the hon. Member has an individual case in mind and will let me have particulars, I will inform him of the position under the Act in respect of it.
§ Brigadier-General CHARTERISasked the Minister of Health whether a person insured as a voluntary contributor under the Health Insurance Act, and having fulfilled all conditions as to the necessary number of contributions by including the voluntary contributions, is granted an old age pension if between the age of 65 and 70 on or before 1st January, 1928; and whether a person who after a period of voluntary insurance returns to normal insurance and is so insured on or prior to 1st January, 1928, is allowed to reckon all or any of the voluntary contributions in computing the necessary qualifications for the old age pension at the age of 65?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs regards the first part of the question, an old age pension will be payable if the insured person is between the age of 65 and 70 on 2nd January, 1928, and satisfies the condition that he has on that date been continuously insured for a period of not less than five years; as regards the second part of the question, the answer is in the affirmative, if, as would appear to be indicated, voluntary insurance was continued up to 1395W the date when, by reason of entering insurable employment, the man became compulsorily insured.