§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services with what national insurance contributions recipients of the invalid care allowance and the noncontributory invalidity pension, respectively, are credited; what benefits they are, thereby, entitled to; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. OrmeRecipients of the invalid care allowance or the non-contributory invalidity pension are credited with Class 1 national insurance contributions. These credited contributions help to maintain entitlement to unemployment, sickness and maternity benefits, retirement and widows' pensions, and death grant. For entitlement to any of these benefits to be established it is of course necessary for a minimum number of contributions to have been actually paid at some time. Credits are for many people an important aspect and major advantage of the new benefits—particularly in the case of invalid care allowance beneficiaries who have interrupted their careers to care for a severely disabled relative.