HC Deb 13 July 1977 vol 935 cc143-4W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the conditions upon which a disabled unemployed person over the age of 55 years can be put on the 13-week register of unemployed persons.

Mr. Alfred Morris

An unemployed man, whether disabled or not, over the age of 55 years—50 years for a woman—who is not entitled to unemployment benefit but who is required to attend an unemployment benefit office of the Department of Employment as a condition for receiving supplementary allowance may attend quarterly if:

  1. (a) he has done no work during the preceding two years;
  2. (b) he has been registered for work with the Employment Service Agency for at least 21 months in the preceding two years;
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  3. (c) he has not, during the preceding two years, refused an offer of suitable employment or neglected to avail himself of suitable employment; and
  4. (d) there is no positive evidence or uncleared suspicion of fraud during the preceding two years.
A disabled person—of any age—who is not receiving either unemployment or supplementary benefit may also sign quarterly for the purpose of qualifying for credits for his unemployment if:
  1. (a) there is no reason to think that suitable work will be available to him in the near future;
  2. (b) he has not worked for one year;
  3. (c) he has been registered for work with the Employment Service Agency for at least 39 weeks in the past year;
  4. (d) he has not, during the past year, refused an offer of suitable employment or neglected to avail himself of suitable employment; and
  5. (e) there is no positive evidence or uncleared suspicion of fraud during the preceding two years.