asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that when an Irish worker, whose insurance liability has been transferred to Great Britain, returns to Ireland, the unemployment benefit side of his Department may possibly pay him benefit for three months while the sickness benefit side may still be unaware of his return; and, if so, if he will take steps to avoid the hardship which may be caused by a delay in payment of sickness benefit, by ensuring that when either side becomes aware of the return of an insured person, the other side is notified so that all necessary steps for the transfer can be carried out before benefit is payable.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emigrants' Unemployment and Sickness Benefit.
There is an arrangement in existence in my Department by which when an insured person returns from Great Britain and claims unemployment benefit in this country, the unemployment section notifies the disability section of the fact.
Payment of disability benefit by my Department does not become due under the reciprocal agreement with Great Britain until six months after the insured person's arrival in this country and a transfer of the insurance cannot be effected until the six months' residence here has been completed.
Payment of unemployment benefit here on the strength of contributions paid in Great Britain does not become due until the person concerned claims unemployment benefit and has been unemployed for 12 days. No transfer of contributions can be claimed from Great Britain until the 12 days of unemployment have been completed and prior notice of his return to this country would not enable the transfer to be effected any earlier.
Where a person has been in receipt of unemployment benefit or otherwise in touch with an employment exchange for a period of six months after returning from Great Britain, it is proposed in future to notify the central records section of this fact in order that a transfer of the insurance for the purpose of payment of disability benefit may be effected at the earliest possible date.