asked the Minister for Social Welfare what are the terms of the reciprocal agreement between the British and Irish Governments relating to national health service contributions; and whether it is a fact that a person who had paid the full weekly contributions in Britain would, on his return to Ireland, receive £1-10-0 benefit instead of the £2-10-0 payable to him had he remained in Britain and become eligible for payments under the scheme there.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Health Service Contributions: Reciprocal Agreement.
16.
It is assumed that the Deputy in referring to the "reciprocal agreement between the British and Irish Governments relating to national health service contributions" means the reciprocal agreement in relation to social welfare benefits and has in mind the provision for sickness benefit.
The terms of this Agreement are contained in the Schedule to the Social Welfare (Great Britain Reciprocal Arrangements) Order, 1960 (S.I. No. 96 of 1960). Article 7 of the Agreement deals with the treatment of insurance in one country for the purpose of title to sickness benefit in the other country. It enables sickness benefit to be paid to insured persons in one country on foot of contributions of the other country. An insured person, who moves from one country to the other, is entitled to have his insurance (including contributions paid and credited) in one country treated as insurance in the other country, if, following his arrival in the new country, he claims sickness benefit and the counting of his insurance in the old country would confer title to benefit or to benefit at a higher rate than would otherwise be the case.
In the absence of reciprocal arrangements a person claiming sickness benefit in this country could not have contributions under the British scheme taken into account in determining his title to benefit; nor could he be paid benefit under the British scheme while in this country.
Since the maximum personal rate at which sickness benefit can be paid under the Social Welfare Acts is at present £1-10-0 a week, it follows that a person returning here from Great Britain could not be paid at a higher rate.
In accordance with the Social Welfare (Amendment) Act, 1960, the personal rate of benefit will be increased as from the 2nd January, 1961, to £1-12-6. Payment for an adult de pendant will then be increased from 15/- to £1 a week; for each of two qualified children from 8/- to 10/- a week and in the case of each subsequent child 5/- a week will be paid where formerly no payment was made.