asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she has any plans to deal with the anomaly arising from section 33 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981, whereby a person who has been on unemployment benefit for six months, either on the maximum personal rate or one of the reduced rates, is automatically reduced to the equivalent to the short term unemployment rate, unless he or she has at least 280 contributions in the previous seven years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Unemployment Benefit.
18.
When the maximum duration of unemployment benefit was extended from 156 days to 312 days in 1968 it was decided that payment at the full rate after the first 156 days would be subject to the condition that the claimant fulfilled the additional condition of having an average of 40 contributions paid over the preceding seven years. Where this condition is not fulfilled, the rate of unemployment benefit payable to a claimant is the equivalent of the standard rate of unemployment assistance in urban areas.
This is considered to be a reasonable provision having regard to the insurance contribution record of a claimant.