asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that because of the regulations governing PRSI contributions and credits that a woman who left the paid workforce for a number of years, two or more, to take up duties in the home would be disadvantaged in terms of qualifying for social welfare benefits; that this can lead to a situation whereby a woman with more than ten years' contributions would not be entitled to benefit whereas a person with only one year's contributions would be; if, in view of the protection of the family provided for in the Constitution and of the support for women working in the home, he will consider amending the regulations to remove this disadvantage to women who work in the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - PRSI Regulations.
To qualify for short term benefits under the social insurance system two conditions must be fulfilled. The claimant must have a minimum of 39 contributions paid since entry into insurance and must have a minimum of 39 contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. To qualify for maximum rate of benefit a claimant must have at least 48 contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year.
The contribution conditions are designed to ensure that claimants of short term benefits have a recent attachment to the workforce. In the case of a person entering the workforce for the first time pre-entry credited contributions are awarded in order to ensure that he or she can qualify for benefit as soon as the first contribution condition is satisfied. Where a person leaves the workforce entitlement to short term benefits is retained only as long as the contributions paid prior to leaving the workforce retain their currency. This can be for up to two years.
Credited contributions to maintain social insurance cover may be awarded in certain circumstances. Where a person leaves the workforce to take care of their family they do not in the normal course qualify for credited contributions except in circumstances where they are looking after an incapacitated pensioner and a prescribed relative allowance is being paid.
The present conditions for entitlement to benefits are reasonable. They apply equally to men and women and, therefore, no discrimination is involved. To award automatic credits to persons who have left the workforce for long periods and thereby qualify them for short-term payments would have major financial implications. There are no plans for extending the system in that way.
As far as pensions are concerned a person who ceases to be compulsorily insured can, provided he has at least 156 contributions paid, maintain his entitlement through payment of voluntary contributions. All aspects of pensions provision are being examined by the National Pensions Board at present and the question of pension coverage for people working in the home will be considered in that context.
The Deputy will be aware that I extended the treatment benefit scheme to dependent spouses of insured workers, mainly women working in the house, with effect from October last.