Vol. 469 No. 5
199 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused unemployment benefit based on last year's stamps when he had previously accrued 28 years of stamps which would entitle him to this benefit. [17725/96]
To qualify for unemployment benefit person must have 39 contributions paid at the appropriate rate in the governing contribution year, which is currently the tax year 1994-95. According to the records of the Department, the person concerned was employed and paid class Al contributions until 15 May 1994, when he became self-employed. From that date he paid the appropriate class S1 contributions, which do not carry entitlement to short-term benefits such as unemployment benefit.
The contribution record of the person concerned for 1994-95 shows he paid six class A1 and 46 class S1 contributions. He does not have the required 39 contributions at the appropriate rate of his application for unemployment benefit was refused on this basis. He was invited to apply for unemployment assistance, which is means tested, but declined. It is, however, still open to him to make an application for unemployment assistance if he is still unemployed.
