The European Communities (Social Welfare) Regulations, 1992, S.I. No. 152 of 1992, were introduced to provide for equality of treatment in respect of the period or delay in implementing EC Directive 79/7. The delay in implementing the directive meant that during the period December 1984 to May 1986, married women received a lower personal rate than other claimants in the case of unemployment benefit, disability benefit, invalidity pension and occupational injuries benefit. During this period married women received a maximum of 12 months unemployment benefit as against 15 months in the case of claimants generally. During the period December 1984 to November 1986 married women were not entitled to claim increases for adult and child dependants except in exceptional circumstances and they were not entitled to claim unemployment assistance, other than in exceptional circumstances.
The regulations provide for payment of increased rates of benefit, extended duration of unemployment benefit, increases for dependant in the form of a household supplement and unemployment assistance. The legislation provided for the payment of arrears on a phased basis in 1992, 1993 and 1994.