employment benefit
Unemployment benefit is paid when people are unemployed, capable of work and available for work as an employee.
The conditions
Contribution conditions have to be satisfied and the unemployed man or woman has to show availability for work normally by registering for a job at an office of the Employment Service Agency.
Benefit is not paid for the first three days of any period of unemployment, nor for isolated days of unemployment.
Flat-rate benefit is payable for up to 312 days in any period of interruption of employment (periods of unemployment and sickness separated by not more than 13 weeks count as one period of interruption of employment). Once benefit has run out it cannot be paid again until the claimant has been back at work for an employer for 13 weeks or more.
Amounts payable
The rates of unemployment benefit, including increases for dependants, are the same as for sickness benefit-see page 30. Unemployment benefit is not taxable.
How to claim
Benefit should be claimed on the first day of unemployment at an unemploy- ment benefit office of the Department of Employment. If it is not claimed on the first day, benefit for days preceding the date of claim may be lost.
The claimant should produce form P45 (if available) and quote his/her national insurance number.
A claim form will be issued and, if necessary, the claimant will be advised how to register for work.
Further information: Leaflet NI12 (from unemployment benefit offices), NI51 (Widows), NI95 (Divorced women).
War pensions
For the war disabled and bereaved
Pensions and allowances for those disabled as a result of war service (including civilian casualties of the 1939-45 War) or of service in the Armed Forces since the end of the 1939-45 War, and for the widows, parents and certain other dependants of those who have died as a result of such service, are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Security. Further information about these benefits and about the insurance benefits, including earnings-related supplements, available to war disablement pensioners and war widows, can be obtained from the war pensions office or local social security office.
The Department also provides a welfare service for war pensioners and this works in close co-operation with the other social services, local War Pensions Committees and the various voluntary organisations interested in ex-service people in the community. The aim is to bring to the pensioner's aid whatever advice and assistance can best resolve his or her particular
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