Social insurance.

Date:
1944
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Social insurance. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ry ee Si ae, eee ee = te NO ss ye he y.t DT EE a NE wt 63 (iii) Sickness, invalidity and maternity benefits and maternity grant, wmcluding attendant’s allawance. Decisions will be taken in the first instance by Insurance Officers but, in view of the medical issues which may arise, the appeal arrangements outlined above for unemployment benefit will need to be modified to make them suit- able for appeals on questions relating to the benefits dealt with under this heading. Provision will be made, as at present, for enabling references to be made to the High Court* on questions of law arising in the course of appeals. (iv) Pensions and widow’s and guardian’s benefit. Claims for pension and widow’s and guardian’s benefit will be decided by the Minister subject to appeal to the Umpire, whose decision will be final. The existing right of reference to the High Court* on questions of law arising in the course of appeals will be retained. POSITION OF PERSONS LEAVING OR COMING TO GREAT BRITAIN Reciprocal Arrangements with Other Countries 17. Under the legislation governing the present schemes certain powers are given to make reciprocal arrangements where similar schemes are in operation. It is only in Health Insurance that the power extends beyond the British Commonwealth. 18. The position of Northern Ireland is exceptional. In Health Insurance, the same legislation applies to the whole United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As regards Contributory Pensions and Unemployment Insurance, reciprocal arrangements have been made between the two countries, enabling persons in one country to retain their rights when they go to reside in the other country. Thus, over the whole field of the existing schemes of social insurance in Great Britain and Northern Ireland there is, in effect, complete integration. The Government of Northern Ireland having already announced that they intend to introduce a scheme of social insurance substantially corresponding to the new scheme in Great Britain, it will be possible to maintain this position. 19. Reciprocal arrangements have been made with the Isle of Man and Eire, enabling persons in one country to retain their Health Insurance rights when they go to reside in the other country. Reciprocal arrangements have also been made with the Isle of Man as regards Contributory Pensions. 20. The institution of a comprehensive scheme of social insurance will call for a review of the reciprocal arrangements referred to in the preceding paragraph. The present arrangements will, so far as possible, be continued, but it must be recognised that the contemplated improvement of benefits may seriously complicate the position. 21. The Government propose to include in the new legislation enabling powers with respect to reciprocal arrangements. These powers will not be confined to making arrangements only where the other country provides benefits corresponding to all the benefits of the British scheme, but will permit limited arrangements also, e.g. for sickness or unemployment benefit or retirement pensions or for a combination of two or more of the benefits. The possibility of further provisions governing the insurance position of those who migrate to other parts of the British Commonwealth will be examined, but a good deal turns on the nature of the various social insurance schemes that are being or may be developed. Persons Leaving Great Britain Temporarily or Permanently 22. It is clear that many people will leave this country in circumstances which reciprocal arrangements would not cover, and provision must be made to enable such persons to maintain, so far as possible, their insurance rights while abroad. 23. Under the peace-time provisions of the existing schemes liability of persons abroad to compulsory insurance was confined broadly to the insurance against unemployment of persons who were engaged on some particular work and were in the employment of British employers. Voluntary insurance for health and pensions purposes was available to qualified persons who were abroad temporarily, or, for pensions insurance, to persons resident permanently in other parts of the British Commonwealth. Wider emergency provisions have been introduced to meet the war situation. y 24. Unemployment insurance benefits are not payable outside the United Kingdom. Health insurance benefits are not normally payable outside the United Kingdom, but (apart from the above-mentioned reciprocai arrangements) may be paid, subject to certain conditions and to some extent at the discretion of the authority administer- ing benefit, to persons temporarily abroad. Contributory pensions are not payable unless the pensioner is in the United Kingdom or in some other part of the British Commonwealth. oe,
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