Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981

Conditions for receipt.

[1952, Sch. 4; 1974 (No. 3), s. 3; 1978 AM, ss. 13 (1), 14 (2); S.I. No. 156 of 1956 ]

30.—(1) The contribution conditions for unemployment benefit are—

(a) that the claimant has qualifying contributions in respect of not less than 26 contribution weeks in the period between his entry into insurance and the day for which the benefit is claimed, and

(b) that the claimant has qualifying contributions or credited contributions in respect of not less than 48 contribution weeks in the last complete contribution year before the beginning of the benefit year which includes the day for which the benefit is claimed.

(2) Where a person under 65 years of age has been entitled to payment of unemployment benefit in respect of any day or would but for the provisions of section 29 (2), 35 (1) or 35 (3) have been so entitled then, as respects unemployment benefit, the benefit year which includes the first such day in every period of interruption of employment, which is, or is deemed to be, a separate period of interruption of employment, shall, for the purpose of the condition contained in subsection (1) (b), be regarded as continuing so long as the period of interruption of employment continues.

[1952, s. 14]

(3) Regulations may provide for modifications of the contribution conditions set out in subsection (1) but, where such regulations are proposed to be made, a draft thereof shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the regulations shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each such House.

[1952, s. 28]

(4) Subject to subsection (5), regulations may provide for entitling to unemployment benefit persons who would be entitled thereto but for the fact that the contribution condition set out in subsection (1) (b) is not satisfied.

(5) Regulations for the purposes of subsection (4) shall provide that benefit payable by virtue thereof shall be payable at a rate less than that specified in the Second Schedule , and the rate specified by the regulations may vary with the extent to which the contribution condition set out in subsection (1) (b) is satisfied, but any increase of benefit in respect of a qualified child shall be the same as if that condition had been fully satisfied.