Social Welfare Act, 1952

Right to disability and unemployment benefit.

15.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person shall be entitled to disability benefit in respect of any day of incapacity for work which forms part of a period of interruption of employment, and to unemployment benefit in respect of any day of unemployment which forms part of such a period, if—

(a) he is under pensionable age on the day for which the benefit is claimed, and

(b) he satisfies the relevant contribution conditions.

(2) A person shall not be entitled to disability benefit or unemployment benefit for the first three days of any period of interruption of employment.

(3) For the purposes of any provision of this Act relating to disability or unemployment benefit—

(a) a day shall not be treated in relation to an insured person—

(i) as a day of incapacity for work unless on that day he is incapable of work,

(ii) as a day of unemployment unless on that day he is not incapable of work and is, or is deemed in accordance with regulations to be, available for employment,

(b) “day of interruption of employment” means a day which is a day of incapacity for work or of unemployment,

(c) any three days of interruption of employment, whether consecutive or not, within a period of six consecutive days shall be treated as a period of interruption of employment and any two such periods not separated by a period of more than thirteen weeks shall be treated as one period of interruption of employment,

(d) Sunday or such other day in each week as may be prescribed shall not be treated as a day of incapacity for work or of unemployment and shall be disregarded in computing any period of consecutive days.

(4) Regulations may make provision (subject to subsection (3) of this section) as to the days which are or are not to be treated for the purposes of disability benefit and unemployment benefit as days of incapacity for work or of unemployment.

(5) The amount payable by way of benefit for any day of incapacity for work or of unemployment shall be one sixth of the appropriate weekly rate.