Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Benefit) (Members of the Forces) Regulations 1975 and shall come into operation on 6th April 1975.

(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires-

"the Act" means the Social Security Act 1975;

"the Northern Ireland Act" means the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975;

"serving member of the forces" has the same meaning as in regulation 1(2) of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 1975(1);

"discharge" includes transfer to the reserve in the case of a serving member of the forces who on the completion of any term of service is transferred to any reserve, and the expression "discharged" shall be construed accordingly;

and other expressions, in the application of these regulations to Great Britain, have the same meanings as in the Act, and in the application of these regulations to Northern Ireland, have the same meanings as in the Northern Ireland Act.

(3) Any reference in these regulations to any provision made by or contained in any enactment or instrument shall, except in so far as the context otherwise requires, be construed as a reference to that provision as amended or extended by any enactment or instrument and as including a reference to any provision which it re-enacts or replaces, or which may re-enact or replace it, with or without modification.

(4) The rules for the construction of Acts of Parliament contained in the Interpretation Act 1889 shall apply in relation to this instrument as if it were an Act of Parliament.

Unemployment, sickness and invalidity benefit

2. A person shall not be entitled to unemployment benefit, sickness benefit or invalidity benefit in respect of any day on which he is serving member of the forces, other than either-

(a)a member of any territorial or reserve force mentioned in Part I of Schedule 5 to the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 1975 who is not undergoing training or instruction as such a member for a continuous period exceeding 72 consecutive hours; or

(b)a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment who is neither-

(i)serving also as a member of any of the regular naval, military or air forces of the Crown, nor

(ii)on the full-time permanent staff of that regiment, nor

(iii)serving or undergoing training or instruction in that regiment for a continuous period exceeding 72 consecutive hours.

Unemployment benefit

3.-(1) Any person who, whilst a serving member of the forces, is discharged, cashiered or otherwise dismissed in consequence of having been convicted on any proceedings under the Naval Discipline Act 1957, the Army Act 1955 or the Air Force Act 1955, or by any civil court, shall be disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit for the period of 6 weeks next after such discharge, cashiering or dismissal.

(2) A person who, whilst a serving member of the forces, is discharged at his own request shall not by reason thereof be disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit on the ground that he has voluntarily left his employment as an employed earner without just cause.

(3) For the purposes of any claim for unemployment benefit, a document purporting to be signed by a person authorised in that behalf by the Secretary of State certifying the fact that any person has been discharged, cashiered or otherwise dismissed as mentioned in either of the foregoing paragraphs of this regulation and the date of the discharge, cashiering or dismissal shall be conclusive evidence thereof, unless it is proved that the document was not signed by a person so authorised.

Maternity benefit

4.-(1) A woman shall not be disentitled to a maternity grant by reason of confinement outside Great Britain or Northern Ireland, as the case may be, if at the date of the confinement or within the period of 13 weeks ending on that date she is or was a serving member of the forces other than such a person as is mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of regulation 2 above, and any such woman shall, in addition, not be disqualified for receiving any such benefit by reason of her being absent from Great Britain or Northern Ireland, as the case may be.

(2) A woman shall not be disqualified for receiving maternity allowance by reason of her being absent from Great Britain or Northern Ireland, as the case may be, if she is a serving member of the forces other than such a person as is mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of regulation 2 above, or, when so absent, for any period within 26 weeks next after she has ceased to be such a member.

Application of the Act, the Northern Ireland Act and regulations

5. In relation to any person who is serving member of the forces other than such a person as is mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of regulation 2 above, the provisions relating to benefits (other than industrial injuries benefit) of the Act and regulations made under it, or of the Northern Ireland Act and regulations made under it, as the case may be, shall apply with this modification, that where he is, on account of his being at sea or outside the United Kingdom by reason of his employment as a serving member of the forces, unable to perform an act required to be done either forthwith or on the happening of a certain event or within a specified time, he shall be deemed to have complied therewith if he performs the act as soon as is reasonably practicable, although after the happening of the event or the expiration of the specified time.

Effect of contributions paid under the Act with reference to Northern Ireland

6. Every contribution paid under the Act by a serving member of the forces shall have effect, in relation to a claim for benefit duly made under the Northern Ireland Act, as if duly paid under the Northern Ireland Act.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations modify the provisions relating to benefit of the Social Security Act 1975 and the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975 in their application to persons who are, or are treated as being, serving members of Her Majesty's forces, and provide that such persons are not entitled to, or are disqualified for receiving, certain benefits in specified circumstances. They provide for certain women who are serving members of the forces not to be disentitled to maternity benefit through being outside Great Britain or Northern Ireland, as the case may be. They also provide for contributions paid under the Social Security Act 1975 in certain cases to have effect for the purposes of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975 as if paid under the latter Act.