The Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1988

Contribution conditions for short-term benefits

7.—(1) Schedule 3 to the principal Act shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1—

(a)in sub-paragraph (2)(a), for the words “in respect of any one year have actually paid contributions of a relevant class,” there shall be substituted the words

have actually paid contributions of a relevant class—

(i)in the case of unemployment benefit, in respect of one of the last two complete years before the beginning of the relevant benefit year; and

(ii)in the case of sickness benefit, in respect of any one year,; and

(b)in sub-paragraph (3)—

(i)in head (a), for the words “relevant past year” there shall be substituted the words “last two complete years before the beginning of the relevant benefit year”; and

(ii)in head (b), for the words “than that” there shall be substituted the words “in each of those years than the”.

(3) In paragraph 8(3), the words from “paragraph (b)”, in the first place where those words occur, to “of”, in the fourth place where it occurs, shall cease to have effect.

(4) Paragraph 9 shall cease to have effect.