The European Communities (Iron and Steel Employees Re-adaptation Benefits Scheme) (No. 2) Regulations 1988

Payments to unemployed men of 55 or over and women of 50 or over

5.—(1) Subject to the provisions of the Scheme, the Secretary of State may pay the amount specified in paragraph (4) of this Article to any eligible steel employee fulfilling the conditions specified in paragraph (2) in respect of any week during the period specified in paragraph (3).

(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that the said employee:

(a) had on the relevant date attained, if a man, the age of 55 or, if a woman, the age of 50; and

(b) is an unemployed person.

(3) Subject to Articles 2(2), 7(5) and 9(1), the period referred to in paragraph (1) is a period of 78 weeks of unemployment (which weeks need not be consecutive) subsequent to the relevant date, beginning with the 27th week of such unemployment.

(4) The amount of the payment referred to in paragraph (1) shall be:

(a) for the first 52 weeks of the period specified in paragraph (3), an amount equal to 90% of the steel employee’s previous earnings; and

(b) for the next 26 weeks of that period an amount equal to 80% of the steel employee’s previous earnings.

(5) In addition to payments under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may pay £16 to any eligible steel employee fulfilling the conditions specified in paragraph (2) in respect of any week during the first 26 weeks of unemployment subsequent to the relevant date.