Time for claiming benefits

(1) The prescribed time for claiming benefits is– (a) in the case of sickness or injury benefit– (i) the period of two weeks from the first day of sickness or injury; and (ii) the period of six months from the first day or sickness or injury for any subsequent claims in relation to that sickness or injury; (b) in the case of maternity allowance– (i) in respect of expectation of confinement, the period of two weeks beginning with the eighth contribution week before the contribution week in which it is expected that the claimant will be confined; (ii) where confinement has taken place, the period of three weeks beginning with the date of confinement; (c) in the case of maternity grant, the period of three months after the date of confinement; (d) in the case of149 (i) disablement benefit and increase of disablement pension on account of hospital treatment or constant attendance allowance, or (ii) invalidity, retirement, survivors’ or death benefit, the period of thirteen weeks from the date on which apart from satisfying the condition of making a claim, the claimant becomes entitled thereto; (e) in the case of funeral grant, the period of six months from the date of the deceased; (f) in the case of medical expenses, not later than three months from the date on which the relevant expenses were incurred. (2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), a person failing to make a claim for benefit within the time prescribed in paragraph (1) shall be disqualified for receiving– (a) in the case of sickness or injury benefit– (i) benefit in respect of any day more than two weeks before the date on which the claim is made; or (ii) benefit in respect of any day more than six months before the date on which the subsequent claim is made. (b) in the case of maternity allowance, benefit in respect of any period before the beginning of the contribution week in which the claim is made; (c) in the case of150 (i) disablement pension and increase thereof on account of hospital treatment or constant attendance allowance, or (ii) invalidity pension, retirement pension, survivors’ pension or death benefit, in respect of any period more than thirteen weeks before the date on which the claim is made; (d) in the case of funeral grant, the grant; (e) in the case of medical expenses, the expenses. (3) Subject to paragraph (4), in any case where a claim is not made within the time prescribed in paragraph (1) if the claimant proves that– (a) on a date earlier than the date on which the claim was made, apart from satisfying the condition of making the claim, he was entitled to the benefit; and (b) throughout the period between the earlier date and the date on which the claim was made there was good cause for delay in making such claim, he shall not be disqualified under paragraph (2) for receiving any benefit to which he would have been entitled if the claim had been made on the earlier date. (4) No sum shall be paid– (a) by way of sickness benefit, maternity allowance, or injury benefit in respect of any period more than thirteen weeks before the date on which the claim therefor is duly made; (b) by way of maternity grant, if the claim therefor is not duly made within six months after the date of confinement; (c) by way of disablement pension or increase thereof on account of hospital treatment or constant attendance allowance in respect of any period more than twenty–six weeks before the date on which the claim therefor is duly made; (d) by way of a periodical payment in respect of invalidity, retirement, survivors’ or death benefit for any period more than twenty–six weeks before the date on which the claim therefor is duly made; (e) by way of funeral grant, if the claim therefor is not duly made within twelve months after the date of the death of the person in respect of whom the grant is payable. Provisions Relating to Accidents