(1) Regulation 38 of the principal Regulations (treatment of late paid contributions for the purpose of contributory benefits) shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.
(2) In paragraph (2)(b) for the words “paragraphs (5) and (6)” there shall be substituted the words “paragraphs (5), (6) and (7)”.
(3) In paragraph (5) for the word “Notwithstanding” at the beginning of that paragraph there shall be substituted the words “Except where the provisions of paragraph (7) of this regulation apply and notwithstanding”.
(4) For paragraph (7) (treatment of late paid contributions for the purpose of entitlement to maternity allowance) there shall be substituted the following paragraphs—
(7) For the purpose of entitlement to maternity allowance, any such contribution as is specified in paragraph (1) of this regulation which is paid within the time specified in paragraph (2)(b) of this regulation shall, for the purpose of determining whether the contribution condition for such allowance is satisfied, be treated as follows—
(a) where the period for maternity allowance in relation to the claimant would begin 6 weeks or more before the expected week of confinement—
(i) a contribution paid before the beginning of that period, shall be treated as paid on the due date, and
(ii) a contribution paid after the beginning of that period, shall be treated as not paid; and
(b) where the period for maternity allowance in relation to the claimant would begin less than 6 weeks before the expected week of confinement—
(i) a contribution paid before the beginning of the 6th week before the expected week of confinement, shall be treated as paid on the due date, and
(ii) a contribution paid after the beginning of the 6th week before the expected week of confinement, shall be treated as not paid.
(8) In paragraph (7)(a) and (b) of this regulation—
“the period for maternity allowance” in relation to a claimant means the period which would be the maternity allowance period in relation to that claimant if the contribution condition for such allowance were satisfied;
“week” means a period of 7 days beginning with Sunday.