Catalogue description Records of the Chief Insurance Officer

The National Insurance Act 1911 introduced state unemployment insurance and in accordance with its provisions, claims to unemployment benefit were decided by independent statutory authorities. These consisted of Insurance Officers and Courts of Referees appointed by the Board of Trade (from 1916 by the Ministry of Labour) and an Umpire appointed by the Crown. Claims were initially dealt with by locally based Insurance Officers whose decisions were open to appeal to a Court of Referees and finally to the Umpire. In addition to locally based Insurance Officers, a Chief Insurance Officer was appointed who, together with other duties, was responsible for the maintenance of uniform standards of adjudication. By section 43 of the National Insurance Act 1946 and sections 42 to 51 of the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1946, this system of adjudication was extended to all claims for benefits but Courts of Referees and the Umpire were replaced by local tribunals, a Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners.

The responsibilities of the staff of the Office of the Chief Insurance Officer have been to supervise and co-ordinate the work of local insurance officers in determining claims under national insurance and social security legislation. They have also prepared and presented cases for adjudication by independent authorities such as the National Insurance Commissioners.