S.L. 123.218 Art. 5Application for eligibility. 5

(1) An application for a formal determination relating to eligibility in accordance with these rules and article 56(21) of the Act shall be made on such form or in such manner as the competent authority, in agreement with the Commissioner, may require and shall contain the information and documents therein requested:

Provided that such an application may be made between st st 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2034:

Provided further that no such application shall be st accepted by the competent authority after 31 December 2035.

(2) Such application shall be submitted to the competent authority which shall process the application and issue a formal determination of eligibility under these rules and article 56(21) of the Act or a refusal of the application, as the case may be, within a period of ninety (90) days from receipt of the said application in such manner as the Commissioner shall determine.

(3) For the purpose of processing an application under these rules, the competent authority may require the applicant to produce, within the time indicated by it in such request, such further information and documents as they may consider necessary, including certifications and declarations of the employer of such individual. Where such a request is made, the period of ninety (90) days referred to in sub-rule (2) shall commence from date of receipt of the information requested.

(4) If an individual fails, without any valid reason, to fully comply with any request made by the competent authority in accordance with sub-rule (3) within the period indicated in the said sub-rule, the competent authority shall refuse the application and inform the Commissioner of such refusal.

(5) Within the period referred to in sub-rule (2) or (3), as the case may be, the competent authority shall inform the Commissioner of such determination or refusal. The Commissioner shall endorse such determination or refusal and inform the applicant accordingly, in such manner as the Commissioner shall determine.

(6) The competent authority shall, on an annual basis, send a list of applications received and their status to the Commissioner.