Widows' Pensions (Hansard, 1 December 1977)

§ Mrs. Chalker
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of paying widows now aged over 50 years who were widowed between the ages of 40 and 49 years a pension at the same rate as that payable to those widowed at age 50 years or over; and how many widows this would affect.

§ Mr. Orme
The cost would be about £23 million per annum and some 90,000 widows would be affected.

§ Mrs. Chalker
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report details of each type of widow's pension, stating the number eligible, amounts paid, the annual cost to public funds for each category, the circumstances in which and at what level of income the earnings rule affects such benefits and any other conditions imposed.

§ Mr. Orme
The information is set out in the table below.
Widow's benefits are unaffected by earnings.
345W

Benefit Conditions Estimated number in payment at any one time November 1977 standard rate Annual cost £ million Notes

Widow's allowance … … Widow under 60 at death of husband; or husband was not receiving retirement pension at date of death. Payable for first 26 weeks of widowhood. 40,000 £24.50 66 Earnings-related addition based on late husband's earnings may also be payable.

Widowed mother's allowance Widow with at least one qualifying child under 19 residing with her. 130,000 £17.50 156 Reduced rates payable if late husband's contribution record was deficient. "Late husband" refers to the last husband if the widow has been married more than once.

Widow's pension (age related) Widow aged between 40–49 at death of husband or when entitlement to widowed mother's allowance ceased. 110,000 Sliding scale £5.25 (widows aged 40)— £16.28 (widows aged 49) 65

Widow's pension … … Widow aged 50 or over at death of husband or when entitlement to widowed mother's allowance ceased. 250,000 £17.50 205

War widow's pension. … … Husband's death due to or hastened by service in HM Forces. 84,000 £22.70 105

Industrial death benefit … Husband's death resulted from industrial accident or disease. 30,000 £24.50(a) £18.05(b) £5.25(c) 29 (a) Temporary rate for 26 weeks: earnings-related addition may also be payable based on late husband's earnings if widow would have qualified for widow's allowance.

(b) Higher permanent rate.

(c) Lower permanent rate.

346W

Benefit	Conditions	Estimated number in payment at any one time	November 1977 standard rate	Annual cost £ million	Notes
Widow's allowance	…	…	Widow under 60 at death of husband; or husband was not receiving retirement pension at date of death. Payable for first 26 weeks of widowhood.	40,000	£24.50	66	Earnings-related addition based on late husband's earnings may also be payable.
Widowed mother's allowance	Widow with at least one qualifying child under 19 residing with her.	130,000	£17.50	156	Reduced rates payable if late husband's contribution record was deficient. "Late husband" refers to the last husband if the widow has been married more than once.
Widow's pension (age related)	Widow aged between 40–49 at death of husband or when entitlement to widowed mother's allowance ceased.	110,000	Sliding scale £5.25 (widows aged 40)— £16.28 (widows aged 49)	65
Widow's pension	…	…	Widow aged 50 or over at death of husband or when entitlement to widowed mother's allowance ceased.	250,000	£17.50	205
War widow's pension.	…	…	Husband's death due to or hastened by service in HM Forces.	84,000	£22.70	105
Industrial death benefit	…	Husband's death resulted from industrial accident or disease.	30,000	£24.50(a) £18.05(b) £5.25(c)	29	(a) Temporary rate for 26 weeks: earnings-related addition may also be payable based on late husband's earnings if widow would have qualified for widow's allowance.
							(b) Higher permanent rate.
							(c) Lower permanent rate.