HC Deb 17 April 1989 vol 151 c59W
38. Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on his Department's future proposals for war widows.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The standard basic rate of tax-free war widow's pension, which is 30 per cent. higher than the taxable national insurance widow's pension, was increased from £53.50 to £56.65 a week from 10 April 1989. On top of that, age allowances are paid of £6–10 at age 65, £12.20 at 70 and £15£30 at 80, and 85 per cent. of war widows receive an age allowance. War widows may also receive a retirement pension if they worked and paid contributions, and it is estimated that about 75 per cent. do. War widows with children receive an addition of£12.60 a week for each child and may also receive a rent allowance of up to £21.55 a week and an education allowance of up to £120 a year. It is proposed to maintain these very preferential provisions for war widows.

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