§ 18. Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, following the implementation of his reform proposals, widows aged between 45 and 60 years who were widowed before 45 years of age and who are not currently receiving a widow's pension, can continue to choose to claim(a) retirement pension or (b) widow's pension on reaching 60 years of age. [73055]
§ Mr. TimmsCurrent widows who are entitled to Widow's Pension can choose to continue receiving it up to age 65. A woman who was widowed before age 45 may qualify for a Widow's Pension when her Widowed Mother's Allowance ceased or because she was widowed before April 1988.
These widows will continue to be able to receive Widow's Pension up to age 65 if they satisfy the qualifying conditions following implementation of our reforms.