Mr. ALFRED T. DAVIESasked the Minister of Pensions whether, as it is not at present made clear to officers' widows that alternative pensions are only payable from the date of claim and not from the date of eligibility for pension, and that delay in settling the flat rate, whether due to the applicant or to the delay in the Ministry, over which she has no control, coupled with no intimation to the applicant as to the date of payment of alternative pension, leads to pecuniary loss to the widow, he will cause Clause 6 on Form 543 to be altered so that widows may put in the necessary formal claim immediately on becoming eligible for pension?
§ Major TRYONIn notifying an award of flat- rate pension a copy of Form 543 is sent to the widow, and if application for an alternative pension is made within three months of the date of such notification the alternative pension is payable as from the date from which the flat-rate pension took effect (which is generally the day following the death). In other cases the award has effect from the date of application. If, therefore, the widow applies within three months of notification, she is not prejudiced by any delay in the award of the flat-rate pension. The form referred to is now being reprinted, and in the revised form opportunity will be taken to make it clear that delay in applying may affect the date of commencement of the award.