§ 24. Sir W. Teelingasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why there is no Government death grant for men who were over 65 and women who were over 60 years of age at 6th July, 1948; and if any sum these people have saved for their burial is allowed them in any means test required for National Assistance.
§ Mr. PentlandNational insurance death grant was introduced as a new benefit under the National Insurance Act, 1946, for which people who had already reached pensionable age before the date when that Act came into force could not qualify as they would not be contributing.
There is no provision for death grants in National Assistance. But money which has been saved, for whatever purpose, by a person receiving National Assistance does not affect the amount of assistance paid unless the total savings exceed a certain minimum, which cannot be lower than £125.