§ Sir J. Edenasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what benefits are available under her regulations to housewives who are seriously disabled or chronically sick and who have no National Insurance contributions in their own right.
§ Mr. PentlandA housewife who does not work outside her home cannot be entitled to National Insurance sickness benefit since this benefit is only available150W for persons normally in gainful employment. Benefits of the scheme which are available to the disabled housewife through her husband's contributions are:—
- (1) When he is sick, unemployed or injured, or retired while she is still under age 60, a 50s. increase of his own weekly benefit for her as a dependant.
- (2) When she is over 60 and he is retired, a retirement pension of her own normally also at the 50s. rate.
- (3) In the event of his death, the various widowhood benefits of the scheme which include continuing entitlement to full rate sickness benefit if she is too young to be qualified for widow's pension.
§ Sir J. Edenasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she is aware of the difficulties facing housewives who are chronically sick or seriously disabled; and what action she proposes to alleviate this hardship.
§ Mr. PentlandI can assure the hon. Gentleman that the difficulties of chronic sick and seriously disabled people, including those who are housewives, are not being overlooked and are among the many important matters which are being considered in connection with the comprehensive review of the social services on which the Government is engaged.