Sickness Benefit (Wives' Earnings)

HC Deb 25 November 1966 vol 736 cc377-8W

Mr. Winnick

asked the Minister of Social Security why wives of disabled husbands are subject to an earnings rule.

Mr. Pentland

The National Insurance Scheme does not provide for the automatic payment of an increase of sickness benefit for a wife, but only if she can be regarded as dependent on her husband. Her earnings, therefore, have to be taken into account and a limit is laid down in the National Insurance Act as one of the tests of dependency.

Mr. Winnick

asked the Minister of Social Security if the earnings rule for wives of disabled husbands is being reviewed.

Mr. Pentland

The earnings limit for a dependency increase will be carefully considered in the course of our review of the National Insurance Scheme.