§ Mr. Pinkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent unmarried mothers who have never paid 365W insurance contributions qualify for state benefits; and if he will give details of the benefits and for how long they are granted.
§ Mr. EnnalsAn unmarried mother with no insurance record will have no title to national insurance benefits but may be entitled to family allowances and supplementary benefit. Family allowances, at the weekly rate of 18s. for a second child and £1 for each subsequent child, may be paid to unmarried mothers under the same conditions that apply to other families.
An unmarried mother is entitled week by week to supplementary benefit (subject to the usual conditions, for example, that she is aged 16 or over and not in full-time work) if this is needed to bring her income up to the level of requirements laid down by the Ministry of Social Security Act. This level varies according to her requirements and to circumstances such as the age of her child; thus a mother who is a householder, with a child aged under 5, would have requirements of at least £6 4s. a week plus provision for rent. Family allowances and any payments received under an aflination order or otherwise from the father of her child are taken into account in full as weekly income. Up to £2 of part-time earnings are disregarded, and additional benefit is sometimes payable for exceptional needs or in exceptional circumstances.