Widows' Pensions and Allowances (Hansard, 3 March 1975)

§ Mr. Hall-Davis
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, on the basis of the proposals in Command Paper No. 5713, "Better Pensions", would be

RATE OF WIDOW'S PENSION I.E. NO CHILDREN

Year of death and number of year's contributions (assuming a 1978 start and that death occurs after 5th April in the relevant year)

Age of Widow^* 1980 (2) 1984 (6) 1989 (11)

£ £ £

30 … … … … … … … Nil† Nil† Nil

40 … … … … … … … 3.30† 3.90† 4.65†

50 … … … … … … … 11.00 13.00 15.50

59 … … … … … … … 11.00 13.00 15.50

RATE OF WIDOWED MOTHER'S ALLOWANCE (AGE OF WIDOW IMMATERIAL)

Number of Children Year of death and number of yearns contributions (assuming a 1978 start and that death occurs after 5th April in the relevant year)

1980 (2) 1984 (6) 1989 (11)

£ £ £

1 … … … … … … … 15.90 17.90 20.40

2 … … … … … … … 19.90 21.90 24.40

3 … … … … … … … 23.80 25.80 28.30

4 … … … … … … … 27.70 29.70 32.20

^* At the time of the husband's death (or when title to widowed mother's allowance ceased).

† A widow aged 30 or 40 with no dependent children might nevertheless qualify for widowed mother's allowance at the personal rate (£10 at the benefit rates used in Command Paper No. 5713) if she had a child under 19 still living with her.

The question of benefit payable on the widow's own earnings would not arise until she reached pensionable age at 60. If the woman widowed at 59 attained her 60th birthday in the same tax year as her husband died her pension would then rise by 50p in 1980, £1.50 in 1984, or £2.75 in 1989.
The amounts shown are expressed in terms of a "basic component" of £10.

Number of dependent children

Age of widow^* None One Two Three Four

£ £ £ £ £

30 … … … … Nil† 14.90 18.90 22.80 26.70

40 … … … … 3.00† 14.90 18.90 22.80 26.70

50 … … … … 10.00 14.90 18.90 22.80 26.70

59 … … … … 10.00 14.90 18.90 22.80 26.70

^* At the time of husband's death (or when title to widowed mother's allowance ceased).

† A widow aged 30 or 40 with no dependent children might nevertheless qualify for widowed mother's allowance at the personal rate (currently £10 a week) if she had a child under 19 still living with her.

Benefit rates will be increased as from the beginning of April.

332W
the pension in 1974 terms received by a widow after six months of widowhood earning £30 a week, a husband earning £50 a week, a wife having paid full contributions not contracted out since April 1978, a husband having contributed since leaving school in the event of her husband's death in 1980, 1984, 1989, a widow at the date of his death aged 30, 40, 50 and 59 years in each of those years, with no dependent children, and one, two, three and four dependent children.

§ Mr. O'Malley
Following is the information:

§ Mr. Hall-Davis
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what widow's pension and widowed mother's allowance would be payable at the present date six months after the death of the husband with wife age 30, 40, 50 and 59 years with no dependent children and one, two, three and four dependent children.

§ Mr. O'Malley
Following is the information requested:

RATE OF WIDOW'S PENSION I.E. NO CHILDREN
								Year of death and number of year's contributions (assuming a 1978 start and that death occurs after 5th April in the relevant year)
Age of Widow^*	1980 (2)	1984 (6)	1989 (11)
								£	£	£
30	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	Nil†	Nil†	Nil
40	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	3.30†	3.90†	4.65†
50	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	11.00	13.00	15.50
59	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	11.00	13.00	15.50

RATE OF WIDOWED MOTHER'S ALLOWANCE (AGE OF WIDOW IMMATERIAL)
Number of Children	Year of death and number of yearns contributions (assuming a 1978 start and that death occurs after 5th April in the relevant year)
								1980 (2)	1984 (6)	1989 (11)
								£	£	£
1	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	15.90	17.90	20.40
2	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	19.90	21.90	24.40
3	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	23.80	25.80	28.30
4	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	27.70	29.70	32.20
^* At the time of the husband's death (or when title to widowed mother's allowance ceased).
† A widow aged 30 or 40 with no dependent children might nevertheless qualify for widowed mother's allowance at the personal rate (£10 at the benefit rates used in Command Paper No. 5713) if she had a child under 19 still living with her.

					Number of dependent children
Age of widow^*	None	One	Two	Three	Four
					£	£	£	£	£
30	…	…	…	…	Nil†	14.90	18.90	22.80	26.70
40	…	…	…	…	3.00†	14.90	18.90	22.80	26.70
50	…	…	…	…	10.00	14.90	18.90	22.80	26.70
59	…	…	…	…	10.00	14.90	18.90	22.80	26.70
^* At the time of husband's death (or when title to widowed mother's allowance ceased).
† A widow aged 30 or 40 with no dependent children might nevertheless qualify for widowed mother's allowance at the personal rate (currently £10 a week) if she had a child under 19 still living with her.