HC Deb 17 January 1980 vol 976 cc839-40W
Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the social security benefits available in full to widows paying full national insurance contributions.

Mr. Prentice

A widow paying full national insurance contributions can qualify for social security benefits on the same terms as anyone else. However, if a widow who is receiving national insurance widow's benefit becomes unemployed, falls sick or becomes entitled to a flat-rate personal benefit in some other circumstances, she can, like any other national insurance beneficiary, be paid only an amount corresponding to the higher of the two benefits. But the rules allow the payment of any earnings-related allowance to which she may become entitled with unemployment or sickness benefit and—or the payment of any earnings-related additional pension, up to a statutory maximum without abatement.