§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will arrange for invalidity benefit to be paid in advance rather than in arrears where there is underlying entitlement to widow's pension or any other overlapping benefit listed in regulation 16 of the Claims and Payments Regulations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonNo. Invalidity benefit is generally paid in arrears because title is dependent on the provision of medical evidence for the period covered. A widow who is entitled to both widow's pension and invalidity benefit can choose which benefit she wishes to receive. Normally widow's pension is paid in full because it is the greater of the two. If there is any balance of invalidity benefit due, this is paid separately. The only other benefit listed in regulation 16 which overlaps with invalidity benefit is invalid care allowance which, like widow's pension, is paid in advance.