HC Deb 19 December 1988 vol 144 c123W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the changes in widows' benefits and allowances.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The widows' benefit changes, which came into effect in April 1988, are designed to target help more effectively on older widows and those with dependent children. Transitional arrangements enabled those women widowed before April to retain the category of widow's benefit that they were receiving at the time of the changes. The first statistical information in respect of the new scheme will be available in July 1989.