HL Deb 16 February 1988 vol 493 cc644-5WA
Lord Chelwood

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking to improve the plight of elderly war widows.

Lord Skelmersdale

There are already preferential provisions for elderly war widows. The standard rate of tax-free war widow's pension is £51.35 a week, which is 30 per cent. higher than the taxable national insurance widow's pension. On top of that, an age allowance of £5.50 is paid at age 65, increasing to £11.10 at 70 and £13.85 at 80. Next April, war widow's pension will be uprated to £53.50 and the age allowances to £5.75, £11.30 and £14.45 respectively.

In addition to her war widow's pension, a war widow (unlike a national insurance widow) may also receive a retirement pension if she has worked and paid the necessary contributions; retirement pensions will be uprated in April. War widows also have £4 of their war widow's pension statutorily disregarded when claiming income-related benefits, and this disregard will be increased to £5 next April.