§ Baroness Jegerasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any women, widowed between the ages of 40 and 45, have been denied a widow's pension even when their husbands died before the coming into force of the Social Security Act in April 1988.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Skelmersdale)As I announced on 28th February (Official Report, cols. 1028–29) women aged 40–45 widowed in the six months before 11th April 1988 will be eligible for widow's pension. Women entitled to widowed mother's allowance on llth April 1988 and who will be aged 40 or over but under 45 when their children cease to be dependent, will also have entitlement to widow's pension.