§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take immediate steps to amend the Social Security (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations so as to end the present rule whereby a widow, who prior to her664W husband's death was in receipt of invalid care allowance, has that allowance immediately terminated when she becomes eligible for a widow's pension; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardNo. Invalid care allowance and widows benefit are both personal income maintenance benefits, intended to help meet an individual's day-to-day living expenses. To pay invalid care allowance in full in addition to widow's benefit would mean that provision was being made twice from public funds to cover the same needs.