Actively Seeking Work Rules: Widows

HL Deb 11 January 1999 vol 596 cc21-2WA

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How or to what extent they plan to apply the Actively Seeking Work rules to childless widows over 50; and [HL365]

How or to what extent the Actively Seeking Work rules will be applied to widows over 50 whose children have reached adulthood. [HL366]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham

As Jobseeker's Allowance is a benefit for people who are unemployed and looking for work, it is a basic condition of entitlement that people must seek work actively. This means that jobseekers must take such steps as they can reasonably be expected to take in order to have the best prospects of securing employment.

However, in the consultation document Support in Bereavement, we propose to make special arrangements for older widows and widowers with no dependent children during a transitional period. People who are aged 55 and over when the new Bereavement Benefits are introduced and are widowed in the first five years will be able to choose instead to claim Income Support without any requirement to seek work actively.

Widows who are receiving Widowed Mother's Allowance when the new benefits are introduced will be able to receive Widow's Pension if they satisfy the qualifying conditions when their children cease to be dependent.