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Widows (Pensions And Allowances)

Volume 82: debated on Monday 8 July 1985

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asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much would be saved in a full year and how

Numbers affected by the proposed abolition of widowed mothers' allowance (Personal) (WMA(P)) in the first full year of implementation
Numbers of widows, presently entitled to WMA(P) with entitlements under Green Paper proposals
Numbers entitled to WMA(P) under existing rules£1,000 lump sumWidow's pension (age related or full rate) immediately on bereavement for new awardsNo entitlement to widow's pension
New awards2,5002,5001,5001,000
People transferring from widows mothers' allowance10,500*9,0001,500
Numbers affected by the proposed raising from 40–45 of qualifying age for lowest rate of widow's pension during the first full year
Entitlement under current rulesEntitlements under the Green Paper proposals of widows who under existing rules would receive an age-related pension
Numbers entitled to age-related widow's pension£1,000 lump sumAge-related widow's pensionNo entitlement to widow's pension
New awards5,0005,000†3,5001,500
People transferring from WMA or WMA(P)4,500*‡3,0001,500
Notes to tables:
Numbers above are accurate only to the nearest 500. They are derived from 1983 estimate of the number of widow's receiving benefits.
* The majority of these widow's would have received widow's allowance when widowed, the others the lump sum payment.
† In addition some 11,000 new award widows who under existing rules would receive a full widow's pension would receive an age-related pension instead.
‡ In addition some 5,500 transferring widows who under existing rules would receive a full widow's pension would receive an age-related pension instead.