Jim O'Keeffe
Question:53 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the way in which widows have fared under the social welfare system; and his plans to improve the situation. [26547/01]
Vol. 543 No. 3
53 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the way in which widows have fared under the social welfare system; and his plans to improve the situation. [26547/01]
Over the years I have introduced several measures in order to improve the position of widowed people within the social welfare system. In the 2000 budget I introduced a new scheme, the widowed parent grant, to help with the special needs of this particular group in the immediate aftermath of a bereavement. This involves the payment of a special grant of £1,000 or 1,270 to a widow-widower with dependent children. There is also a bereavement grant of £500 or 635 available upon the death of a spouse. Where the deceased person was a social welfare recipient, arrangements are in place to continue the payments to the widow-widower for six weeks after the bereavement.