asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will consider the question of increasing the non-contributory pensions for widows, who now receive only 5/- per week; and if he is aware that in many of these cases the death of the husband was preceded by long illness which prevented the necessary unemployment stamps being obtained to qualify for a contributory pension.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Widows' Non-Contributory Pensions.
Special food allowances have been provided for recipients of widows' pensions in urban areas, and pensioners in rural areas receive supplementary cash allowances. These allowances constitute a substantial increase in pension rates, and it is not proposed to increase the existing cash rates of non-contributory pensions.
As regards the second part of the question failure to obtain unemployment stamps cannot in any way affect qualification for a contributory pension under the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts. The insurance under the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts of a person who falls ill is not terminated while the illness lasts, if due notice and proof of his illness are furnished. Contributions under the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts are not payable in respect of weeks of incapacity. In so far as title to a contributory pension depends on the maintenance of a prescribed average number of contributions in the period immediately preceding death, the condition may be satisfied by excusal of contributions for periods of incapacity.