asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider amending the Social Welfare Act which discriminates against working widows who receive only half the normal rate of benefit when ill.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Working Widows.
48.
It is an underlying principle of the comprehensive social insurance scheme that only one type of benefit should be paid to a claimant in respect of any period even though more than one of the contingencies for which benefit is provided has arisen in that period in a particular case. This principle has, however, been departed from to the advantage of widows who claim benefit while ill or unemployed. A widow in receipt of a contributory pension at the full rate who qualifies for disability benefit is paid half the appropriate personal rate of that benefit. If she is in receipt of contributory pension at a reduced rate the half-rate of disability benefit is increased by the amount of the reduction in the pension. If her pension is non-contributory, the rate of benefit payable depends on the rate of pension and can range from half the appropriate personal rate of benefit to as much as the full rate.
A change in the arrangements is not contemplated.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that it was the husband's contributions which provided the pension in the first place and, secondly, if the widow receives only half benefit, could the Parliamentary Secretary prevail on the Minister to introduce an amendment whereby these people would have to pay only half the contribution? Since they are paying the full insurance contribution and receiving only half benefit does the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that this is discrimination against women?
I do not agree, but I will bring the Deputy's remarks to the attention of the Minister.
The Minister must know this already.