asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has received representations from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions concerning the position of widows who are entitled to contributory widow's pensions and who take up employment and subsequently become unemployed; and if he will elaborate on the modification of the principle adopted by his Department that only one type of benefit should be paid to a claimant in respect of those cases and the provision whereby in such cases 50 per cent of unemployment benefit is paid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Contributory Widow Pensioners.
17.
The Deputy is no doubt aware that correspondence is continuing between the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and my Department concerning the position of contributory widow pensioners in the scheme of unemployment insurance. It is a basic principle of schemes of social insurance 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 the particular case. This principle was, for instance, part of the framework of the Beveridge Plan in Britain and is in operation under the National Insurance Scheme there and in Northern Ireland. In this country, however, the principle has been substantially modified in its application to widows by the Social Welfare (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations, 1953 to 1972, under which unemployment benefit, or disability benefit, at half the appropriate personal rate can be paid in addition to widow's contributory pension. As a result, the total income from social insurance sources of a widow pensioner without dependants who becomes eligible for unemployment benefit is considerably more than that of a single man, widower or single woman. In view of this, it is rather surprising that the concession granted in favour of widows should be regarded as, in any sense, a source of grievance.
The situation of widows under the existing provisions would, it is presumed, be comprehended by the terms of reference of the Commission on the Status of Women, but pending the issue of the commission's final report it would not be proper to speculate on what recommendations, if any, may emerge.
Is it not unfair to charge widows the full cost of social welfare stamps if they only qualify for half benefit?
The cost of the stamp covers many items.
Would the Minister explain, please?
It covers such items as occupational injuries, redundancies and health. There are many people who contribute to social welfare all their lives but who never draw unemployment benefit.
Would the Minister not agree that in most cases the contributions paid by the husband during his life provides the widow's pension?
That is all right but we pay them half, which is much better than what is the position in the UK. It leaves them better off than a widower in the same circumstances.