asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether, in the interests of equal treatment for men and women, she intends to amend existing legislation to end discrimination against men in the area of survivors' pensions as working men and women pay similar social security contributions but women can receive a widow's pension even while continuing to work, while men receive no such pension when they are widowed, and nowadays many families need both parents to work in order to survive and widowers supporting a family do so without the assistance a widow receives.
Written Answers. - Widower's Pension.
69.
Pensions are not paid to widowers under the social insurance system at present other than in very limited circumstances. Where a pension is paid to a widow under the widow's contributory pension scheme it is not affected by any other income or earnings which the widow may have. The provision on the same basis of pensions for widowers would have wide-ranging financial and other implications.
Widowers with dependent children who are in receipt of disability or unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance can receive a "housekeeper" allowance in the form of an increase for an adult dependant in respect of a woman who is looking after the children. Assistance can also be provided under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to any person who is in need.
The question of widowers' pensions was not covered in the EC Directive on equal treatment in matters of social security. Matters not covered in that directive are, however, now about to be considered by the EC Commission.
The whole area of financial support for single parent families under the social welfare system will be reviewed in the light of the recommendations of the Commission on Social Welfare and whatever decisions are made at EC level.