asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on the apparent discrimination against widowers vis-à-vis widows who are automatically entitled to certain entitlement which widowers do not receive.
104.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Code.
98.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any plans to reform the social welfare code to achieve equality of entitlement for all single parent families; if, in particular he has any plans to end discrimination in the social welfare code against widowers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 98 and 104 together. A number of social welfare schemes are available to widows and women in single parent family situations which are not available to men in similar circumstances, such as widow's pension, deserted wife's benefit and allowance, unmarried mother's allowance and prisoner's wife's allowance.
In such situations, however, men may qualify for other social welfare payments, such as unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance or disability benefit under the normal conditions. The provision of specific payments for men on the same lines as those for widows and single parent women would have very considerable financial implications.
The provisions of the EC Directive on equal treatment of men and women in matters of social security do not apply to widows' pensions and similar payments. However, proposals are being drawn up by the EC Commission to apply the principal of equal treatment in areas not covered by the existing Directive.