Bernard Allen
Question:107 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he proposes to ensure that Class D contributors will become entitled to social welfare widower's and orphan's pensions.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Class D rate of Social Insurance provides cover for Widow's Contributory Pension, Orphan's Contributory Allowance, Deserted Wife's Benefit and Occupational Injuries Benefits and is payable by certain permanent and pensionable employees in the public service.
I made provision in the 1989 Social Welfare Act to extend the Widow's (Non-Contributory) Pension Scheme to cover widowers with dependent children. Prior to that there had been no specific schemes for widowers. This was expanded in the 1990 Social Welfare Act by the introduction of the Lone Parent's Allowance which made provision for the various categories of lone parents including both widowers and separated fathers.
The issue of extending social insurance cover to widowers generally arises for consideration in the context of draft proposals published by the EC Commission for the adoption of a further directive to extend the principle of equal treatment for men and women to the remaining areas of social security including pensions. The EC is continuing its examiination of these proposals.
It is estimated that the cost of extending to widowers the present social insurance arrangements would be around £25 million in a full year.
The question of social insurance cover for widowers is also being examined by the National Pensions Board in the context of its proposals for a new national pensions system. I expect to receive the Board's report shortly and the question of social insurance provision for widowers will be examined in the light of the report.