The primary objective of the social welfare system is to provide income support in the event of certain contingencies. As such, there is no general provision for a person to receive, concurrently, payment under two separate schemes.
However, an exception to this rule is made in relation to recipients of the widow(er)s pension and one parent family payment, who are under 66 years of age and in employment, as they may receive half-rate disability benefit where they are certified as being medically unfit for work, and the relevant contribution conditions are satisfied.
Under this arrangement, which is designed to take account of the special circumstances of widow(er)s and single parents, payment of disability benefit at half-rate can be paid for a maximum of 15 months.
There are, at present, some 1,100 recipients of widow(er)s' and one parent family payments in receipt of half-rate disability benefit. It is estimated that extending the full rate of payment to this group, would cost £2 million in a full year.
I am satisfied the current arrangements for payment of disability benefit in addition to widow(er)s pension and one-parent family payment, are reasonable. I am also satisfied that both widow(er)s and other single parents are treated equally under those arrangements, and consequently, I do not propose to make any changes in this area.
