Jim O'Keeffe
Question:53 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the way in which widows have fared under the social welfare system; and his plans to improve the situation. [26547/01]
Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.
Over the years I have introduced several measures in order to improve the position of widowed people within the social welfare system. In the 2000 budget I introduced a new scheme, the widowed parent grant, to help with the special needs of this particular group in the immediate aftermath of a bereavement. This involves the payment of a special grant of £1,000 or 1,270 to a widow-widower with dependent children. There is also a bereavement grant of £500 or 635 available upon the death of a spouse. Where the deceased person was a social welfare recipient, arrangements are in place to continue the payments to the widow-widower for six weeks after the bereavement.
In line with the Government's commitment to pensioners and as announced in budget 2001, I decided to increase the widow's contributory pension rate for those aged over 66 to the full old age contributory rate over two budgets. The special increase of £12.50 or 15.87 per week which I brought in this year is the first step in this process. Widows and widowers are also benefiting from the changes in the free schemes which I announced in budget 2001 and which came into effect in May. Under these arrangements all persons aged over 70 years of age are entitled to the full range of schemes regardless of their means or household composition. The increase in the rates of child benefit which came into effect in June are of benefit to widows and widowers with children. Monthly child benefit payments are now £67.50 or 85.71 per month for each of the first and second children and £86 or 109.2 per month for the third and subsequent children. In addition, there are special arrangements in place whereby a person in receipt of a widow's pension or one- parent family payment may also receive half-rate disability benefit or unemployment benefit in addition to their pension. This provision applies where the person satisfies the relevant contribution conditions and dual payment can continue for up to 15 months. The position with regard to social welfare provision for widowed people will be kept under review in a budgetary context.