Social Welfare Act, 1973

Widows' (non-contributory) pensions (new rates and extension of means limits).

4.—(1) Section 20 (inserted by section 105 of the Act of 1952) of the Act of 1935 is hereby amended by the substitution for subsection (1) of the following subsection:

“(1) (a) A widow's (non-contributory) pension shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be—

(i) where the weekly means of the widow do not exceed £10.50—at the rate set forth in Table B to this subsection, and

(ii) where the weekly means of the widow exceed £10.50—at the rate at which, in accordance with the said Table B, the pension would be payable to the widow if her weekly means exceeded £9.50 but did not exceed £10.50, less £1 for each amount (if any) of £1 by which the said weekly means exceed £10.50, any fraction of £1 in the said weekly means being treated for this purpose as £1.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection, weekly means shall be the yearly means divided by fifty-two.

TABLE B

Weekly Rates of Widows' (Non-Contributory) Pensions

Means of Widow

Widow, no qualified child

Widow, one qualified child

Widow, two qualified children

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

£

£

£

Where the weekly means of the widow—

do not exceed £4

6·15

8·15

10·15

}

Plus, where there are more than two qualified children, £2 for each qualified child in excess of two.

exceed £4 but do not exceed £5

5·15

7·15

9·15

exceed £5 but do not exceed £6

4·15

6·15

8·15

exceed £6 but do not exceed £7

3·15

5·15

7·15

exceed £7 but do not exceed £8

2·15

4·15

6·15

exceed £8 but do not exceed £9

1·15

3·15

5·15

exceed £9 but do not exceed £9·50

0·65

2·65

4·65

exceed £9·50 but do not exceed£10.50

no pension

1·65

3·65

(2) This section shall come into operation on the 5th day of July, 1973, in the case of allowances payable by virtue of section 22 of the Act of 1970 or section 8 of this Act, and on the 6th day of July, 1973, in all other cases.