Social Welfare Act, 1979

Widow's (contributory) pension (extension of entitlement).

24.—Section 22 of the Act of 1952 (as amended by the Social Welfare (Amendment) Act, 1960 , and the Act of 1974), which provides for a widow's (contributory) pension, is hereby amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (3):

“(3A) A woman who becomes a widow while she is in receipt of or entitled to deserted wife's benefit shall, on becoming a widow, be entitled to a widow's (contributory) pension at the same rate as that of the deserted wife's benefit payable to her, whether or not the relevant contribution conditions for entitlement to such pension are satisfied in her case.”.