Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 1995

Widow's (non-contributory) pension.

5.—(1) Section 142 (1) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—

(a) the substitution for the definition of “husband” of the following definition:

“‘husband’ in relation to a woman who has been married more than once, refers only to her last husband, and for this purpose that last husband shall be construed as including the man to whom, but for the fact that the marriage has been dissolved, being a dissolution that is recognised as valid in the State, she would be married;”,

and

(b) the insertion after the definition of “weekly means” of the following definition:

“‘widow’ means a widow or a woman who would otherwise be a widow but for the fact that her marriage has been dissolved, being a dissolution that is recognised as valid in the State.”.

(2) Section 143 is hereby amended by the substitution for subsection (2) of the following subsection:

“(2) Subject to this Chapter, a woman who becomes a widow while she is in receipt of or entitled to deserted wife's allowance shall, on becoming a widow, be entitled to widow's (non-contributory) pension at the same rate as that of the deserted wife's allowance payable to her.”.