Social Welfare Act, 1952

Composition and rates of widows' (non-contributory) pensions.

105.—(1) The following section shall be inserted in the Principal Act in lieu of section 20 (inserted by section 48 of the Act of 1948):—

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

(a) as respects the period beginning on the 4th day of July, 1952, and ending on the 1st day of January, 1953—at the rate set forth in Table A to this subsection, and

(b) as on and from the 2nd day of January, 1953—at the rate set forth in Table B to this subsection.

TABLE A.

Weekly rates of widows' (non-contributory) pensions.

Widow, no qualified child

Widow, one qualified child

Widow, two or more qualified children

(1)

(2)

(3)

20 shillings

26 shillings

32 shillings

TABLE B.

Weekly rates of widows' (non-contributory) pensions.

Weekly rates

Means of Widow

Widow, no qualified child

Widow, one qualified child

Widow, two or more qualified children

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

shillings

shillings

shillings

Where the yearly means of the widow as duly calculated—

do not exceed £52 10s. 0d.

20

26

32

exceed

£52

10s.

0d.

but

do

not

exceed

£65

10s.

0d.

15

21

27

£65

10s.

0d.

£78

10s.

0d.

10

16

22

£78

10s.

0d.

£104

15s.

0d.

5

11

17

£104

15s.

0d.

£117

15s.

0d.

No pension

6

12

£117

15s.

0d.

£130

15s.

0d.

No pension

No pension

6

£130

15s.

0d.

No pension

No pension

No pension

(2) Means of a widow shall, on and after the 2nd day of January, 1953, be calculated in accordance with the rules contained in the Seventh Schedule to the Social Welfare Act, 1952.

(3) In applying Table A to subsection (1) of this section—

(a) column (2) shall have effect in case there is one qualified child (and not more) who normally resides with the widow and who—

(i) normally resided with her or the husband immediately before the death of the husband, or

(ii) being a child or step-child of the husband, became normally resident with her subsequent to the death of the husband,

(b) column (3) shall have effect in case there are two or more qualified children who normally reside with the widow and who—

(i) normally resided with her or the husband immediately before the death of the husband, or

(ii) being children or step-children of the husband, became normally resident with her subsequent to the death of the husband,

(c) column (1) shall have effect in any other case.

(4) In applying Table B to subsection (1) of this section—

(a) columns (1) and (3) shall have effect in case there is one qualified child (and not more) who normally resides with the widow and who—

(i) normally resided with her or the husband immediately before the death of the husband, or

(ii) being a child or step-child of the husband, became normally resident with her subsequent to the death of the husband,

(b) columns (1) and (4) shall have effect in case there are two or more qualified children who normally reside with the widow and who—

(i) normally resided with her or the husband immediately before the death of the husband, or

(ii) being children or step-children of the husband, became normally resident with her subsequent to the death of the husband,

(c) columns (1) and (2) shall have effect in any other case.

(5) Where a claim for a widow's (non-contributory) pension is made during the period beginning on the 5th day of July, 1952, and ending on the 4th day of October, 1952, by the widow of a man who died before the 4th day of July, 1952, and the claim is made after the expiration of three months after the death of the man, the pension, if granted, shall commence to accrue on the 4th day of July, 1952.

(6) Where a claim for a widow's (non-contributory) pension is made during the period beginning on the 3rd day of January, 1953, and ending on the 2nd day of April, 1953, by the widow of a man who died before the 2nd day of January, 1953, and the claim is made after the expiration of three months after the death of the man, the pension, if granted, shall commence to accrue on the 2nd day of January, 1953.

(7) In this Act—

references to a child's (non-contributory) allowance shall be construed—

(a) in a case in which column (2) of Table A to subsection (1) of this section has effect—as referring to so much of the widow's (non-contributory) pension as consists of the excess of the amount specified in column (2) over the amount specified in column (1),

(b) in a case in which column (3) of Table A to subsection (1) of this section has effect—as referring to each half of so much of the widow's (non-contributory) pension as consists of the excess of the amount specified in column (3) over the amount specified in column (1),

(c) in a case in which columns (1) and (3) of Table B to subsection (1) of this section have effect—as referring to so much of the widow's (non-contributory) pension as consists of the excess of the appropriate amount specified in column (3) over the corresponding amount (including any nil amount) specified in column (2),

(d) in a case in which columns (1) and (4) of Table B to subsection (1) of this section have effect—as referring to each half of so much of the widow's (non-contributory) pension as consists of the excess of the appropriate amount specified in column (4) over the corresponding amount (including any nil amount) specified in column (2);

references to a widow's (non-contributory) allowance shall be construed—

(a) in a case in which column (1) of Table A or columns (1) and (2) of Table B to subsection (1) of this section have effect—as referring to the whole of the widow's (non-contributory) pension,

(b) in any other case—as referring to so much (if any) of the widow's (non-contributory) pension as does not consist of any child's (non-contributory) allowance.”

(2) There shall be paid into the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Fund out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas such amount as, in the opinion of the Minister and of the Minister for Finance, is necessary to meet the additional expenditure resulting from this section during the period beginning on the 4th day of July, 1952, and ending on the 1st day of January, 1953, and the said amount shall be so paid in such manner and at such times as the Minister for Finance may determine.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall come into operation on the 4th day of July, 1952.