Social Welfare Act, 1976

Widows' (non-contributory) pensions, deserted wife's allowance, social assistance allowance for unmarried mothers and prisoner's wife's allowance (new rates).

5.—(1) Section 20 (inserted by the Act of 1952) of the Act of 1935 is hereby amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1) (inserted by the Act of 1975):

“(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 £15—at the rate set out in Table B to this subsection, and

(ii) where the weekly means of the widow exceed £15—at the rate at which, in accordance with that Table, the pension would be payable to the widow if her weekly means exceeded £14 but did not exceed £15, less £1.10 for each amount (if any) of £1 by which those weekly means exceed £15, any fraction of £1 in those weekly means being treated for this purpose as £1; provided that if the rate calculated pursuant to this paragraph at which, but for this proviso, the pension would be payable is less than 50 new pence, the pension shall not be payable.

(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 or more qualified children

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Where the weekly means of the widow—

£

£

£

do not exceed £6

10·25

13·65

17·05

Plus, where there are more than two qualified children, £3·40 for each qualified child in excess of two.

exceed £6 but do not exceed £7

9·15

12·55

15·95

exceed £7 but do not exceed £8

8·05

11·45

14·85

exceed £8 but do not exceed £9

6·95

10·35

13·75

exceed £9 but do not exceed £10

5·85

9·25

12·65

exceed £10 but do not exceed £11

4·75

8·15

11·55

exceed £11 but do not exceed £12

3·65

7·05

10·45

exceed £12 but do not exceed £13

2·55

5·95

9·35

exceed £13 but do not exceed £14

1·45

4·85

8·25

exceed £14 but do not exceed £15

No Pension

3·75

7·15

(2) This section, is so far as it relates to widows' (non-contributory) pensions only, shall come into operation on the 2nd day of April, 1976, and, in so far as it relates to deserted wife's allowance, social assistance allowance for unmarried mothers and prisoner's wife's allowance, on the 1st day of April, 1976.