Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981

Prisoner's wife's allowance.

[1974 (No. 2), s. 9; 1979, s. 7]

196.—(1) A prisoner's wife's allowance shall, subject to regulations, be paid to a woman—

(a) whose husband, being a prisoner, has been committed in custody to a prison or place of detention for a period of not less than 6 calendar months,

(b) who, if she is less than 40 years of age, has at least one qualified child residing with her, and

(c) who satisfies the conditions as to means specified for the purposes of this subsection by regulations.

(2) The rate of a prisoner's wife's allowance shall be the same as the rate of the widow's (non-contributory) pension which would be payable to the woman under Chapter 4 if she were a widow.

[1979, s. 8]

(3) A prisoner's wife's allowance shall continue to be paid for a period of 4 weeks after the release of the prisoner from a prison or place of detention.

(4) A child shall be a qualified child for the purposes of this section in relation to a woman if, on the assumption that she was a widow, the child would be a qualified child in relation to her for the purposes of Chapter 4 .

(5) The Minister may make regulations in relation to prisoner's wife's allowance and the regulations may, in particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, apply (with or without modification), or make provisions corresponding (with or without modification) to, any provisions of or made under Parts I II and VIII .