Benefits for bereaved persons
Section 46: Widowed mother's allowance
Broadly, in order to be entitled to widowed mother’s allowance, a widow must be entitled to child benefit in respect of a child. A widow is entitled to child benefit in respect of a child if the child is living with her or the child is not living with her but she makes contributions to the cost of providing for the child at a rate which is not less than the rate of child benefit payable in respect of the child.
At present, section 37 of the Contributions and Benefits Act provides that, where a widow is entitled to child benefit in respect of a child who is not living with her, she is not entitled to widowed mother’s allowance unless she also makes additional contributions to the cost of providing for the child at a rate which is not less than the rate of guardian’s allowance. Section 46 removes this requirement.
Section 47: Widowed parent’s allowance
Section 47 amends section 39A of the Contributions and Benefits Act in respect of widowed parent’s allowance in the same way that section 46 amends the provisions about widowed mother’s allowance.
