WAR WIDOWS' PENSIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 151, 23 December 1938, Page 8

WAR WIDOWS' PENSIONS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I would be very grateful if you would supply mz with some information regarding the present Government's pension scheme to take eilect Iroxn April 1. 1939. In statements made ;by Ministers everything seems fairjy ! plain with the exception of war widows" pensions- I will state a case and by answering that, the matter should be cleared up. An elderly lady who lost her husband in- the Great War is receiving a pension of £1 10s per week, plus 15s economic pension, a total of approximately £9 15s per month. What is her position from April 1? Is she to lose her economic pension of 15s per week and only receive 30s, or will it be left as it is? She is living in a small house, paying rent of £1 per week, and has no other means of support other than her soldier husband's pension. If this economic pension should be taken from her, it would certainly be a calamity for her and would mean being forced to live in a room instead of her present littie home. ..Surely the Government will not reduce the pensions of these elderly war widows who can barely live on the 30s plus 15s economic pension. This case, I mention is one of a number, and these old ladies are having quite a bit of worry over this^ problem. X their pension will remain as they are it would be a great worry removed from their minds.—l am, etc.,

[No alteration, will be made in the economic pension on April 1 except that the economic allowance to soldier pensioners will be increased from £1 5s to £1 10s. No pensions or allow' ances will be reduced by the social security scheme.]