A-Z of Benefits

£90.70 per week
£11.35 for child dependent where CTC not in payment and reduced for eldest / only child

Who is it for?
Widows with at least one eligible child (benefit abolished for new claimants after 9/4/01)

Who pays it?
Job Centre Plus

Which leaflet and how is it claimed?
No new claims after 9/4/01

What are the age limits?
For child - as per child benefit

National Insurance based?
Yes, on spouses contributions unless his death due to industrial accident or disease.

Means tested?
No.

How long does it last?

Stops on remarriage, cohabitation, or when child ceases to be eligible (stops getting child benefit). A woman getting WMA and who is over 45 when it stops can still claim a widows pension - see below.

What is effect on other benefits?
£10 of it ignored since 9/4/01 when calculating IS and JSA; £15 ignored for HB/CTB

Is it taxable?
Yes.

Increases for dependants?
No - claim CTC instead

Payable if in EU or other?
Yes, but if outside EU check uprating.

Points to watch
Unaffected by the widow's earnings. Not paid to widowers.  Partially disregarded if claiming means-tested benefits. People getting WMA can still move on to widow's pension.

The A-Z of Benefits 2008 was compiled by Gary Vaux and Community Care.