Part II Contributory Benefits
Bereavement benefits: deaths before the day on which section 29 of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 comes into operation
F141 Long-term incapacity benefit for widowers.
(1)
This section applies to a man whose wife has died on or after 6th April 1979 and who either—
(a)
was incapable of work at the time when she died; or
(b)
becomes incapable of work within the prescribed period after that time;
and is not entitled to incapacity benefit apart from this section.
(2)
A man to whom this section applies is entitled to long-term incapacity benefit under this section for any day of incapacity for work which—
(a)
falls in a period of incapacity for work that began before the time when his wife died or within the prescribed period after that time; and
(b)
is after that time and after the first 364 days of incapacity for work in that period.
(3)
A man to whom this section applies who is not entitled to long-term incapacity benefit under subsection (2) above, but who is terminally ill, is entitled to short-term incapacity benefit under this section for any day of incapacity for work which—
(a)
falls in a period of incapacity for work that began before the time when his late wife died or within the prescribed period after that time; and
(b)
is after that time and after the first 196 days of incapacity for work in that period.
For the purposes of this subsection a man is terminally ill if he suffers from a progressive disease and his death in consequence of that disease can reasonably be expected within 6 months.
(4)
The weekly rate of incapacity benefit payable under this section is that which would apply if he were entitled to long-term incapacity benefit under section 30A above.
(5)
A man is not entitled to incapacity benefit under this section if he is over pensionable age; but if he has attained pensionable age, and the period of incapacity for work mentioned in subsection (2)(a) or (3)(a) above did not terminate before he attained that age—
(a)
he shall, if not otherwise entitled to a Category A retirement pension and also not entitled to a Category B retirement pension by virtue of F2the contributions of his wife, be entitled to a Category A retirement pension; and
(b)
the weekly rate of the Category A retirement pension to which he is entitled (whether by virtue of paragraph (a) above or otherwise) shall be determined in the prescribed manner.
(6)
Where a man entitled to short-term incapacity benefit under subsection (3) above attains pensionable age and defers his entitlement to a Category A retirement pension or makes an election under section 54(1) below, the days of incapacity for work falling within the period of incapacity for work mentioned in that subsection shall, for the purpose of determining any subsequent entitlement to incapacity benefit under section 30A above or the rate of that benefit, be treated as if they had been days of entitlement to short-term incapacity benefit.
(7)
References to short-term incapacity benefit at the higher rate shall be construed as including short-term incapacity benefit payable under subsection (3) above.