The Royal Irish Constabulary (Widows' Pensions) Regulations 1971

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations consolidate, with amendments, the Royal Irish Constabulary (Widows' Pensions) Regulations 1958 and the Regulations amending those Regulations (set out in the Schedule).

Under the Regulations of 1958, as amended, there may be paid to certain widows of former members of the Royal Irish Constabulary a pension or an allowance supplementary to an existing pension. A pension or allowance is not payable unless the rate of any state insurance benefit received by the widow is less than £5.00 a week and (subject to a minimum rate of £0.25 a week in the case of a pension) it is to be at such rate as will secure that the combined rate of the Royal Irish Constabulary awards and the widow's state insurance benefit, if any, is equal to £5.00 a week; for this purpose state insurance benefit means any benefit or pension under the National Insurance Act 1965 or the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1965 or similar benefit or pension paid out of public funds in Northern Ireland, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland.

The main change made by the present Regulations is to substitute for the references in the Regulations of 1958 to the weekly rate of £5.00 references to the standard weekly rate. This is defined in Regulation 3(1) as £6.00 a week in the case of a widow who is not over the age of 80 years and as £6.25 a week in the case of a widow who is over that age.