Illegitimacy And Social Security

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31001, 5 March 1966, Page 14

Illegitimacy And Social Security

Sir,—According to the booklet, “Your Social Security,” printed by the Government Printer and posted to householders recently, “illegitimate children are not eligible for orphan’s benefit.” With the rising numbers of illegitimate births it becomes more likely that unmarried mothers will have to support their children if adoptive parents cannot be obtained, and we must not overlook the mothers who wish to rear their child themselves. There surely is a chance that one day soon an illegitimate child may find itself an orphan. I would be interested to know who, then, becomes legally responsible for the support of such an orphan. Where does he find social security?—Yours, etc., DILYS BEARDSLEY.

February 23, 1966. [The district registrar of the Department of Social Security (Mr E. B. Pyne) replies: “While it is true that an illegitimate child is not eligible for an orphan’s benefit, such a benefit is available for other children only if they have lost both father and mother. Legal responsibility for the support of an illegitimate child following its mother’s death would normally rest with the child’s father if paternity had been established and the guardian of the child, whether an individual or an institution, could also apply for family benefit. If payment of family benefit alone is insufficient and hardship is involved, then the Social Security Commission would consider granting an ‘emergency’ benefit. Page 19 of the booklet refers to the commission’s general powers to grant emergency benefits to applicants who do not qualify for other, defined benefits.”]