Explanatory note

The Family Allowances and National Insurance Act 1964 has changed the form of a widowed mother's allowance payable to a widow with a child or children in the family under the National Insurance Act 1946. Formerly the allowance was a single allowance (containing an “element” in respect of the only, elder or eldest child, of the widow) with which were payable increases in respect of any child after the first; but this has now been replaced by a personal allowance for the widow together with increases in respect of each child, including the first.

Under provisions of the Reciprocal Agreements with Australia and New Zealand, (which are set out respectively in the Family Allowances and National Insurance (Australia) Order 1958 and the National Insurance (New Zealand) Order 1956), increases of United Kingdom benefit for children in those countries are not payable concurrently with certain benefits for children under the legislation of those countries. The “element” in widowed mother's allowance in respect of the first or only child not being an increase, those provisions did not apply to it. The present Order secures that the provisions will not apply to the new increase for the first or only child, which will therefore be payable concurrently with the benefits for such child under Australian and New Zealand legislation respectively.