AEF/S 

C/5109 

[Stamp of the Commonwealth Pensions Office in Brisbane, dated 20 May 1919, in the top right-hand corner of the document] 

[Capitalised] JEANIE ELIZABETH O’KANE – Q.

[Line break]

Assistant Commissioner, 

The abovenamed has claimed a pension as the widowed mother of a deceased unmarried daughter, and D/C [Deputy Commissioner] recommends that a pension of £2-5-6 p.f. [penny farthing] be granted as from 3/2/19 – day after cessation of allotment. 

2. Miss O’Kane was a member of the Forces (Staff Nurse) and died on 21/12/18 whilst on service. For one month prior to her enlistment she was Matron of the Winton District Hospital and received a salary at the rate of £135 p.a. [per annum] and keep. Prior to that she was a trainee at the Townsville Hospital at £6 per month and keep. 

3. Claimant states that she did not receive any support from her late daughter prior to her enlistment but she intended assisting her had she remained at Winton. Deceased made an allotment in her mother’s favor [sic] of 3/ - per day. There is a son on service who has allotted claimant £1/1/ - per week. Claimant is also receiving a separation allowance of 2/ - per day in respect of her son. She is 60 years of age and has resumed duty as a school teacher at £175 p.a. 

4. The War Pensions Act provides that the rate of pension payable to the widowed mother of an unmarried son shall be as specified in column two of the First Schedule opposite to the rate of pay of the member. There is no such special provision made for the widowed mother of an unmarried daughter. A pension can only be granted in the present instance on (1) Dependence, (2) Being without adequate means of support. As claimant admits she was not dependent upon her late daughter during the 12 months prior to her enlistment she is not entitled to a pension on the grounds of dependence. Neither can she be considered to be without adequate means of support in view of her earnings. 

5. Case is submitted for a decision as to whether it is intended that widowed mothers of a deceased unmarried daughter should be treated in a similar manner to the widowed mother of a deceased unmarried son. 

[Handwritten signature] 

1/5/19 

The Commissioner,

This claimant is the widowed mother of a deceased unmarried daughter [underlined] (staff nurse). She was not dependent on the deceased member, neither is she without adequate means of support (she is earning £175 p.a. as a school teacher). 

Under the Act the widowed mother of a deceased unmarried son is entitled to a pension by virtue of her relationship only. There is, however, no provision relating to the widowed mothers of unmarried daughters, and as in this instance the claimant was not dependent nor without adequate means of support, it is thought that the claim should be rejected. 

[Handwritten signature] 

[Handwritten] In [end handwritten] Assistant Commissioner of Pensions 

14/5/19 

[Handwritten inscription in red ink] Rejected [signature] 15.5.19 [end handwritten] 

Referred to the Deputy Commissioner at [handwritten] Brisbane [end handwritten] 

Papers under separate cover. 

[Handwritten signature] 

for Assistant Commissioner 

[Handwritten] 16/5/19 [end handwritten] 

[Handwritten inscription in black ink] W Noble Reject [signature] [end handwritten] 

MAY 20 1919