Parents pension were first introduced during World War I (114-1918).

At that time, adult sons and daughters had a duty under the Poor Law to contribute towards the support of their parents if they were in financial need.

The state accepted responsibility for replacing, within certain limits, the support which a son killed in action might have given to parents if they became incapable of self-support because of:

• Sickness;
• Advancing age; or
• Other adversity.

This legal duty of sons and daughters disappeared, however, with the abolition of the Poor Law in 1948 and the introduction of a comprehensive social security system.

Reference

FOI 2018/09588 dated 07 August 2018.