§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number of people who pay income tax and simultaneously receive means-tested benefits, distinguishing between those below and those above retirement age.
§ Mr. MooreI regret that information is not available in the precise form requested. The latest available information, from DHSS administrative statistics and analysis by DHSS of data from the family expenditure survey, is as follows:
Supplementary Benefit
388WIt is estimated that in December 1982 there were 2.5 million family heads or single persons under pension age and 1.75 million over pension age receiving supplementary benefit. Of those under pension age an estimated 125,000 (5 per cent.) had taxable incomes above the weekly equivalent of the tax threshold, compared with an estimated 30,000 (1½ per cent.) of those over pension age.Rent and rate rebates
The latest estimates relate to 1981 when on average, at any given time, an estimated 1.15 million family heads or single persons under pension age and an estimated 2.6 million over pension age received rent rebates/allowances and/or rate rebates. About 60 per cent. of those under pension age and about one half of those over pension age had taxable incomes above the weekly equivalent of the tax threshold.Family Income Supplement
A total of 186,000 families were receiving family income supplement (FIS) in April 1983. These awards were based on incomes received at the date of claim, at some time during the preceding 12 months. A total of 157,000 (84 per cent.) of these families had taxable weekly incomes above the tax threshold at the date of their claim. FIS is payable to working families with children. The number of recipients over pension age is not known.There will be some overlap between recipients of FIS and housing rebates.