Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the population of pensionable age in Wales is dependent on means-tested benefits.
§ Mr. PortilloIt is estimated that some 20 per cent. of the population of pensionable age in Wales receive supplementary benefit. This carries with it entitlement to certificated housing benefit. Similar figures for standard housing benefit are not available.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioners in Wales are entitled to supplementary benefit but do not claim it; and what measures his Department is taking to eliminate such underclaiming.
§ Mr. PortilloWe will continue to promote take-up of supplementary benefit by issuing claim forms to all retirement pensioners, and by a range of other measures.
Take-up estimates are available only for Great Britain as a whole. A convenient summary of the overall position is provided on pages 272 and 273 of Cm. 288 (the 1988 public expenditure White Paper). These suggest that in 1983, 79 per cent. of available benefit was claimed by eligible pensioners. The indications are that the average amount unclaimed by pensioners is small, £3.40 per week, including some 60 per cent. entitled to less than £3. The 1983 take-up estimates are uncertain because of apparent deficiencies in the information obtained by the family expenditure survey from pensioner respondents.
694W
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioner households in wales will receive a reduced amount of housing benefit with the implementation of the Social Security Act 1986 in April; and how many such households will lose their entitlement to housing benefit entirely.
§ Mr. PortilloI regret that the information is not available for Wales alone.