§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many pensioner couples not entitled to income support will receive(a) an increase in rent rebate of £2.28, (b) an increase in rent rebate of 70p, (c) an increase in community charge rebate of 53p and (d) become newly entitled to housing benefit in October;
(2) what is the number of single pensioners not entitled to income support who, (a) will become entitled to housing benefit, (b) will receive an increase in weekly rent rebate of £1.63, (c) will receive an increase in weekly rate rebate of 50p and (d) will receive an increase in weekly community charge rebate of 38p when applicable amounts are raised in October.
§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard[holding answer 14 July 1989]: The numbers likely to be affected by the October 1989 pensioner premium changes in housing benefit only are estimated in the table.
878W
Housing benefit: Pensioner premium changes, October 1989 000s Rent rebate/allowance Newly qualified Singles gaining > £1.63 * Couples gaining > £2.28 * Singles/couples gaining £l.63/£2.28 or less 5 Existing Claimants Singles gaining £1.63 240 Couples gaining £2.28 155 Singles gaining < £1.63 75 Couples gaining < £2.28 60 Do not gain * Total (including starred groups and after rounding) 545 Rate rebate (as if in place throughout GB) Newly qualified Singles gaining > 50p 20 Couples gaining > 70p 15 Singles/couples gaining 50p/70p or less 10
000s Existing Claimants Singles gaining 50p 320 Couples gaining 70p 210 Singles gaining < 50p 100 Couples gaining < 70p 65 Do not gain 5 Total (after rounding) 740 Community Charge rebate (as if in place throughout GB) Newly qualified Singles gaining > 38p 5 Couples gaining > 53p 5 Singles/couples gaining 38p/53p or less * Existing Claimants Singles gaining 38p 375 Couples gaining 53p 330 Singles gaining < 38p 120 Couples gaining < 53p 70 Do not gain 5 Total (including starred group and after rounding) 900 1. Numbers rounded to nearest 5,000. Starred groups denote numbers less than 2,500.
2. Existing claimants already receiving maximum HB do not gain extra rebates or allowances.
3. The Scotland only effects of CC rebate cannot be separately identified. The table shows alternative figures (a) on the assumption that rate rebate was in place throughout GB in 1989–90, and (b) on the assumption that Community Charge rebate was in place.