§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what advice his Department provides upon request to individuals with SERPS pensions with regard to the change of conditions of the pension on the death of a spouse from April 2000. [72018]
§ Mr. TimmsInformation on the changes to the inheritance of Additional Pension (also known as SERPS) has been included in leaflets NP 45, "A Guide to Widow's Benefit", and NP 46, "A Guide to Retirement Pensions" available from April 1996.
An internal bulletin highlighting the changes and directed at weekly training sessions was issued in January 1999 to Benefits Agency staff.
§ Mr. David TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of paying the full entitlement to SERPS to widows/widowers whose spouse dies on or after 6 April 2000 based on the deceased contribution record to 5 April 1996. [72552]
§ Angela EagleThe estimated cost is £50 million in 2000–2001, increasing to £2 billion by 2020.
Notes:
- 1. Estimates, provided by the Government Actuary's Department, are in 1998–99 prices and are rounded to the nearest £50 million.
- 2. Estimates are gross, i.e. means-tested benefit offsets have not been taken into account.
- 3. Estimates have been made on the basis of current legislation.
- 4. Long term real earnings growth of 1.5 per cent. has been assumed.