§ Mrs. GilroyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are estimated to be ineligible for benefits under the minimum income guarantee, despite having incomes that fall below its threshold, who are aged(a) 60 to 74, (b) 75 to 79 and (c) over 80 years (i) in total and (ii) by gender. [75895]
§ Mr. TimmsThe information is not currently available. We have previously estimated that the total number of pensioners who will be ineligible for the Minimum Income Guarantee because their savings exceed £8,000 but whose income is below the threshold is 230,000 (if income from savings is included in the assessment of total income) or 600,000 (if income from savings is not included).
These estimates were based on the data used to produce the published estimates of take-up of income related benefits. These estimates are currently being revised following the discovery in December of an error, the effect of which was to understate income brought to account. The estimates will be republished in May.