§ Baroness Greengrossasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many (a) women; and (b) men would have benefited in 2002–03 if the rule had been abolished which prevents a person receiving a basic state pension if they are entitled to less than 25 per cent of the pension. [HL429]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)The number of women and men who would have received basic state pension in 2002–03 if the rule had been abolished which prevents women over the age of 60 and men over the age of 65 from receiving basic state pension if they have less than 25 per cent of the qualifying years needed for a full basic state pension is in the table:
Number Women 86,000 Men 12,000 Notes:
1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.
2. These women and men are receiving graduated retirement benefit and/or additional state pension but no basic state pension.
3. People in receipt of pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit may have their income related benefit(s) reduced if the rule which prevents women over the age of 60 and men over the age of 65 from receiving basic state pension if they have less than 25 per cent of the qualifying years needed for a full state pension is abolished.
4. The numbers of people who would benefit are estimated using a 5 per cent sample of retirement pension administrative data for March 2003.
§ Baroness Greengrossasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much it would cost to abolish the rule that prevents people receiving a basic state pension if they are entitled to less than 25 per cent of the pension. [HL430]
§ Baroness Hollis of HeighamThe total maximum cost of abolishing the rule which prevents women over the age of 60 and men over the age of 65 from receiving basic state pension if they have less than 25 per cent of the qualifying years needed for a full basic state pension is estimated to be £93 million.
180WANotes:
1.Costs are rounded to the nearest million, are in 2003–04 prices and are based on April 2003 benefit rates.
2.The costs are based on the numbers currently claiming state pension and it is assumed that there would be no increase in claimants if the 25 per cent rule were abolished.
3.People in receipt of pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit may have their income-related benefit(s) reduced if the rule which prevents women over the age of 60 and men over the age of 65 receiving basic state pension if they have less than 25 per cent of the qualifying years needed for a full state pension is abolished.
4.The numbers of people who would benefit are estimated using a 5 per cent sample of retirement pension administrative data for March 2003.
5.The assumption is that all pensioners who have made National Insurance contributions have a nine-year National Insurance contribution record, and are only just under the 25 per cent eligibility requirement.