HC Deb 22 November 1976 vol 919 cc1000-5W
Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Reportthe number of persons living (a) below, (b) on and (c) up to 140 per cent, above the supplementary benefit level for each year since 1972 giving a breakdown between those above and below pensionable age and a further subdivision into family types.

Mr. Orme,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report,8th November 1976; Vol. 919, c. 62], gave the following information:

Number of persons in family groups as shown
1972 1973 1974 1975
Groups Families Persons Families Persons Families Persons Families Persons
1. Below Supplementary Benefit level:
Over pension age:
Married couples … … … 220 440 170 330 90 200 140 280
Single persons … … … 540 540 520 520 350 350 450 470
Total … … … 760 980 690 860 450 550 590 740
Under pension age:
Married with children … … … 70 320 60 280 90 390 170 700
Single with children … … … [20] [80] 40 140 [20] [70] 50 150
Married without children … … … 40 80 [30] 70 [30] [70] 80 170
Single without children … … … 330 330 250 250 330 330 270 270
Total … … … 460 800 380 740 470 850 560 1,280
Total … … … 1,220 1,780 1,070 1,600 920 1,410 1,150 2,030
2. Receiving Supplementary Benefit:
Over pension age:
Married couples … … … 380 760 340 690 320 650 280 560
Single persons … … … 1,530 1,530 1,500 1,500 1,480 1,480 1,400 1,410
Total … … … 1,910 2,300 1,840 2,200 1,810 2,130 1,680 1,960
Under pension age:
Married with children … … … 110 520 80 360 80 390 120 550
Single with children … … … 260 750 260 750 260 760 260 760
Married without children … … … 100 200 80 170 80 150 70 130
Single without children … … … 370 370 300 300 300 300 360 360
Total … … … 840 1,840 720 1,580 720 1,600 810 1,810
Total … … … 2,750 4,140 2,560 3,780 2,530 3,730 2,490 3,770

Number of persons in family groups as shown
1972 1973 1974 1975
Groups Families Persons Families Persons Families Persons Families Persons
3. Others up to 140 per cent, above Supplementary Benefit level:
Over pension age:
Married couples … … … * * * * 810 1,630 850 1,710
Single persons … … … * * * * 1,090 1,090 1,150 1,160
Total … … … * * * * 1,900 2,710 2,000 2,870
Under pension age:
Married with children … … … * * * * 430 2,060 790 3,560
Single with children … … … * * * * [30] 80 80 250
Married without children … … … * * * * 80 170 190 380
Single without children … … … * * * * 230 230 300 300
Total … … … * * * * 770 2,540 1,360 4,560
Total … … … * * * * 2,670 5,260 3,370 7,360
* Not available.

Notes:

  1. 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000. Consequently, the sum of component parts may not equal the totals.
  2. 2. The estimates for 1 and 3 are based of DHSS analyses of Family Expenditure Survey data for 1972,1973,1974 and 1975. The estimates are subject to sampling error; those figures in square brackets are subject to very considerable proportionate sampling error. The FES refers to the household population only. It should not be assumed that all variations of such estimates over the years are necessarily statistically significant.
  3. 3. The supplementary benefit level is taken as being the supplementary benefit scale rate(s) appropriate to the family, using the long-term rates for pensioners only. Income refers to net income less net housing costs less work expenses.
  4. 4. The figures for numbers below supplementary benefit level do not indicate unclaimed entitlement to supplementary benefit for several reasons. Those who are 2. in full-time work would not normally be able to claim supplementary benefit: for others not precluded from claiming no regard is had to factors such as disregarded § resources, treatment of capital and exceptional circumstances additions which can affect payment of supplementary benefit.
  5. 5. The comparison is based on the family's normal income in the normal employment situation of the family head. Where, for example, the head of the family k-had been oft" work due to sickness or unemployment for less than three months at the time of the survey, the family's normal income when he was at work was used in a determining the level of income.
  6. 6. The numbers of families and persons dependent on supplementary benefit are derived from the Department's Annual Special Enquiry. To ensure consistency 3 with the FES data, those in receipt of the benefit for less than three months have been excluded.
  7. 7. Estimates for 1974 and 1975 are not directly comparable to the previous estimates as self-employed sample cases were included in 1974 for the first time and this has been repeated in 1975. The effect is to increase the overall estimate of families below supplementary benefit level by 80,000 (250,000 persons) in 1974 and by 150,000 (420,000 persons) in 1975. Previously it was assumed that the income distribution of the self-employed was the same as for the non self-employed.

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