HC Deb 14 May 1984 vol 60 cc80-2W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is (a) the number of claimants reliant on a national insurance benefit or supplementary allowance as their main source of income who are not registered as unemployed or over pension age and (b) the number of people in receipt of a national insurance benefit or supplementary pension who are over pension age;

(2) if he will estimate the number of persons who were dependent for their principal support on welfare benefits, pensions, and so on of all types in 1979–80, 1982–83 and 1983–84.

Dr. Boyson

[pursuant to his reply, 13 March 1984, c. 115]: Estimates derived from the family expenditure survey data indicate that in 1979 there were some 6.9 million families, and in 1981 some 7.9 million families where at least 50 per cent. of family income was comprised of social security benefits. Comparable estimates for later years are not yet available. The type of families are analysed in the table:

Thousands
1979 1981
Number of Number of
(a) families (b) people (a) families (b) people
Head of family (or single person) is
(1) Over pension age 5,220 6,940 5,240 6,970
(2) Under pension age
(a) unemployed 480 1,020 1,430 2,670
(b) other 1,220 2,510 1,270 2,720
all under pension age 1,700 3,530 2,690 5,390
(3) All families and single people 6,920 10,460 7,940 12,360

Notes:

  1. (1) Family income refers to gross income including housing benefit.
  2. (2) Social security benefits include both contributory and non-contributory social security benefits and housing benefits.
  3. (3) These estimates relate soley to people in private households and exclude people living in institutions.
  4. (4) These estimates are subject to statistical error.

The following table shows the number of social security claimants over pension age in receipt of a national

Great Britain Thousands
Benefit Date Number of claimants over pension age Total number of people
National insurance benefit
Retirement pension:
(a) Basic pension 30.9.83 8,984 9,147
(b) Graduated on additional pension only 30.9.83 163 163
Widows benefit:
(a) Widows allowance 31.3.83 6 6
(b) Other widows benefits 30.9.83 42 43
Unemployment benefit: 10.11.83 * *
Sickness benefit (including injury benefit) 31.5.82 2 3
Invalidity benefit 31.5.82 57 94
Industrial injuries benefits
Disablement benefit 30.9.82 73 †73
Industrial death benefit 31.12.83 22 22
Other industrial injuries benefits 30.9.83 4 †4
Non-contributory benefits
Non-contributory retirement pension 30.9.83 41 41
War pensions:
Disablement 30.12.83 ‡105 ‡†105
Widows 30.12.83 60 †60
Attendance allowance 31.3.83 241 241
Invalid care allowance 28.3.84 * *
Mobility allowance: (including special mobility allowance) 9.4.84 76 76
Non-contributory invalidity pension:
Ordinary 31.5.82 10 10
Housewives' 31.5.82 8 8
Supplementary benefit
With a national insurance benefit║ 8.12.82 1,694 2,004
With a non-contributory benefit only 8.12.82 19 20
With no other benefit 8.12.82 79 87
Total 8.12.82 1,792 2,111
* Under 500.
† Information on the number of dependants of claimants over pension age is not available.
‡ Numbers over 65. Information on numbers 60–64 who are women is not available.
║ Including those with both a national insurance benefit and a non-contributory benefit.

Notes:

  1. (1) In general the table relates to GB residents. For some benefits it has not been possible to exclude all those resident overseas.
  2. (2) It is possible for the same claimant to be in receipt of more than one benefit, but, with the exception of supplementary benefit, it is not possible to determine the extent of this.

insurance, non-contributory or supplementary benefit for the latest available date, and the total number of people including dependants.