HC Deb 15 January 1985 vol 71 c111W
31. Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current level of take-up of means-tested social security benefits.

Mr. Whitney

The latest estimates in Great Britain indicate that the level of take-up of supplementary benefit was 71 per cent. in 1981, and that for family income supplement it was about 50 per cent. in 1981–82. Among eligible supplementary benefit and family income supplement recipients take-up of free welfare foods in 1981 was estimated to be nearly 100 per cent. and among other eligible families about 7 per cent.

No information is available yet on take-up of housing benefits. The latest estimates of take-up of rent and rate rebates and rent allowances relate to England and Wales in 1982 when an estimated 72 per cent. of households took up entitlement to rent rebates, 65 per cent. took up rate rebates and 62 per cent. rent allowances.

No other estimates of take-up of means-tested social security benefits are available.