§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the underpayment from the Consolidated Fund as a result of failure of potential beneficiaries to claim benefits to which they would have been entitled in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. ScottThe most recent available figures show that 90 per cent. of income-related benefit is taken up by those eligible. Available information is for 1983 and 1985 and is as follows:
1983 unclaimed (£ million) 1985 unclaimed (£ million) Supplementary Benefit 570 550 Housing Benefit Certificated HB1 1180 150 Standard HB3 2310 360 Family Income Supplement 55 590 Totals 1,115 1,150 Source: Technical Notes. Notes: 1 Includes the unclaimed entitlements of Households not receiving HB plus the excess of certificated amount over standard receipt for those eligible to certificated HB but receiving a lesser amount of standard HB. All figures exclude families where the head or spouse is in full-time self employment. 2 Figures refer to 1984 for HB. 3 All figures exclude households receiving or eligible for certificated HB. 4 1983–84; based on pooled FES data for reasons of sample size. Figures exclude families where head or spouse is in full-time self employment. 5 1985–86; based on pooled FES data for reasons of sample size. Figures exclude families where head or spouse is in full-time self employment. 6 Detailed analysis on both caseloads and expenditure take-up are contained in the Technical Notes, copies of which are in the Library.