§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners were expected to become entitled to income support and housing benefit, respectively, as a result of the changes in benefit rates on 9 October; and what information is available regarding the number who claimed.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardOur estimates were that 60,000 pensioners would newly qualify for income support as a result of the changes introduced in October, and that 40,000 pensioners would newly qualifiy for housing benefit.
During the first three months of the publicity campaign, from July to September, some 140,000 income support awards were made for pensioners. This compares with a total of 49,300 awards in the previous three months. Similar information on housing benefit is not yet available.