§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been, and what is currently being done to make additional financial provision for pensioners whose sole income is provided by their state pension.
§ Miss WiddecombeAny pensioner whose income and capital falls below a prescribed level can claim income-related benefits. If a pensioner is in receipt of the maximum amount of basic state retirement pension only (with no additions) they would be entitled to income support and therefore would also be entitled to receive maximum housing benefit and maximum community charge benefit.
From October 1989, we directed an extra £200 million a year to elderly and disabled pensioners through improvements in the premium structure common to income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit. This was in addition to the normal uprating for that year. From April 1991, we will also be increasing the ordinary pensioner premium (pensioners aged 60 to 74) over and above the normal uprating at a cost of around £80 million. This will directly benefit about 400,000 pensioners on income support and well over 1.5 million others who receive housing benefit and community charge benefit.
§ 21. Mr. Donald ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of uprating the basic pension by £13 for a single person and £20 for a couple.
§ Miss WiddecombePursuant to the reply given by my hon. Friend the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 19 November at column56, I regret that some of the information given was incorrect.
The rise in the NI contributions paid by an employee on average earnings would he approximately £2.78 per week, not £2.93 per week.