§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each change in national insurance benefit entitlement since 1979 and the number of claimants affected.
Financial year change introduced Number affected UB abatement for occupational/personal pension reduced from age 60 to 55 1988–89 and 1989–90 45,000 in a full year Weekly earnings rule introduced for UB 1989–90 5,000 at any one time UB "full extent normal" rule—de minimis provision 1989–90 1,000 at any one time "Actively seeking work" test for UB 1989–90 150,000 Abolition of pensioners earnings rule 1989–90 400,000 approx. Widows: revised entitlement conditions for women widowed before April 1988 1989–90 20,000 approx. 1 Includes unemployed people receiving Income Support only.