§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners claim income support; and what this is as a percentage of all pensioners.
§ Miss WiddecombeIn May 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, 1,552,000 pensioners received income support. This was 15 per cent. of all pensioners.
Sources:
Annual statistical inquiry May 1989 for income support recipients.
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for population figures.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are wholly dependent upon the state pension for their income; and what is this as a percentage of all pensioners.
§ Miss WiddecombeIncome-related benefits are available to help people whose only income is the basic state retirement pension, although a few do not claim their full entitlement. Available information suggests that less than 1 per cent. of people over state pension age receive only the basic state retirement pension and no other state benefits or private income. It is not possible to estimate precisely the total number of pensioners in this position.