§ Mr. BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the proportion of(a) all pensioners, (b) single male pensioners, (c) single female pensioners, (d) pensioner couples, (e) single women aged 75 years or over and (f) single men aged 75 years or over, who are in receipt of an occupational pension on the basis of the most recent family expenditure survey data available; and for each group, what is the mean and median amount received.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe most recent year for which information is available is 1988. The table sets out the information requested.
Year Percentage of pensioners with no income other than slate benefits Number of pensioners with no income other than state benefits (Thousands) 1982 20 n/a 1983 18 1,250 1984 21 1,450 1985 17 1,200 1986 19 1,300 1987 16 1,150 1988 16 1,150 Notes:
1. Estimates are based upon data from the 1979–1988 Family Expenditure Surveys.
2. Estimates relate to pensioner units. They are defined as single people over state pension age or couples in which the husband is over state pension age.
465W3. Accurate estimates of the number of pensioner units in 1980 and 1982 with no income from sources other than state benefits could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the actual weekly amount received by all pensioners as(a) total social security benefits, (b) occupational pensions and (c) savings income for each of
The average income of pensioner units by source (£ per week, 1988 prices) Year State Pension/Benefit Occupational Pension Savings income Earnings Total gross income Tax/NI Total net income 1979 53.00 13.90 9.50 10.40 86.80 7.20 79.70 1980 53.80 13.80 10.00 9.90 87.50 6.20 81.30 1981 56.50 15.10 12.10 9.20 92.90 7.70 85.20 1982 58.20 15.50 10.60 7.30 91.50 7.10 84.50 1983 61.20 19.00 14.00 8.30 102.50 9.10 93.30 1984 61.20 18.20 12.70 8.20 100.40 8.10 92.30 1985 60.90 21.00 14.50 6.50 102.90 9.10 93.80 1986 63.10 21.70 15.50 7.50 107.80 9.80 98.00 1987 62.10 24.40 21.90 8.30 116.70 11.90 104.80 1988 60.70 27.70 20.00 9.70 118.10 11.70 106.30 Real increase 14 per cent. 99 per cent. 110 per cent. - 6 per cent. 36 per cent. — 34 per cent. Notes:
1. Source: Family Expenditure Survey.
2. Component incomes by source are rounded to the nearest 10p.
3. Components may not sum to totals owing to rounding.
4. Percentage increases are calculated using unrounded figures.
5. A pensioner unit is defined as a single person over state pension age or a couple in which the husband is over stage pension age.
§ Mr. BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of all pensioners, single pensioners and pensioner couples have total incomes(a) £1, (b) £2, (c) £3, (d) £4 and (e) £5 above income support levels.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information requested is in the tables. As this question seeks to establish pensioners' incomes in relation to income support levels the criteria for assessing pensioner entitlement to income support have been used, i.e. "pensioners" are taken to be those aged 60 or over, and the average income bands exclude income derived from sources which would not be taken into account for income support—eg. housing benefit or attendance allowance.
Number of pensioners whose income for IS purposes is within a banded range of their IS levels Range Singles Couples Total £0–£1 75,000 20,000 95,000 £1–£2 65,000 25,000 90,000 £2–£3 65,000 20,000 85,000 £3–£4 60,000 25,000 85,000 £4–£5 80,000 20,000 100,000 Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5,000.
466W
Proportion of pensioners whose income for IS purposes is within a banded range of their IS levels. Range Singles (percentage) Couples (percentage) Total £0–£1 2 1 1 £1–£2 1 1 1 £2–£3 1 1 1 £3–£4 1 1 1 £4–£5 2 1 1 the last 10 years; what were the gross and net weekly total figures; and what was the real terms increase over the last 10 years.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe table sets out information for the 10 years ending in 1988, the latest year for which information is available. Information about average income from earnings is also included as net income must be derived from total gross income.
Note: Each percentage gives the proportion of the total pensioner caseload for the column. Percentages have been rounded to the nearest percentage point.
Source: Family Expenditure Surveys 1987–88–89 modelled at 1992–93 prices and benefit levels.
§ Mr. BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of pensioners receive income support.
§ Mr. BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the number of pensioners entitled to claim income support and housing benefit who do not do so.
§ Mr. BurtWe will publish the latest available estimates for take-up of income-related benefits shortly.
§ Mr. BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of pensioner households have been dependent on state benefits for at least 75 per cent. of their income in each of the last 10 years.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe table sets out information for the 10 years ending in 1988, the latest year for which information is available. Data on pensioners' income is not available in household form so it is provided on the basis of pensioner "units".
467W
Percentage of pensioners dependent on state benefits for 75 per cent, of their income Year Percentage 1979 62 1980 61 1981 61
Year Percentage 1982 59 1983 60 1984 58 1985 58 1986 54 1987 53 1988 53 Notes:
1. Estimates are based upon data from the 1979–1988 Family Expenditure Surveys.
2. Estimates relate to pensioner units. They are defined as single people over state pension age or couples in which the husband is over state pension age.