Retirement Pensions (Hansard, 13 February 1995)

§ Mr. Frank Field
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women received(a) a full and (b) a partial retirement pension on the contribution record of their husbands in each of the last 30 years.

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
The available information is in the table.
537W

Number of women receiving full (a) or partial Retirement Pension on their husbands contribution record payable in Great Britain

Category B widows (b) Category B married women (a) Total

Category B (L) Category A/B(L)(e)

full rate reduced rate full rate reduced rate full rate reduced rate full rate reduced rate

31.03.85 2,033,850 70,970 1,602,710 40,130 182,690 1,010 3,819,250 112,110

31.03.86 2,013,410 65,910 1,554,690 37,750 264,360 1,510 3,832,460 105,170

30.09.87 1,981,230 53,830 1,490,620 37,790 366,450 1,910 3,838,300 93,530

31.03.88 1,962,880 53,100 1,463,630 38,350 394,110 1,950 3,820,620 93,400

31.03.89 1,933,910 51,420 1,417,850 38,480 445,040 2,210 3,796,800 92,090

30.09.90 1,876,810 50,040 1,375,150 39,180 522,530 2,790 3,774,490 92,010

31.03.91 1,859,670 48,990 1,349,990 39,680 543,530 2,800 3,753,190 91,470

31.03.92 1,823,070 50,810 1,320,390 42,680 586,870 2,770 3,730,330 96,260

31.03.93 1,783,330 51,640 1,284,950 45,790 625,560 2,930 3,693,840 100,360

31.03.94 1,736,610 52,090 1,243,940 47,800 661,200 2,910 3,641,750 102,800

Notes:
(a) Full rate category BL and category A/B(L) pension is equal to approximately 60 per cent. of the full rate of category B pension.
(b) Excluding pensions paid at a reduced rate on the basis of age at widowhood and pensions based on a combination of the woman's own contributions and those of her late husband.
(c) Figures include a small number of pensions paid to persons overseas.
(d) Figures not available.
(e) Category A/B(L) retirement pension based on a combination of the woman's own contributions and those of her husband was introduced with effect from 6 April 1979.

§ Mr. Frank Field
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people claimed the retirement pension who have incomes from work in the last year for which figures are available.

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
It is estimated that, on average, 630,000 people in the United Kingdom receiving state retirement pension also have income from earnings.
Source: 1992 family expenditure survey.

§ Mr. Frank Field
To ask the Secretary of State for Security (1) what assessment he has made of the causes for 9 per cent. of people over retirement age failing to qualify for a national insurance retirement pension; if he will break down the main failures in a claimant's contributory record, signifying the significant changes over time; and if he will divide these data according to whether the non-pensioner claimants are men or women;
(2) how many pensioners drew a reduced retirement pension because of an inadequate insurance record for each of the last 30 years; if he will divide these data by gender; if he will give the totals as a percentage of all those drawing a retirement pension; and if he will list the main causes of the inadequate contributions records.

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
The information is not available in the form requested. The available information is in the table.
As stated at footnote 5 to my answer of 7 February, Official Report, columns 202–204, the "People without RP" at column 6 of tables 1A and 1B includes people receiving invalidity benefit and widows' benefit in place of retirement pension. The information for 1993 is that there are 314,000 men aged 65 or over and 630,000 women aged 60 or over, who do not receive a retirement pension. Of these, around 229,000 men are in receipt of invalidity benefit or sickness benefit while around 101,000 women are receiving invalidity benefit, sickness benefit or widows benefit. In addition, married women aged over 60, with a husband aged less than 65, or who has not yet claimed retirement pension, would be entitled to a retirement pension only if they satisfied the contribution conditions in their own right.
The main causes of inadequate contribution records are:

non-liability due to:

earnings, if any, being below the threshold for payment of contributions

periods spent outside UK
538
full time education

exercise by a married women or a widow of the right to pay contributions at a reduced rate giving no pension entitlement

In the case of the self-employed, a small earnings exception from payment of contributions.
Source:
Retirement pension biannual inquiry
Sickness benefit/invalidity benefit one per cent. sample.
Population figures from OPCS.

Number of claimants receiving less than 100 per cent. Standard rate contributory Retirement Pension in Great Britain in the last 30 years

Men

All Category A men Reduced rate Per cent.

31.12.64(a) 2,048,160 63,420 3.10

31.12.65(a) 2,120,780 68,120 3.21

31.12.66(a) 2,191,560 71,900 3.28

31.12.67(a) 2,291,460 79,780 3.48

31.12.68(a) 2,373,320 84,780 3.57

31.12.69(e) — — —

31.12.70(e) — — —

31.12.71(a) 2,591,360 121,620 4.69

30.11.72(a) 2,653,509 126,277 4.76

30.11.73 2,719,684 136,217 5.01

29.11.74 2,784,488 147,528 5.30

28.11.75 2,796,047 98,129 3.51

26.11.76 2,883,681 102,198 3.54

25.11.77 2,932,847 103,394 3.53

30.11.78 2,993,060 103,660 3.46

30.11.79 3,049,140 105,850 3.47

28.11.80 3,084,590 105,800 3.43

30.06,81 3,099,920 105,530 3.40

31.05.82 3,107,940 103,650 3.34

31.03.83 3,096,620 107,670 3.48

31.03.84 3,078,490 107,480 3.49

31.03.85 3,107,140 118,520 3.81

31.03.86 3,160,600 122,310 3.87

30.09.87 3,219,820 123,300 3.83

31.03.88 3,215,530 124,590 3.87

31.03.89 3,224,120 128,450 3.98

30.09.90 3,263,520 136,220 4.17

31.03.91 3,260,930 139,080 4.27

31.03.92 3,280,200 148,730 4.53

31.03.93 3,293,560 161,030 4.89

31.03.94 3,302,300 172,310 5.22

539W

Number of claimants receiving less than 100 per cent. standard rate contributory Retirement Pension in Great Britain in the last 30 years

Women

All women All reduced Categories Per cent. All Category A women Category A reduced Per cent. All Category A/B(L) (b)(c) Category A/B(L) reduced Per cent. All Category B(a) Category B reduced Per cent. All Category B(L) (b) Category B(L) reduced Per cent.

31.12.64(d) 4,110,160 263,040 6.40 1,654,040 175,140 10.59 — — — 1,332,320 62,420 4.69 1,123,80 25,480 2.27

31.12.65(d) 4,236,340 275,380 6.50 1,723,720 183,840 10.67 — — — 1,345,460 64,180 4.77 1,167,160 27,360 2.34

31.12.66(d) 4,348,420 286,280 6.58 1,788,160 194,960 10.90 — — — 1,351,640 62,820 4.65 1,208,620 28,500 2.36

31.12.67(d) 4,477,720 301,420 6.73 1,857,780 209,200 11.26 — — — 1,361,660 60,560 4.45 1,258,280 31,660 2.52

31.12.68(d) 4,600,120 313,220 6.81 1,917,040 219,720 11.46 — — — 1,376,640 59,840 4.35 1,306,440 33,660 2.58

31.12.69(e) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

31.12.70(e) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

31.12.71(d) 4,907,490 373,480 7.61 2,020,980 264,210 13.07 — — — 1,433,720 55,370 3.86 1,452,790 53,900 3.71

30.11.72(d) 4,999,553 384,259 7.69 2,024,053 266,685 13.18 — — — 1,481,547 58,402 3.99 1,493,953 59,172 3.96

30.11.73 5,092,180 391,267 7.68 2,023,678 269,826 13.33 —. — — 1,535,426 60,138 3.92 1,533,076 61,303 4.00

29.11.74 5,177,185 404,000 7.80 2,021,174 277,079 13.71 — — — 1,573,907 62,962 4.00 1,582,104 63,959 4.04

28.11.75 5,181,664 323,429 6.24 1,958,555 239,580 12.23 — — — 1,626,723 44,250 2.72 1,596,386 39,419 2.47

26.11.76 5,263,672 328,126 6.23 1,929,910 245,333 12.71 — — — 1,682,695 42,820 2.54 1,651,067 39,973 2.42

25.11.77 5,327,166 323,574 6.07 1,878,553 243,265 12.95 — — — 1,755,972 39,873 2.27 1,692,641 40,436 2.39

30.11.78 5,399,160 330,020 6.11 1,577,030 214,050 13.57 — — — 2,097,080 76,140 3.63 1,725,050 39,830 2.31

30.11.79 5,474,400 355,130 6.49 1,596,680 238,490 14.94 7,990 70 0.88 2,121,380 75,730 3.57 1,748,350 40,910 2.34

28.11.80 5,590,800 407,370 7.29 1,676,190 295,810 17.65 30,270 230 0.76 2,127,270 71,290 3.35 1,757,070 40,270 2.29

30.06.81 5,674,060 438,810 7.73 1,729,530 329,010 19.02 45,260 180 0.40 2,143,730 69,780 3.26 1,755,540 40,020 2.28

31.05.82 5,761,550 490,690 8.52 1,805,320 385,480 21.35 73,310 330 0.45 2,140,400 66,660 3.11 1,742,520 38,550 2.21

31.03.83 5,830,760 547,530 9.39 1,883,400 443,400 23.54 103,520 960 0.93 2,133,060 64,370 3.02 1,710,780 39,760 2.32

31.03.84 5,913,380 626,280 10.59 1,987,760 526,590 26.49 140,430 820 0.58 2,121,170 59,330 2.80 1,664,020 40,360 2.43

31.03.85 5,966,010 659,080 11.05 2,034,650 547,980 26.93 183,700 1,010 0.55 2,104,820 70,970 3.37 1,642,840 40,130 2.44

31.03.86 6,036,480 687,300 11.39 2,098,850 583,640 27.81 265,870 1,510 0.57 2,079,320 65,910 3.17 1,592,440 37,750 2.37

30.09.87 6,074,680 680,850 11.21 2,142,850 589,230 27.50 368,36 1,910 0.52 2,035,060 53,830 2.65 1,528,410 37,790 2.47

31.03.88 6,066,410 682.570 11.25 2,152,390 591,120 27.46 396,060 1,950 0.49 2,015,980 53,100 2.63 1,501,980 38,350 2.55

31.03.89 6,062,620 681,660 11.24 2,173,730 591,780 27.22 447,250 2,210 0.49 1,985,330 51,420 2.59 1,456,310 38,460 2.64

30.09.90 6,107,570 709,320 11.61 2,241,070 620,100 27.67 525,320 2,790 0.53 1,926,850 50,040 2.60 1,414,330 39,180 2.77

31.03.91 6,096,910 716,090 11.75 2,252,250 627,420 27.86 546,330 2,800 0.51 1,908,660 48,990 2.57 1,389,670 39,680 2.86

31.03.92 6,122,330 740,270 12.09 2,295,740 646,780 28.17 589,640 2,770 0.47 1,873,880 50,810 2.71 l,363,070 42,680 3.13

31.03.93 6,130,820 764,210 12.47 2,336,620 666,780 28.54 628,490 2,930 0.47 1,834,970 51,640 2.81 1,330,740 45,790 3.44

31.03.94 6,114,590 782,760 12.80 2,370,040 682,870 28.81 664,110 2,910 0.44 1,788,700 52,090 2.91 1,291,740 47,800 3.70

Notes:
(a) Paid to widows on the basis of the late husbands' contributions—excludes pensions paid at a reduced rate on the basis of age at widowhood.
(b) Full rate Category B(L) and A/B(L) paid to married women is equal to approximately 60 per cent. of the full Category B pension.
(c) Category A/B(L) is based on a combination of the woman's own contributions and those of her husband was introduced with effect from 6 April 1979.
(d) Figures include a small number of pensions paid to persons overseas.
(e) Figures not available.

§ Mr. Frank Field
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent assessment he has made of the age profile of those pensioners eligible for, but not claiming, income support or housing benefit.

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
Reliable information on the age profile of pensioners eligible for, but not claiming, income support or housing benefit is not available.

§ Mr. Frank Field
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give a breakdown of the 1993 data showing the age profile of retirement pensioners drawing(a) income support, (b) income support and housing benefit and (c) housing benefit only.

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
The available information is in the table.

Retirement Pension cases with Income Support¹ Retirement Pension cases with Income Support and Housing Benefit² Housing Benefit and Retirement Pension³

All cases 1,386 712 952

60–64 62 39 46

65–69 154 95 189

70–74 216 124 294

75–79 283 161 218

80 and over 671 293 206

Notes:
1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
¹ Includes all income support claimants in receipt of a state retirement pension, whether or not receiving housing benefit.
540W
² Represents only those recipients in column 1 also in receipt of housing benefit.
³ Includes all housing benefit claimants in receipt of a state retirement pension but not in receipt of income support.
Sources:
Income support annual statistical inquiry—May 1993, 5 per cent. sample; housing benefit management information system, 1 per cent. sample.

Number of women receiving full (a) or partial Retirement Pension on their husbands contribution record payable in Great Britain
	Category B widows (b)	Category B married women (a)	Total
			Category B (L)	Category A/B(L)(e)
	full rate	reduced rate	full rate	reduced rate	full rate	reduced rate	full rate	reduced rate
31.03.85	2,033,850	70,970	1,602,710	40,130	182,690	1,010	3,819,250	112,110
31.03.86	2,013,410	65,910	1,554,690	37,750	264,360	1,510	3,832,460	105,170
30.09.87	1,981,230	53,830	1,490,620	37,790	366,450	1,910	3,838,300	93,530
31.03.88	1,962,880	53,100	1,463,630	38,350	394,110	1,950	3,820,620	93,400
31.03.89	1,933,910	51,420	1,417,850	38,480	445,040	2,210	3,796,800	92,090
30.09.90	1,876,810	50,040	1,375,150	39,180	522,530	2,790	3,774,490	92,010
31.03.91	1,859,670	48,990	1,349,990	39,680	543,530	2,800	3,753,190	91,470
31.03.92	1,823,070	50,810	1,320,390	42,680	586,870	2,770	3,730,330	96,260
31.03.93	1,783,330	51,640	1,284,950	45,790	625,560	2,930	3,693,840	100,360
31.03.94	1,736,610	52,090	1,243,940	47,800	661,200	2,910	3,641,750	102,800

Number of claimants receiving less than 100 per cent. Standard rate contributory Retirement Pension in Great Britain in the last 30 years
	Men
	All Category A men	Reduced rate	Per cent.
31.12.64(a)	2,048,160	63,420	3.10
31.12.65(a)	2,120,780	68,120	3.21
31.12.66(a)	2,191,560	71,900	3.28
31.12.67(a)	2,291,460	79,780	3.48
31.12.68(a)	2,373,320	84,780	3.57
31.12.69(e)	—	—	—
31.12.70(e)	—	—	—
31.12.71(a)	2,591,360	121,620	4.69
30.11.72(a)	2,653,509	126,277	4.76
30.11.73	2,719,684	136,217	5.01
29.11.74	2,784,488	147,528	5.30
28.11.75	2,796,047	98,129	3.51
26.11.76	2,883,681	102,198	3.54
25.11.77	2,932,847	103,394	3.53
30.11.78	2,993,060	103,660	3.46
30.11.79	3,049,140	105,850	3.47
28.11.80	3,084,590	105,800	3.43
30.06,81	3,099,920	105,530	3.40
31.05.82	3,107,940	103,650	3.34
31.03.83	3,096,620	107,670	3.48
31.03.84	3,078,490	107,480	3.49
31.03.85	3,107,140	118,520	3.81
31.03.86	3,160,600	122,310	3.87
30.09.87	3,219,820	123,300	3.83
31.03.88	3,215,530	124,590	3.87
31.03.89	3,224,120	128,450	3.98
30.09.90	3,263,520	136,220	4.17
31.03.91	3,260,930	139,080	4.27
31.03.92	3,280,200	148,730	4.53
31.03.93	3,293,560	161,030	4.89
31.03.94	3,302,300	172,310	5.22

Number of claimants receiving less than 100 per cent. standard rate contributory Retirement Pension in Great Britain in the last 30 years
	Women
	All women	All reduced Categories	Per cent.	All Category A women	Category A reduced	Per cent.	All Category A/B(L) (b)(c)	Category A/B(L) reduced	Per cent.	All Category B(a)	Category B reduced	Per cent.	All Category B(L) (b)	Category B(L) reduced	Per cent.
31.12.64(d)	4,110,160	263,040	6.40	1,654,040	175,140	10.59	—	—	—	1,332,320	62,420	4.69	1,123,80	25,480	2.27
31.12.65(d)	4,236,340	275,380	6.50	1,723,720	183,840	10.67	—	—	—	1,345,460	64,180	4.77	1,167,160	27,360	2.34
31.12.66(d)	4,348,420	286,280	6.58	1,788,160	194,960	10.90	—	—	—	1,351,640	62,820	4.65	1,208,620	28,500	2.36
31.12.67(d)	4,477,720	301,420	6.73	1,857,780	209,200	11.26	—	—	—	1,361,660	60,560	4.45	1,258,280	31,660	2.52
31.12.68(d)	4,600,120	313,220	6.81	1,917,040	219,720	11.46	—	—	—	1,376,640	59,840	4.35	1,306,440	33,660	2.58
31.12.69(e)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
31.12.70(e)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
31.12.71(d)	4,907,490	373,480	7.61	2,020,980	264,210	13.07	—	—	—	1,433,720	55,370	3.86	1,452,790	53,900	3.71
30.11.72(d)	4,999,553	384,259	7.69	2,024,053	266,685	13.18	—	—	—	1,481,547	58,402	3.99	1,493,953	59,172	3.96
30.11.73	5,092,180	391,267	7.68	2,023,678	269,826	13.33	—.	—	—	1,535,426	60,138	3.92	1,533,076	61,303	4.00
29.11.74	5,177,185	404,000	7.80	2,021,174	277,079	13.71	—	—	—	1,573,907	62,962	4.00	1,582,104	63,959	4.04
28.11.75	5,181,664	323,429	6.24	1,958,555	239,580	12.23	—	—	—	1,626,723	44,250	2.72	1,596,386	39,419	2.47
26.11.76	5,263,672	328,126	6.23	1,929,910	245,333	12.71	—	—	—	1,682,695	42,820	2.54	1,651,067	39,973	2.42
25.11.77	5,327,166	323,574	6.07	1,878,553	243,265	12.95	—	—	—	1,755,972	39,873	2.27	1,692,641	40,436	2.39
30.11.78	5,399,160	330,020	6.11	1,577,030	214,050	13.57	—	—	—	2,097,080	76,140	3.63	1,725,050	39,830	2.31
30.11.79	5,474,400	355,130	6.49	1,596,680	238,490	14.94	7,990	70	0.88	2,121,380	75,730	3.57	1,748,350	40,910	2.34
28.11.80	5,590,800	407,370	7.29	1,676,190	295,810	17.65	30,270	230	0.76	2,127,270	71,290	3.35	1,757,070	40,270	2.29
30.06.81	5,674,060	438,810	7.73	1,729,530	329,010	19.02	45,260	180	0.40	2,143,730	69,780	3.26	1,755,540	40,020	2.28
31.05.82	5,761,550	490,690	8.52	1,805,320	385,480	21.35	73,310	330	0.45	2,140,400	66,660	3.11	1,742,520	38,550	2.21
31.03.83	5,830,760	547,530	9.39	1,883,400	443,400	23.54	103,520	960	0.93	2,133,060	64,370	3.02	1,710,780	39,760	2.32
31.03.84	5,913,380	626,280	10.59	1,987,760	526,590	26.49	140,430	820	0.58	2,121,170	59,330	2.80	1,664,020	40,360	2.43
31.03.85	5,966,010	659,080	11.05	2,034,650	547,980	26.93	183,700	1,010	0.55	2,104,820	70,970	3.37	1,642,840	40,130	2.44
31.03.86	6,036,480	687,300	11.39	2,098,850	583,640	27.81	265,870	1,510	0.57	2,079,320	65,910	3.17	1,592,440	37,750	2.37
30.09.87	6,074,680	680,850	11.21	2,142,850	589,230	27.50	368,36	1,910	0.52	2,035,060	53,830	2.65	1,528,410	37,790	2.47
31.03.88	6,066,410	682.570	11.25	2,152,390	591,120	27.46	396,060	1,950	0.49	2,015,980	53,100	2.63	1,501,980	38,350	2.55
31.03.89	6,062,620	681,660	11.24	2,173,730	591,780	27.22	447,250	2,210	0.49	1,985,330	51,420	2.59	1,456,310	38,460	2.64
30.09.90	6,107,570	709,320	11.61	2,241,070	620,100	27.67	525,320	2,790	0.53	1,926,850	50,040	2.60	1,414,330	39,180	2.77
31.03.91	6,096,910	716,090	11.75	2,252,250	627,420	27.86	546,330	2,800	0.51	1,908,660	48,990	2.57	1,389,670	39,680	2.86
31.03.92	6,122,330	740,270	12.09	2,295,740	646,780	28.17	589,640	2,770	0.47	1,873,880	50,810	2.71	l,363,070	42,680	3.13
31.03.93	6,130,820	764,210	12.47	2,336,620	666,780	28.54	628,490	2,930	0.47	1,834,970	51,640	2.81	1,330,740	45,790	3.44
31.03.94	6,114,590	782,760	12.80	2,370,040	682,870	28.81	664,110	2,910	0.44	1,788,700	52,090	2.91	1,291,740	47,800	3.70

	Retirement Pension cases with Income Support¹	Retirement Pension cases with Income Support and Housing Benefit²	Housing Benefit and Retirement Pension³
All cases	1,386	712	952
60–64	62	39	46
65–69	154	95	189
70–74	216	124	294
75–79	283	161	218
80 and over	671	293	206