§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what help is being given to those retired people who were unable to make private pension provisions when they were of working age; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotPeople who have retired since 6 April 1979 may be entitled to receive an additional pension from the state earnings-related pension scheme or a contracted-out equivalent, as well as their basic state pension. Those whose employment patterns have been interrupted because of caring responsibilities may have their basic pension entitlement safeguarded by the home responsibilities protection provisions.
Pensioners who have income below specified levels may, subject to their circumstances, be entitled to receive income-related benefits such as income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.
§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he has taken and what further steps are planned to assist poorer pensioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotIncome-related benefits are kept under constant review and are uprated regularly in line with prices. In addition, income-related benefits for poorer pensioners since 1988 have been increased by some £1.2 billion, over and above inflation.
§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the standard of living enjoyed by retired people now, 10 years ago and 20 years ago.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotInformation is not available in the form requested. The information in the table shows the percentage growth in pensioners' average income for the years 1974, 1979 and 1992, the latest year for which figures are available.
459W
Increase 1974–92 (net income) Increase 1979–92 (net income) Before housing costs (Per cent.) After housing costs (Per cent.) Before housing costs (Per cent.) After housing costs (Per cent.) Pensioner couples 54 64 46 56 Single pensioners 55 57 49 53 All pensioner units 58 64 50 58 Notes:
1. Source: Family Expenditure Surveys for 1974, 1979 and 1992.2. Pensioner units are single persons over state pension age and couples of whom the husband is over state pension age.
§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment his Department has made recently of the comparative incomes of retired people in the United Kingdom and other European Union member states; what factors he has taken into account to make such comparisons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotA report of research commissioned by this Department from the social policy research unit at the university of York, entitled "Incomes and Living Standards of Older People—A Comparative Analysis", was published on 26 January. A copy is available in the Library. The report is based on a comparison of 11 countries, eight of which are members of the European Union. It found that the United Kingdom has a more equal distribution of income among its older population and a more effective benefit safety net than many other major industrial countries. It concluded that to make meaningful international comparisons it is necessary to take account of all income sources for older people including private occupational and personal pensions and non-cash income sources.
§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he has taken and what further steps are planned to assist disabled pensioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HagueSince April 1992, disabled people aged between 60 and 65 may be entitled to disability living allowance, which meets some of the extra costs of care and mobility needs arising from disability. Attendance allowance is available to disabled people over the age of 65. Both benefits are non-contributory and non-means tested and provide help to increasing numbers of disabled people. Medical adjudication has been replaced by self assessment and entitlement to benefit is determined by lay adjudication officers. The benefits also serve to establish entitlement to other benefits such as invalid care allowance, severe disablement allowance and disability premiums of income support. The policy intention behind all benefits is kept under continuous review.