HC Deb 17 April 1996 vol 275 cc532-3W
Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people's national insurance contributions record leaves them without entitlement to any state retirement pension. [20735]

Mr. Heald

The information is not available in the format requested.

The number of people over state pension age, 60 for women and 65 for men, in 1995 is projected to be 10.4 million1.

At 31 March 1995 the number of people over state pension age who receive some contributory retirement pension was 9.6 million2.

The table gives a detailed breakdown of this figure. In addition:

At September 1994 the number of people receiving widows benefit in place of retirement pension was 47,0003.

At March 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of people receiving invalidity benefit over state pension age was 297,0004.

Some people who are over state pension age and not in receipt of state pension may be deferring their pension in order to earn increments.

Number of beneficiaries
Category A basic pension—men 3,322,150
Category A basic pension—women 2,421,010
Category BL basic pension—women 1,259,300
Category ABL basic pension—women 696,600
Category B—widows 1,751,190
Category B—widowers 540
Category A or B additional pension only 14,880
Graduated Retirement Benefit without Category A or B 125,910
Total 9,591,580

Note:

Key to table:

Cat A—pension derived from own contributions.

Cat BL—pension derived from spouse' contributions (figure includes a small proportion with underlying entitlement to Cat A pension where both husband and wife reached State Pension age before 6/4/79). Full rate is approximately 60 per cent. of Cat A rate. Cat ABL—pension derived from both own and spouse's contributions. Full rate is approximately 60 per cent. of Cat A rate. Cat B—pension derived from late spouse's contributions. Full rate same as Cat A.

Source:

1Government Actuary. Projection for 1995 based on 1994 population figures.

210 per cent. sample of Pension Strategy Computer System.

310 per cent. sample of Pension Strategy Computer System.

41. A small proportion may have no underlying entitlement to State Retirement Pension.

Source 1 per cent. sample of all claims to Invalidity Benefit in GB, rounded to nearest thousand.