Retirement Pensions (Hansard, 11 January 1996)

§ Mr. Callaghan
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the pension for(a) a couple and (b) an individual in 1979; and what it would currently be if the pension had been uprated in line with (i) inflation and (ii) earnings. [8080]

§ Mr. Heald
The information is in the table.
difference in pensionable age; and if he will make statement. [1080]

§ Mr. Heald
[holding answer 23 November 1995]: The table sets out the different treatment of men and women in the social security system. These either relate to the differences in pensionable age or are otherwise considered to be permitted in law. Estimates of the financial effects of equalisation depend on the basis on which provisions are equalised.
The Pensions Act 1995 introduces further equalisation into the social security system linked to an equal state pension age. The financial implications of this Act are contained in the report by the Government Actuary on the financial provisions of the Bill on the national insurance fund, Cm 2714.

Benefit Description

Unemployment benefit¹ The maximum age for receipt is

65 for women, 70 for men. The

age at which the benefit rate

changes to the retirement

pension rate is 60 for women,

65 for men.

Long-term incapacity benefit The maximum age for receipt is

60 for women, 65 for men.

Short-term incapacity benefit The maximum age for receipt is

65 for women, 70 for men. The

327W

Benefit Description

age at which the benefit rate

changes to the retirement

pension rate is 60 for women,

65 for men.

Transitional invalidity The upper age limit for

allowance and related age acquiring entitlement to the

addition to retirement pension² lower rate of allowance was 55

for women, 60 for men.

Widow's payment, widowed Married women are entitled on

mother's allowance, widow's widowhood where statutory

pension conditions are satisfied. There

are no equivalent benefits for

men.

Category A retirement pension The minimum age of

(own insurance) entitlement is 60 for women, 65

for men. Women may defer

their entitlement in order to

receive increments between age

60 and 65; men between 65 and

70. Entitlement to retirement

pension is calculated on a

working life of 44 years for

women, 49 for men.

Category B retirement pension A woman must be aged 60 and

(spouse's contributions over and (i) married to husband

who is entitled to category A

retirement pension, or (ii)

widowed after age 60 and late

husband satisfied contribution

condition for category A

retirement pension, or (iii)

widowed before age 60 and in

receipt of widow's pension at

that age in consequence of

husband's death. A man is

entitled only where (i) both he

and his late wife were over

pensionable age when she died

and (ii) she satisfied the

contribution conditions for

category A retirement pension.

Retirement pension—

earnings-related additional

pension (SERPS) 1986 Act

changes to SERPS calculation

for people reaching

pensionable age from 6 April

1999 affect men born after 5

April 1934 and women born

after 5 April 1939.

Graduated retirement benefit The minimum age of

entitlement is 60 for women, 65

for men. The amount of

graduated contributions paid to

obtain one graduated retirement

benefit "unit" was £9.00 for

women, £7.50 for men.

Reduced earnings allowance³ Recipients transfer to retirement

allowance at age 60 for women,

65 for men.

Increase of unemployment

benefit or short-term

incapacity benefit paid at the

lower rate in respect of a

dependent child. Child

dependency increase are

available for women from age

328W

Benefit Description

60, men from age 65.

Increase of category A

retirement pension for adult

dependant. A woman claiming

an adult dependency increase

of retirement pension for a

dependent husband has to

satisfy the condition that she

was entitled to an increase of

unemployment benefit or

incapacity benefit immediately

before claiming her pension.

There is no similar condition

for a man claiming an increase

of retirement pension for his

wife.

Child benefit A wife or mother of the

child(ren) has priority of

entitlement over a husband or

father.

Family credit In couples cases the claim is

made by the woman and any

benefit paid to her.

Guardian's allowance A wife has priority of

entitlement over husband.

¹ Jobseeker's allowance will replace unemployment benefit in October 1996. JSA will cease at pension age. As pension ages are aligned under the 1995 Pensions Act, different treatment will be reduced.

² Invalidity addition was abolished from 13 April 1995 but continues in payment to former invalidity benefit recipients.

³ Women aged 60 and over and men aged 65 and over before 10 April 1989 continue to receive a frozen rate of reduced earnings allowance.

Benefit	Description
Unemployment benefit¹	The maximum age for receipt is
	65 for women, 70 for men. The
	age at which the benefit rate
	changes to the retirement
	pension rate is 60 for women,
	65 for men.
Long-term incapacity benefit	The maximum age for receipt is
	60 for women, 65 for men.
Short-term incapacity benefit	The maximum age for receipt is
	65 for women, 70 for men. The

Benefit	Description
60, men from age 65.
Increase of category A
retirement pension for adult
dependant. A woman claiming
an adult dependency increase
of retirement pension for a
dependent husband has to
satisfy the condition that she
was entitled to an increase of
unemployment benefit or
incapacity benefit immediately
before claiming her pension.
There is no similar condition
for a man claiming an increase
of retirement pension for his
wife.
Child benefit	A wife or mother of the
	child(ren) has priority of
	entitlement over a husband or
	father.
Family credit	In couples cases the claim is
	made by the woman and any
	benefit paid to her.
Guardian's allowance	A wife has priority of
	entitlement over husband.
¹ Jobseeker's allowance will replace unemployment benefit in October 1996. JSA will cease at pension age. As pension ages are aligned under the 1995 Pensions Act, different treatment will be reduced.
² Invalidity addition was abolished from 13 April 1995 but continues in payment to former invalidity benefit recipients.
³ Women aged 60 and over and men aged 65 and over before 10 April 1989 continue to receive a frozen rate of reduced earnings allowance.