HC Deb 05 November 1997 vol 300 cc249-50W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are(a) receiving at least one means-tested benefit and not paying income tax, (b) not receiving a means-tested benefit and not paying tax, (c) not receiving a means-tested benefit and paying tax and (d) receiving a means-tested benefit and paying tax; and if she will break down each category into five-year age bands identifying within each age group the number of (i) single male pensioners, (ii) single female pensioners and (iii) married pensioners. [12823]

Mr. Denham

The information is in the tables and is based on estimates for 1997–98 of numbers of pensioner benefit units in each of the groups.

Pensioners receiving a means tested benefit and not paying income tax
000s
Single male Single female Pensioner couples Total
60-64 90 140 170 400
65-69 80 220 170 480
70-74 80 360 160 600
75-79 70 370 150 590
80+ 120 570 130 820
Total 440 1,660 780 2,880
Pensioners not receiving a means tested benefit and not paying income tax
000s
Single male Single female Pensioner couples Total
60-64 30 30 110 170
65-69 40 130 270 440
70-74 40 210 310 560
75-79 40 200 200 430
80+ 50 310 150 510
Total 200 880 1,040 2,110
Pensioners not receiving a means tested benifit and paying income tax
000s
Single male Single female Pensioner couples Total
60-64 90 170 840 1,100
65-69 110 140 520 770
70-74 100 160 350 610
75-79 60 100 190 360
80+ 80 120 140 340
Total 440 690 2,040 3,170
Pensioners receiving a means tested benefit and paying income tax
000s
Single male single female Pensioner couples Total
60-64 10 30 20 70
65-69 10 20 10 40
70-74 20 20 10 40
75-79 10 20 1 30
80+ 10 20 1 30
Total 60 110 40 210

Notes:

1Less than 5,000.

  1. 1. Pensioner benefit units are defined as being any benefit unit containing at least one person aged over 59.
  2. 2. Pensioner couples are allocated to age bands according to the age of the oldest partner.
  3. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.

Source:

1995–96 Family Resources Survey.