§ Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many new claimants there have been since July for(a) state pension, (b) state pension with a SERPS enhancement, (c) contribution-based jobseeker's allowance, (d) incapacity benefit and (e) widow's benefit. [63953]
§ Mr. TimmsThe information is in the table.494W
Benefit Number of claims July-October 1998 Retirement Pension 194,000 Retirement Pension with SERFS1 97,000 Jobseekers Allowance2 1,100,000 Incapacity Benefit 316,000 Widows Benefit including Widows Payment3 13,000 Widows Pension/Widowed Mother's Allowance included in above4 10,000 1 Exact numbers not known but about half of all Retirement Pension claims have SERPS entitlement 2 A claim for Jobseeker's Allowance has to be made before it can be established whether the contributory element of Jobseeker's Allowance is payable. To date no figures are available for the number of individuals who are paid the contributory element of Jobseeker's Allowance. 3 All widows can claim the £1,000 Widow's Payment Widows. 4 Widows Pension or Widowed Mothers Allowance entitlement is examined after consideration of the £1,000 payment. The figures quoted are those where there is prima facie entitlement to Widows Pension or Widowed Mothers Allowance. Source:
Central Data Unit