§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost(a) of giving in the current uprating to all those pensioners eligible for the National Insurance retirement pension who are aged 80 years or more an increase in benefit in line with earnings and (b) of such an increase if the current year's increase in pension for those aged 80 years or more reflected the rise in earnings since 1980. [62630]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information is not available in the format requested because average earnings figures for September 1998 are not yet available. Such information as is available is set out in the table. 489W
The estimated cost if the April 1998 retirement pension rates for pensioners aged over 79 years had been uprated in line with rises
in earnings up to and including September 1997
£ million RP uprated by the growth in earnings between 1996 and 1997 RP uprated by the growth in earnings since 1979 Retirement Pension cost 40 2,780 Means-tested benefit offsets -20 -940 Net cost 20 1,840 Notes:
1. The RP cost has been provided by the Government Actuary's Department.
2. Means-tested benefit offsets have been estimated using the 1995/6 Family Resources Survey and the May 1997 Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, both uprated to 1998/9 benefits and earnings levels.
3. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £10 million.
§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the total numbers of pensioners for the current year who are(a) receiving income support, (b) entitled to income support but are not receiving these funds at present, (c) with incomes below £5,600, excluding those already accounted for by (a) and (b), (d) aged 65 to 74 with incomes between £5,410 and £9,710, (e) aged 65 to 74 with incomes between £9,711 and £16,200, (f) aged 65 to 74 with incomes between £16,201 and £17,000, (g) aged 65 to 74 with incomes between £17,001 and £18,630, (h) aged 65 to 74 with incomes above £18,630, (i) aged 75 and over with incomes between £5,600 and £9,900, (j) aged 75 and over with incomes between £9,901 and £16,200, (k) aged 75 and over with incomes between £16,201 and £18,000,(I) aged 75 and over with incomes between £18,001 and £19,010 and (m) aged 75 years and over with incomes above £19,010. [62628]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
There are 1,425,000 pensioner benefit units currently in receipt of Income Support, excluding Residential Care and Nursing Home recipients. Information for other parts of the question is not available for the current year.
The number of pensioner benefit units estimated to be entitled to, but not receiving, Income Support in 1996–97 is provisionally estimated to be between 400,000 and 700,000. These estimates differ from those published on 1 October. An error in the published take-up estimates for pensioners has been discovered; a full set of corrected figures will be published in the new year.
In 1996–97 there were an estimated 1,250,000 pensioner benefit units with incomes of £5,600 or less who were not entitled to Income Support and did not receive it. 490W
The estimated numbers of pensioner benefit units in 1996–97 given by income bands for pensioners aged 65 to 74 who were not entitled to nor receiving Income Support Thousand Income (£) Number of pensioner benefit units 5,410 to 9,710 1,120 9,711 to 16,200 740 16,201 to 17,000 (50) 17,001 to 18,630 (60) More than 18,630 300 Total 2,270
The estimated numbers of pensioner benefit units in 1996–97 given by income bands for pensioners aged 75 and over who were not
entitled to nor receiving Income Support
Thousand Income(£) Number of pensioner benefit units 5,600 to 9,900 850 9,901 to 16,200 370 16,201 to 18,000 1— 18,001 to 19,010 1— More than 19,010 80 Total 1,360 1Due to small sample sizes a reliable estimate for these cells cannot be supplied. Notes:
1. Estimates in brackets are based on small sample sizes and should be treated with caution.
2. Estimates of recipients are rounded to the nearest 1,000.
3. Estimates based on the Family Resources Survey exclude the full time self-employed and are rounded to the nearest 10,000.
4. Benefit units are classified into age groups according to the age of the elder pensioner in the benefit unit
5. A pensioner benefit unit is defined as a single person aged 60 or over or a couple (not necessarily married) where at least one member of the couple is aged 60 or over.
6. Pensioner incomes are defined as before housing costs net income including all benefits, pensions, investment income and earnings, net of Income Tax, National Insurance contributions, contributions to occupational pensions schemes and Council Tax.
Source:
1. Estimates of the number of recipients of Income Support are taken from the May 1998 Quarterly Statistical Enquiry and exclude pensioners in Residential Care or Nursing Homes.
2. All other estimates are based on an analysis of the 1996–97 Family Resources Survey which is a survey of private households in Great Britain.