§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much(a) attendance allowance remained unclaimed by disabled people, (b) income support remained unclaimed by pensioners and (c) social security payments remained unclaimed in Wales in the last year for which figures are available. [27146]
§ Mr. DenhamInformation is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:
An estimate of take-up of Attendance Allowance for Great Britain, based on the disability follow-up to the 1996–97 Family Resources Survey, should be published later in the year. It may be possible to estimate take-up separately for Wales if sample sizes allow.
It is estimated that, in 1995–96, the amount of Income Support unclaimed by pensioners in Wales was between £60 million and £90 million. In the same year, the total amount of Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Family Credit unclaimed in Wales is estimated to be between £170 million and £260 million.
Notes:
1. All take-up estimates exclude the self-employed as their entitlement to income-related benefits cannot readily be established from survey data.
2. Estimates for Wales should be regarded as indicative only, as they are based on modest sample sizes.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he will take to increase the level of take up of social security benefits in Wales. [27145]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyWe would encourage anyone who thinks that they may be entitled to a benefit to make a claim, wherever they live in Britain. We are particularly concerned about the million pensioners not claiming Income Support. We have commissioned research to find out why they do not make a claim, and from April we will be spending £15 million on a number of pilot projects to find the best way of encouraging them to claim. We will take into account any factors which may effect their reluctance to make a claim, including the type of area in which they live.