HC Deb 15 January 1998 vol 304 cc312-3W
Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the most recent completed research evaluated by her Department in respect of the take up of income support by pensioners. [23118]

Mr. Denham

As part of our commitment to find the best ways of encouraging take-up of Income Support amongst pensioners, we are currently reviewing relevant research and initiatives completed up to this year, or in progress.

The Department is now commissioning research to identify the most important barriers to pensioners not claiming the Income Support to which they are entitled.

An estimated one million pensioners are not taking up their entitlement to Income Support, and we will be running a number of pilot schemes from April this year to find the best way to help them to claim their entitlement.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her Department's letter of 16 December in respect of her Department's research into the take up of income support by pensioners, who is carrying out the research, which organisations were invited to tender for it and what are her Department's(a) terms of reference and (b) budget for such research. [23116]

Mr. Denham

Research has been commissioned comprising in-depth interviews with pensioners currently claiming and not claiming, but potentially eligible for, Income Support. It will also include focus groups with pensioners and advice agencies. The terms of reference are to explore the reasons for not claiming Income Support and identify possible means of increasing take-up. Exploring the views of those who are already claiming (as well as those who are not) will give an insight into what encourages, as well as discourages, claims for Income Support.

Research commissioned by the Department is usually competitively tendered. In this case, the sample was drawn from existing data, so only the organisations involved in the original survey—the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Social and Community Planning Research (SCPR)—were invited to tender. A contract worth £66,000 was awarded to Social and Community Planning Research.

A quantitative survey of pensioners potentially eligible for, but not claiming, Income Support is currently being negotiated; details are not yet finalised.

An estimated one million pensioners are not taking up their entitlement to Income Support, and we will be running a number of pilot schemes from April this year to find the best way to help them to claim their entitlement.