Income Support (Hansard, 2 March 1998)

§ Mr. Gibb
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proportion of retiring pensioners were entitled to income support in the last year for which figures are available; [29367]
(2) what proportion of retiring pensioners were entitled to income support or its equivalent on retirement in (a) 1996, (b) 1995, (c) 1990, (d) 1985, (e) 1980, (f) 1975 and (g) 1970; [29371]
(3) what proportion of pensioners are entitled to receive income support. [29357]

§ Mr. Keith Bradley
About 20 per cent. of retiring pensioners were estimated to be entitled to receive Income Support in Great Britain in 1995–96, the latest year for which figures are available.
The additional information requested for previous years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
About one in four pensioners (those aged 60 and over) were estimated to be entitled to receive Income Support in Great Britain in 1995–96, the latest year for which figures are available.
Sources:
1. The figures taken from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey.
2. Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry May 1995—February 1996.
The Labour Force Survey and Office for National Statistics.
Note:
The estimated figures for pensioners entitled to Income Support were taken from the Family Resources Survey and should be treated with caution. A small sample size was used and therefore almost certainly subject to some degree of error.

§ Mr. Webb
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of(a) males aged 65 and (b) females aged 60 years were in receipt of income support or supplementary benefit in each year since 1968 for which statistics are available. [30498]
503W

§ Mr. Keith Bradley
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

Male and female recipients of income support between 1990 and 1997

Year Males income support claimants aged 65 Per cent. of all men aged 65 Female income support claimants aged 60 Per cent. of all women aged 60

1990 15,000 5.9 20,000 6.6

1991 14,000 5.4 17,000 5.9

1992 15,000 5.8 15,000 5.4

1993 20,000 7.8 20,000 7.3

1994 22,000 8.8 20,000 7.1

1995 24,000 9.2 22,000 7.8

1996 24,000 9.2 21,000 7.2

1997¹ 22,000 8.7 22,000 7.9

¹ Percentages for 1997 are based on mid-term population estimates for 1996.

Notes:
1. Numbers are given as at May of each year given and are rounded to the nearest thousand.
2. Percentages are given to one decimal place.
3. Sample size 1 per cent. up to and including 1993, 5 per cent. thereafter.
Source:
1. Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiries, 1990 to 1993.
2. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 1994 to May 1997.
3. Office for National Statistics Mid-term estimates of the population 1990–1996.

Male and female recipients of income support between 1990 and 1997
Year	Males income support claimants aged 65	Per cent. of all men aged 65	Female income support claimants aged 60	Per cent. of all women aged 60
1990	15,000	5.9	20,000	6.6
1991	14,000	5.4	17,000	5.9
1992	15,000	5.8	15,000	5.4
1993	20,000	7.8	20,000	7.3
1994	22,000	8.8	20,000	7.1
1995	24,000	9.2	22,000	7.8
1996	24,000	9.2	21,000	7.2
1997¹	22,000	8.7	22,000	7.9
¹ Percentages for 1997 are based on mid-term population estimates for 1996.