HC Deb 15 March 1999 vol 327 cc481-3W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the average age of those ceasing to receive widowed mother's allowance on the grounds that they no longer have dependent children. [76112]

Angela Eagle

The average age of those ceasing to receive Widowed Mother's Allowance between September 1997 and September 1998 is 51.

Notes:

1. Average age calculated of widows who were in receipt of Widowed Mothers Allowance (WMA) and had a dependent child in September 1997, but by September 1998 were in receipt of Widows Benefit (WB) but no longer had a qualifying dependent child.

2. The average does not include WMA cases that move off WB completely as it may be reasons other than no longer having a dependent child/ren.

3. Excludes Northern Ireland.

Source:

5 per cent. sample of Pension Strategy Computer System.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many new claimants of widow's benefits there were in each year since 1992; and what percentage of those claimants were in each region and nation. [76135]

Angela Eagle

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.

Estimated number of recipients of widows benefit per year1 by country (September 1994 to September 19982)
1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98
England 30,000 25,880 23,480 19,420
Scotland 3,860 3,320 2,780 2,520
Wales 2,300 2,100 1,160 1,440
Overseas 2,420 2,100 1,540 1,100
All Countries 38,580 33,400 28,960 24,480
Estimated percentages of new recipients of widows benefit per year by country based on table above
%
1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98
England 77.7 77.5 81.1 79.3
Scotland 10.0 9.9 9.6 10.3
Wales 6.0 6.3 4.0 5.9
Overseas 6.2 6.3 5.3 4.5
All Countries 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Notes:

1. New widows estimated from 5 per cent. samples of Pension Strategy Computer System between September of each year.

2. Data not available prior to September 1994.

3. Excludes widows who received a Widows Payment lump sum with no succeeding award of Widows Benefit.

4. Excludes Northern Ireland.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the numbers of those receiving(a) widowed mothers allowance and (b) widows pension in each region and nation; and how many people (i) claimed widowed mothers allowance for the first time, (ii) transferred from widowed mothers allowance to widows benefit and (iii) claimed widows benefit for the first time in the most recent year for which figures are available. [76113]

Angela Eagle

The information is not available the format requested. Such information as is available is in the Tables.

Number of widows benefit recipients in Great Britain and overseas at September 1998: by country
Widows pension Widowed mothers allowance All
England 171,560 37,440 209,000
Scotland 24,120 5,100 29,220
Wales 11,360 2,480 13,840
Overseas 13,180 2,960 16,140
All 220,220 47,980 268,200

Notes:

1. Caseload estimate from 5 per cent. samples of Pension Strategy Computer System.

2. Excludes widows who received a Widows Payment lump sum with no succeeding award of Widows Benefit.

3. Excludes Northern Ireland.

Estimated number of widows transferring from widowed mothers allowance to widows pension between September 1997 to September 1998: by country
Widows pension
England 1,320
Scotland 280
Wales 100
Overseas 40
All 1,740

Notes:

1. Caseload estimated from 5 per cent. samples of Pension Strategy Computer System.

2. Excludes widows who received a Widows Payment lump sum with no succeeding awards of Widows Benefit.

3. Excludes Northern Ireland.

Estimated new recipients of widows benefit between September 1997 to September 1998: by country
Widows pension Widowed mothers allowance All
England 15,020 4,400 19,420
Scotland 1,980 540 2,520
Wales 1,180 260 1,440
Overseas 1,000 100 1,100
All 19,180 5,300 24,480

Notes:

1. New Cases estimated from 5 per cent. samples of Pension Strategy Computer System.

2. Excludes widows who received a Widows Payment lump sum with no succeeding award of Widows Benefit.

3. Excludes Northern Ireland.