HC Deb 19 March 1999 vol 327 cc836-7W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he held with pensioners' groups before increasing the minimum income guarantee for pensioners; and if he will make a statement. [77363]

Mr. Timms

We meet representatives of pensioners' organisation regularly to discuss a broad range of issues. We are determined that even the least well off of today's pensioners should share in rising national prosperity, and the proposed increase from next April in line with earnings will build further on the significant boost we are giving to the incomes of these pensioners this year.

Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners who will have an income below the minimum income guarantee level who will not qualify for the minimum income guarantee. [77552]

Mr. Timms

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mrs. Gilroy) on 11 March 1999,Official Report, column 346.

Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners he estimates will be ineligible for the minimum income guarantee, following the Budget, due to the level of their savings; and if he will make a statement. [77362]

Mr. Timms

This information is not currently available. Estimates of the number of pensioners ineligible for the Minimum Income Guarantee due to the level of their savings are based on the data used to produce the published estimates of take-up of income-related benefits. These estimates are currently being revised following the discovery in December of an error, the effect of which was to understate income brought to account. The estimates will be republished in May. We will then be in a position to provide an answer to this question.

Mrs. Gilroy

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are estimated to be eligible for benefits under the minimum income guarantee for pensioners aged(a) 60 to 74 years, (b) 75 to 79 and (c) over 80 years, (i) in total and (ii) by gender. [75858]

Mr. Timms

The information is not currently available in the form requested.

In total, we estimate there are approximately 1.5 million pensioners in receipt of Income Support who will be eligible for the Minimum Income Guarantee in 1999–2000. Additionally, we estimate there are between about 400,000 and 700,000 pensioners who are not claiming Income Support but who would be entitled to it if they claimed. The estimate is provisional, as revised estimates of the take-up of income-related benefits are currently being worked on.

We will in a position to provide final estimates and the breakdown requested in May, when revised estimates of the take-up of income-related benefits are due to be published.

Notes:

  1. 1. "Pensioners" for the purposes of the Minimum Income Guarantee, means single persons aged 60 or over, and couples where at least one partner is aged 60 or above.
  2. 2. The figure is rounded to the nearest quarter of a million and does not include pensioners living in residential care and nursing homes.