HC Deb 25 May 1999 vol 332 c103W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the proportion of pensioner households headed by a person aged(a) 65 to 69, (b) 70 to 74, (c) 75 to 79 and (d) 80 years or more who are (i) in receipt of income support and (ii) in receipt of any means-tested benefit, on a basis consistent with his estimate that one in four of all pensioner households are in receipt of income support. [84756]

Mr. Timms

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

Pensioners in receipt of income-related benefits
Percentage
Age Proportion of pensioners receipt of Income Support Proportion of pensioners in receipt of any means-tested benefit
65–69 12 26
70–74 12 31
75–79 16 39
80 and over 25 42

Notes:

1. 'Pensioners' refers to pensioner benefit units, which represents a single person, or a couple where one or both partners is in the age group specified.

2. The figures are consistent with the estimate that one in five of all pensioner benefit units are in receipt of Income Support.

3. The estimates of benefit caseloads group pensioner couples according to the age of the oldest member of the couple. Population estimates by benefit unit classify couples according to the age of the male member of the couple. The estimated proportions are therefore based on the assumption that the male partner is the oldest.

4. Figures exclude cases in residential care and nursing homes.

5. Percentages are rounded to the nearest 1 per cent.

6. Means-tested benefits refer to Income Support, Family Credit, Disability Working Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

7. Overlaps between recipients of more than one of these benefits have been removed.

Sources:

1. Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry May 1998.

2. Disability Working Allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.

3. Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

4. Housing Benefit Management Information Systems, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries, May 1998.

5. GAD 1996 population projections by marital status.