HC Deb 25 October 1999 vol 336 c730W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of pensioners aged(a) 60 to 64, (b) 65 to 69, (c) 70 to 74, (d) 75 to 79 and (e) 80 years or above who are entitled to Income Support but do not take up their entitlement; and if he will provide separate estimates for (i) single male pensioners, (ii) single female pensioners and (iii) married pensioners. [94696]

Mr. Rooker

The information is in the table.

Estimated average numbers not taking up entitlement to Income Support—Great Britain, 1997–98
Category Total number of ENR's
Pensioner Couples Aged 60-64 50,000
Pensioner Couples Aged 65-69 30,000
Pensioner Couples Aged 70-741 30,000
Pensioner Couples Aged 75-791 20,000
Pensioner Couples Aged 80 and Over1 20,000
All Pensioner Couples 150.000
Single Males Aged 60-641 20,000
Single Males Aged 65-691 20,000
Single Males Aged 70-741 20,000
Single Males Aged 75-791 20,000
Single Males Aged 80 and Over 40,000
All Single Male Pensioners 110,000
Single Females Aged 60-641 20,000
Single Females Aged 65-69 40,000
Single Females Aged 70-74 60,000
Single Females Aged 75-79 100,000
Single Females Aged 80 and Over 230,000
All Single Female Pensioners 450,000
All Pensioners 720,000
1 These figures are based on small sample sizes and are to be treated with particular caution.

Notes:

  1. 1. ENR's = Entitled non-recipients.
  2. 2. These estimates are based on the 1997–98 Family Resources Survey. Reliable precise estimates are not available. Estimates by age band comparable with the aggregate estimates published in September could be provided only at disproportionate costs. The table provides a breakdown, by age band, of raw estimates with no attempt to correct for data imperfections. The available evidence suggests pensioner couples estimates are biased upwards relative to the estimates for single pensioners. The nature and extent of biases in the raw estimates may also vary by age band.
  3. 3. The figures for the number of entitled non-recipients are rounded to the nearest ten thousand.
  4. 4. The age of a couple has been defined by the age of the older partner.
  5. 5. The figure for the total number of ENR's does not comply with the sum of the component amounts. This is due to rounding of the figures.