§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many dependants of pensioners who claim Income Support due to the removal of a State Pension after six weeks in hospital there were at the latest date for which figures are available. [142299]
§ Mr. RookerEntitlement to a State Pension is never removed on hospitalisation, although the rates paid are lowered, by 40 per cent., or 20 per cent. if a person has dependants, after six weeks and to the pocket money rate after 52 weeks. The pocket money rate cannot go lower than 20 per cent. of the basic State Pension.
We do not keep records of why people claim Income Support beyond their basic condition of entitlement.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the(a) cost and (b) number of recipients of the pension supplement for those over 80; what the cost is of increasing it to (i) £5 per week and (ii) £10 per week; and what the administrative cost is of delivering the benefit. [142303]
§ Mr. RookerThe cost of the age addition is £30 million per annum and 2.4 million people are in receipt.
Cost of increasing the age addition by £5 and £10 £ million Rate of addition £10 £5 2001–02 Gross cost 1,300 700 Net cost 800 400 2002–03 Gross cost 1,400 700 Net cost 900 400 2003–04 Gross cost 1,500 800 Net cost 900 400 2004–05 Gross cost 1,500 800 Net cost 1,000 500 Notes:
1. Costs are given in cash terms in £ million to the nearest 100 million.
2. Gross costs of age addition estimated by the Government Actuary's Department.
3. Net costs are given after income related benefit savings.
4. Income-related benefits savings are estimated using the Policy Simulation Model.
5. Value of age addition is assumed to be uprated in line with inflation.