Average Incomes (Hansard, 18 July 2000)

§ Mr. Bayley

The information is not available in the format requested. Data are not available for all the years requested. The earliest and latest financial years for which data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) data are available are 1994–95 and 1998–99 respectively.

Year on year changes in average amounts of State benefits reflect changes in employment status, income from other sources (for income-related benefits), benefit entitlement and caseload mix.

Results are subject to statistical variability. Comparisons of one year with the next should be treated with considerable caution.

For the purposes of these statistics, disabled people have been defined as anyone in receipt of at least one disability benefit, i.e. Disability Living Allowance (care or mobility), Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Disability Working Allowance or Incapacity or Invalidity Benefit.

Their average weekly income from state benefits (including the State Retirement Pension) per individual was £110 in 1994–95. It remained at this level in 1995–96 then rose to £117 in 1996–97, £120 in 1997–98 and £124 in 1998–99. The same figures rebased in constant May 2000 prices to adjust for inflation were £129 in 1994–95, £125 in 1995–96, £129 in 1996–97, 112W the Library on 27 July 1999 to include information about the period after 13 July 1999. [124123]

§ Miss Melanie Johnson

[holding answer 5 June 2000]Details for the period since 13 July 1999 are as follows:

£128 in 1997–98 and £130 in 1998–99. This represented 34 per cent. of average earnings in 1994–95,33 per cent. in each of the years 1995–96,1996–97 and 1997–98, and 32 per cent. in 1998–99.

Results for single parents are sensitive to the proportion of single parents in employment and are presented separately for those in work—defined as working 16 hours or more per week—and those not in work. The proportion of single parents in work, according to the FRS, rose from 37 per cent. in 1994–95 to 43 per cent. in 1998–99. Benefit income is of course much lower for lone parents in work, who therefore have income from earnings, than lone parents not in work. (For recipients of disability benefits the proportion in work, as recorded in the FRS, was stable over this period.)

Average weekly income from State benefits (including the State Retirement Pension) per individual lone parent in work was £64 in 1994–95, £66 in 1995–96, £65 in 1996–97, £68 in 1997–98 and £74 in 1998–99. The same figures rebased in constant May 2000 prices to adjust for inflation were £75 in 1994–95, £75 in 1995–96, £72 in 1996–97, £73 in 1997–98 and £77 in 1998–99. This represented 20 per cent. of average earnings in 1994–95 and 1995–96 and 19 per cent. in each of the years 1996–97,1997–98 and 1998–99.

Average weekly income from state benefits (including the State Retirement Pension) per individual lone parent not in work was £135 in 1994–95, £142 in 1995–96, £144 in 1996–97, £149 in 1997–98 and £155 in 1998–99. The same figures rebased in constant May 2000 prices to adjust for inflation were £158 in 1994–95, £162 in 1995–96, £160 in 1996–97, £160 in 1997–98 and £161 in 1998–99. This represented 41 per cent. of average earnings in 1994–95,42 per cent. in 1995–96,41 per cent. in 1996–97 and 1997–98 and 40 per cent. 1998–99.

113W

The amounts listed here and used in the calculation of percentages are per individual. Benefits have been assigned to the individual in receipt. For example, if Income Support is paid to a disabled person with a non-disabled partner, the full amount of Income Support is assigned to the disabled person in these tables.

The mean has been used to calculate the average weekly income from State benefits for all individuals in the various different groups.

Real term figures have been calculated by uprating cash term figures to reflect May 2000 prices. The headline Retail Prices Index has been used for this calculation.

Average earnings figures, used as the base for calculation of the percentage figure, are for all full time adult employees and are based on data from the New Earnings Survey (Office for National Statistics) which is conducted in April of each year. As FRS data is for financial years the April in which the FRS financial year begins has been used as the average earnings base.

It should be noted that benefit receipt is based on self-assessment and therefore may be subject to mis-reporting.

All income figures have been rounded to the nearest pound and percentages rounded to the nearest integer.