§ 18. Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people entitled to, but awaiting, their first payment of basic state pension. [120957]
§ Mr. RookerNo estimate has been made of the number of people entitled to but awaiting their first payment of basic state pension.
Most new claims to Retirement Pension each year result from people being invited to claim by the Department some four months before they reach pension age. This enables the majority of claims to be paid by the time the first pension pay day is reached.
The calculation of the various components that can make up a Retirement Pension award is made by the NIRS2 computer. Although there have been problems in NIRS2 calculating the additional pension for some claims, this has not applied to the basic pension calculation.