HC Deb 02 November 2000 vol 355 c573W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of pensioners are claiming Income Support; and if he will break this figure down by(a) age and (b) gender. [135754]

Mr. Bayley

There are currently 1.6 million pensioners in receipt of the minimum income guarantee. This represents 13.6 per cent. of the pensioner population of Great Britain.

Minimum income guarantee pensioners as a percentage of
pensioner population, by age and gender, May 2000
Percentage
Age Male claimants Female claimants
60–74 years 9.7 9.6
75–79 years 7.4 16.3
80 years and over 16.0 33.3
All pensioners 10.2 16.2

Notes:

1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

2. Pensioners are defined as where the claimant, and/or partner are aged 60 or over.

3. Figure may include claimants who are in Residential Care/Nursing Homes.

4. Percentages are calculated using the ONS mid-term 1999 population estimates for the relevant gender and age band, and have been rounded to one decimal.

Sources:

Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, May 2000

Office for National Statistics Mid-term Population Estimates, 1999

Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners received the minimum income guarantee in each month since January to date. [135931]

Mr. Bayley

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

Pensioners receiving the minimum income guarantee, as at
February and May 2000
Month Number of claimants
February 1,604,200
May 1,614,500

Notes:

1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

2. Pensioners are defined as where the claimant, and/or partner are aged 60 or over.

3. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Source:

Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, February and May 2000