§ Mr. GogginsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many additional households are entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment as a result of(a) eligibility being extended to men aged 60 to 64 years and (b) the inclusion of other groups of people not receiving a state pension or other benefit. [138205]
§ Mr. DarlingAn estimated 900,000 households will be newly eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter. Of these, an estimated 850,000 contain a man aged 60–64 and a further 50,000 contain someone of pensionable age who is not in receipt of a State Pension or other qualifying benefit.
Notes:
- 1. Estimates are based on the 1998–99 Family Resources Survey.
- 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 50,000.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households are entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment. [136319]
§ Angela EagleLast winter, 1999–2000, around 10 million pensioners in over 7.5 million households benefited from Winter Fuel Payments.
Following a ruling by the European Court of Justice, on 16 December 1999, we changed the conditions of eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment scheme. In essence, the scheme was extended and Winter Fuel Payments became payable to men as well as women from age 60, and the need to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit was removed.