Housing/Council Tax Benefit

HC Deb 29 March 2001 vol 365 c777W

Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the total expenditure is on(a) Housing Benefit and (b) Council Tax Benefit for pensioners with an income of less than £210 per week. [153789]

Mr. Rooker [holding answer 15 March 2001]

The estimated Housing and Council Tax Benefit expenditure attributable to pensioners—defined as Benefit Units with at least one person aged 60 or over—with an income of less than £210 per week is £3,865 million and £1,140 million respectively, in 1999–2000, in Great Britain.

Notes:

1. These estimates are based on the estimated out-turn expenditure for 1999–2000 and the May 1999 I per cent. sample which provides information on claimant incomes.

2. The expenditure refers to the benefit paid to claimants irrespective of the source of funding.

3. Figures are rounded to the nearest £5 million.