HC Deb 12 February 2002 vol 380 cc255-7W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners receiving one or more means-tested benefit have a weekly income of(a) up to £100, (b) £101 to £120, (c) £121 to £140, (d) £140 to £160, (e) £160 to £180, (f) £180 to £200, (g) £200 to £220, (h) £220 to £240 per week, (i) £240 to £260, (j) £260 to £280, (k) £280 to £300 and (l) over £300 per week. [35845]

Mr. McCartney

The information is in the table:

Number of pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits by weekly income band: Great Britain, May 2000
Number
Total number of pensioners 3,250,000
Up to £100 weekly income 480,000
Between £100 and £119.99 weekly income 220,000
Between £120 and £139.99 weekly income 630,000
Between £140 and £159.99 weekly income 540,000

Number of pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits by weekly income band: Great Britain, May 2000
Number
Between £160 and £179.99 weekly income 390,000
Between £180 and £199.99 weekly income 280,000
Between £200 and £219.99 weekly income 220,000
Between £220 and £239.99 weekly income 190,000
Between £240 and £259.99 weekly income 110,000
Between £260 and £279.99 weekly income 70,000
Between £280 and £299.99 weekly income 30,000
£300 and over weekly income 80,000

Notes:

  1. 1. The figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.
  2. 2. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
  3. 3. Due to the estimation procedure to produce the figures, they have been rounded to the nearest ten thousand.
  4. 4. Pensioners are defined as a benefit unit where either the claimant and/or the partner are aged 60 and over.
    5. 257W
  5. 5. Overlaps between jobseeker's allowance, minimum income guarantee, housing benefit and council tax benefit have been removed to calculate the total number of benefit units.
  6. 6. Includes income declared for the assessment of means-tested benefits (including disregarded income).

Sources:

  1. 1. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2000.
  2. 2. Income support 5 per cent. Quarterly Statistical Enquiry May 2000.
  3. 3. Jobseeker's allowance 5 per cent. Quarterly Statistical Enquiry May 2000.