Mr. Michael Jabez FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in the Hastings and Rye constituency who will benefit from(a) the guaranteed credit and (b) the savings credit when the pension credit provisions take effect in April 2003. [70332]
§ Mr. McCartneyI regret that the information requested is not available. Pension Credit will be introduced in October 2003. The guarantee credit will ensure that no pensioner need live on less than £100 a week. The savings credit will ensure that even those with modest savings will see that it pays to have saved. On average pensioners who qualify for Pension Credit will be £400 a year better off.
Currently in the Hastings and Rye constituency there are around 3,600 pensioners receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee. Those in receipt in October 2003 will be automatically transferred onto Pension Credit which will subsume the Minimum Income Guarantee.
Notes:
1. Based on a 5 per cent. sample; therefore subject to sampling variation.
2. Figure has been rounded to the nearest 100.
3. Parliamentary Constituency has been allocated using the relevant ONS postcode directory.
4. Minimum Income Guarantee claimants are defined as Income Support benefit units where the claimant, and/or partner, is aged 60 and over.
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, February 2002.