§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the income support needs of women carers who are pensioners. [143340]
§ Malcolm WicksPension Credit replaced Minimum Income Guarantee from 6 October 2003. Around half of all pensioner households are eligible and stand to gain around £400 a year. Of those eligible, over half are single women (when partners are included almost two thirds of the people who will benefit from Pension Credit are women.)
Under Pension Credit additional amounts are included for carers. All those entitled to Carer's Allowance or treated as satisfying the qualifying conditions for the award benefit from the additional amount. A person may be entitled to Carer's Allowance even if it is not payable, (for example because of the overlapping benefit provisions). The rate is currently set at £25.10.