§ Lord Addingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the number of people between age 50 and retirement age, broken down by gender, who are not employed and who have been exempted from the actively seeking work rules. [HL2707]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham):The information requested is set out in the table:
People claiming income support aged 50 or over who are exempted from the actively seeking work rules1( '000s) Age Men Women 50–59 2.6 4.1 60–64 259.2 Source:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 2002.
Notes:
1. Figures do not include income support claimants in receipt of attendance allowance, invalid care allowance (claimant), industrial injuries benefit, disability living allowance, severe disablement allowance, statutory sick pay, incapacity benefit or disabled person's tax credit, lone parents, residential care or nursing home cases, claimants in hospital or those with caring responsibilities (ie with carer premium).
2. Men aged 60–64 claiming income support do not need to satisfy the actively seeking work conditions.
3. Figures are based on a 5 per cent sample and therefore subject to variation.
4. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.