§ John ThursoTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate how many people in Scotland who became newly entitled for the 2003–04 winter fuel payment and who needed to make a claim before 19 September 2003 in order to receive their payment before Christmas failed to do so; and what the value was of such payments. [135925]
§ Malcolm WicksWe estimate that around 60,000 people will be newly entitled to the 2003–04 winter fuel payments in Scotland, and of these, around 26,700 should receive their payments automatically. The others 807W would need to claim and we have publicised the availability of winter fuel payments and how to obtain a claim form.
We are unable to provide any reliable estimate of the value of unclaimed winter fuel payments because the amount due depends on the composition of the household. It is up to an individual, where a claim is necessary, to decide whether or not to make that claim. They have until 30 March 2004 to make a claim for this winter.
Notes:
- 1. New entitlement based on population estimates from the Government Actuary's Department.
- 2. Figures for total winter fuel payments taken from the Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service Winter Fuels Payment 2002–03 exercise 100 per cent. data. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
- 3. The estimated number of people who turned 60 between March 2002 and March 2003 and were claiming the state pension should receive automatic payments.
- 4. The data for the number of people who should receive automatic payments are from 5 per cent. samples of individual benefits and figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
Sources:
1. DWP IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.
2. Client Group Analysis of IAD Information Centre statistical samples.