HC Deb 15 September 2003 vol 410 cc563-4W
Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pensioners were in receipt of means-tested benefits for each year between 1992 and 2002; and if he will make a statement. [128550]

Malcolm Wicks

The answer is in the table.

Pensioner beneficiaries of means-tested benefits1 as a percentage of the population: Great Britain May 1992 to May 1999
Beneficiaries aged 60 and

over of means-tested

benefits

Percentage of the

population aged 60

and over

1992 Not available Not available
1993 4,320,000 36.9
1994 4,180,000 35.8
1995 4,060,000 34.7
1996 3,940,000 33.6
1997 3,810,000 32.5
1998 3,670,000 31.1
1999 3,540,000 29.9
2000 3,420,000 28.7
2001 3,380,000 28.3
2002 3,290,000 27.6

Notes:

1. From 1993 to 1999 means-tested benefits included in the table are Income Support (IS), Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) (JSA(IB)), Housing Benefit (HB), Community Charge Benefit (CCB)/Council Tax Benefit (CTB), Family Credit (FC) and Disability Working Allowance (DWA).

2. From 2000 to 2002 means-tested benefits included in the table are IS, JSA(IB), HB and CCB/CTB. FC and DWA were replaced by Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Persons Tax Credit in October 1999 and are therefore not included in the figures for 2000, 2001 and 2002.

3. Overlaps between benefits have been removed.

4. Great Britain HB/CTB figures include estimates for local authorities that have not responded.

5. CTB data excludes Second Adult Rebate cases.

6. HB data excludes any Extended Payment cases.

7. Percentage for population has been calculated using the revised ONS population estimates for age group 60 and over, for 1993 to 2001.

8. Figures (except DWA) are based on 1 per cent. and 5 per cent. samples and therefore subject to sampling variation.

9. Beneficiaries of a benefit unit are the sum of claimants and their partners.

Source:

IAD Information Centre 5 per cent. and I per cent. samples