HC Deb 23 March 2004 vol 419 cc746-7W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will update his estimates based on the Family Resources Survey 2001–02 of(a) median pensioner incomes, excluding means-tested benefits, by (i) age, (ii) sex and (iii) marital status and (b) the size of each group, consistent with his Answer of 27 June 2002, Official Report, column 1060W. [162649]

Age 60-64 Age 65-69 Age 70-74 Age 75-79 Age 80+
Single males
Median income (£) n/a 161 155 145 135
Number n/a 230,000 260,000 250,000 310,000
Single females
Median income (£) 137 142 125 118 117
Number 410,000 480,000 600,000 640,000 950,000
Couples
Median income (£) n/a 309 264 241 224
Number n/a 990,000 800,000 550,000 390,000

Notes:

  1. 1. The definition of income used here is gross income that is income gross of the following items: income tax payments, national insurance contributions, contributions to occupational and personal pension schemes, local taxes, maintenance, child support payments ands parental contributions to students living away from home.
  2. 2. "Median income" represents the income of the person or family exactly in the middle of the range of ranked incomes of the age group. For each age group there is a wide range of incomes.
  3. 3. The data from the Family Resources Survey 2000–02 are rounded to the nearest £1 are 10,000. money amounts are expressed in 2001–02 prices to be consistent with latest published pensioners' income series.
  4. 4. These estimates are based on a small sample size and comparisons with 2000–01 figures given in the previous answer should therefore be made with caution.
  5. 5. Pensioner units are allocated to age categories according to the age of the head of the unit.
  6. 6. Estimates have not been split by gender for couples as the extent of income sharing within pensioner units is unknown.
  7. 7. Means tested benefits refer to minimum income guarantee, working families tax credit, housing benefit and social fund grants.
  8. 8. These results are based on survey respondents' identification of different elements of benefit income and are therefore subject to misreporting.
  9. 9. The pensioners income series 2002ȓ03 will be published in May 2004 which will update there figures.

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