HC Deb 29 March 2004 vol 419 cc1240-1W
Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list each benefit available in 2004–05 as of right to older people, giving(a) the qualifying age and (b) the total annual Exchequer costs, broken down by uplift according to advancing age. [164068]

Malcolm Wicks

The information is in the table.

Benefit/entitlement Payable from age Qualification 2004–05 forecast expenditure (£ million)
Additional £100 payment (one-off Budget 2004 measure) 70 Non-contributory; non-income-related. 430
Free TV licences 75 Non-contributory; non-income-related. 420
80† Annual Payment (Winter Fuel Payment) 80 Non-contributory; non-income-related. 210
Non-contributory basic State Pension (Category D) 80 Non-contributory; non-income-related. Depends on person: not receiving a State Pension or receiving a contributory State Pension lower than Category D rate at age 80; being resident in GB at age 80; and having lived in GB for a total of 10 years or more in any continuous period of 20 years before or after they reach age 80. 30
Age Addition to basic State Pension 80 Non-contributory; non-income-related. 40

Notes:

1. Expenditure figures are consistent with Budget 2004 forecasts and are for GB benefit expenditure.

2. Expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

3. The breakdown of spending may not sum to published totals due to rounding.

4. The figures include Pension Credit (Savings Credit) payments made to someone under age 65 if their partner is age 65 or over.

5. The basic State Pension is paid to women from age 60 and men from age 65.

6. The Christmas Bonus figure is for amounts paid with State Pension and Pension Credit. The Christmas Bonus can also be paid with other qualifying benefits to younger people.