§ 21. John BarrettWhat percentage of pensioners are in receipt of means-tested benefits. [177333]
§ Malcolm WicksThe latest figures available which relate to the percentage of pensioners in receipt of income related allowances in Great Britain show that, as at May 2002, 27.4 per cent. of the population aged over 60 were in receipt of entitlements which included Income Support, Job Seeker's Allowance and Housing/ Council Tax Benefit.
Our approach is getting money to those who need it most. As at the end of May there were 2.5 million pensioner households in receipt of Pension Credit—over 3 million individuals.
As a result of measures that this Government have introduced, the poorest third of pensioners are now £1,750 a year—£33 a week—better off than they would have been under the 1997 arrangements.