Written question asked by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Tuesday, 7 October 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 October 2008. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Wednesday, 22 October 2008 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
Pensioners
- Question
- To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on (a) pension credit, (b) the second state pension, (c) the basic state pension, (d) widow's benefit, (e) free television licenses, (f) Christmas bonuses, (g) attendance allowance paid to pensioners and (h) carers allowance paid to pensioners expressed in current prices in each of the last 10 years.
- Answer
-
The information is in the table.
Expenditure on selected DWP benefits paid to pensioners Great Britain, 2008-09 prices (a) Pension Credit and predecessors (b) SERPS and S2P (c) Basic State Pension (d) Widow's and Bereavement Benefits (e) Over 75 TV Licence (f) Christmas Bonus (g) Attendance Allowance (h) Carer's Allowance 1997-98 4,992 4,189 40,255 185 184 3,336 — — 1998-99 4,671 4,724 41,226 174 181 3,459 — — 1999-00 4,783 5,563 42,261 163 170 3,571 — — 2000-01 5,108 5,901 42,427 150 381 169 3,686 — 2001-02 5,465 6,490 44,578 145 445 166 3,806 — 2002-03 5,297 6,932 45,474 179 442 162 3,840 — 2003-04 5,569 7,632 45,755 162 473 162 3,968 42 2004-05 6,670 8,225 46,291 154 486 159 4,104 43 2005-06 7,030 8,928 47,327 138 504 156 4,293 39 2006-07 7,305 9,564 47,506 120 519 154 4,413 42 2007-08 7,582 10,482 48,826 106 525 152 4,572 48 Notes: 1. Pension credit replaced income support for people over 60/minimum income guarantee in 2003-04. Figures include spending on men aged 60 to 64. 2. The main reason for the decline in the payment of widow's and bereavement benefits from 2002-03 is due to changes in the criteria for receipt of the benefits. Widow's benefit is now closed to new claimants, who now receive a bereavement benefit instead. In addition, persons in receipt of Widow's and bereavement benefits now receive state pension on reaching state pension age. Previously, persons in receipt of widow's benefit continued to receive this benefit on reaching state pension age and did not receive a state pension. Also, a declining mortality rate means a slight reduction in the numbers claiming these benefits. 3. Over 75 TV licences expenditure is on a UK basis, and was introduced in 2000-01. 4. Christmas bonus comprises of contributory and non-contributory payments and includes all payments made including a small amount to people not of pension age. 5. Carer's allowance replaced invalid care allowance in 2002-03. Consistent estimates of payment of the benefit to pensioners are only available from 2003-04. Source: DWP Benefits expenditure tables and accounting data for 2007-08.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 481 c404-6W; 226178
- Session
- 2007-08
- Subjects
- Pensioners Social security benefits
- Link
- View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2013-11-25 22:48:35 +0000
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