Council Tax Benefit

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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the (a) number and (b) percentage of (i) single males, (ii) single females and (iii) couples (A) over 60 and (B) over 75 who will be eligible for (1) any amount of council tax benefit and (2) full council tax benefit (x) at present, (y) in April 2003 and (z) in October 2003. [96369]

The available information is in the table.

Estimated numbers of pensioners eligible for Council Tax Benefit (CTB) in 2002–03
	All pensioners		Pensioners aged over 75
	Any CTB	Full CTB only	Any CTB	Full CTB only
2002–03
Single males	630,000	310,000	270,000	120,000
Single females	1,960,000	1,170,000	1,080,000	710,000
Couples	1,300,000	510,000	430,000	170,000
Total	3,890,000	1,990,000	1,780,000	1,000,000
2003–04
Single males	700,000	320,000	310,000	120,000
Single females	2,080,000	1,210,000	1,140,000	730,000
Couples	1,470,000	540,000	480,000	180,000
Total	4,240,000	2,060,000	1,930,000	1,030,000

Notes:

1. The Policy Simulation Model is only available for each financial year and estimates can be interpreted as relating to the mid-year point. It is therefore, not possible to provide estimates for the points in time requested. Estimates for 2003–04 include the effects of the Pension Credit.

2. Pensioners are defined to be households where the benefit recipient or their partner is aged 60 or over. The over 75 group includes cases where either the benefit recipient or their partner is 75 or over.

3. The estimates are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and totals may not sum due to rounding.

4. Although it is possible to infer estimates of take-up by comparing these figures with forecast caseloads, it should be noted that these figures may not be consistent with those published in the take-up statistics, which are estimated on a different basis.

Source:

Estimates have been produced using the DWP Policy Simulation Model, which is based on the 2000–01 Family Resources Survey with prices and benefits uprated to the year in question.

Volume 400: debated on Tuesday 4 March 2003