To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's estimate was of the total number of residents eligible for a state pension and of these (a) the number who claimed a state pension, (b) the number who applied for minimum income guarantee support, (c) the number refused MIG support and (d) the number in receipt of disability assistance in each of the last five years. [118233]
Information is not available for the number of minimum income guarantee (MIG) applications made each year or the number refused. Information is also not available on the number of resident people who are either eligible for, or have claimed state pension. Such information as is available is shown in the table.
| Total number of State Pension recipients in GB | Total number of people over state pension age receiving sickness/disability benefit in GB | Total number of MIG recipients in GB | |
| 1998 | 10,036,300 | Not available | 1,640,900 |
| 1999 | 10,131,700 | 2,381,000 | 1,625,500 |
| 2000 | 10,185,400 | 2,470,000 | 1,675,200 |
| 2001 | 10,256,100 | 2,501,000 | 1,741,300 |
| 2002 | 10,310,900 | 2,555,000 | 1,767,500 |
Note:
Sickness/disability benefits include incapacity benefit, severe disablement Allowance, disability living allowance, attendance allowance and income support with a disability premium.
Source:
Pension Strategy Computer System 5 per cent. sample
Client Group Analysis of the population over State Pension Age
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries November 1997-November 2002