The information that is available is in the following table.
Tackling pensioner poverty was one of the Government’s first priorities. The introduction of pension credit in October 2003, which targeted substantial additional resources on those in the greatest need, was supported by an extensive campaign to raise awareness of the new benefit and to encourage every pensioner with an entitlement to take it up. The 2004 figures demonstrate that the campaign had a considerable immediate impact. And, since the introduction of pension credit, the number of pensioners in relative poverty has fallen by around 700,000.
Mid year England and Wales 2000 3,070,000 2001 3,060,000 2002 2,970,000 2003 2,950,000 2004 3,380,000 2005 3,440,000 2006 3,420,000 2007 3,490,000 Notes: 1. Means tested benefits are pension credit (PC), minimum income guarantee/income support for the over 60s (MIG/IS), jobseeker’s allowance (income-based) (JSA(IB)), housing benefit (HB), council tax benefit (CTB). Overlaps between benefits have been removed. 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest ten thousand. 3. “Beneficiaries” is the sum of claimants aged 60 or over and claimants partners aged 60 or over. 4. Figures based on one per cent data samples (HB and CTB) and 5 per cent data samples (MIG/IS and JSA(IB) and PC) are subject to sampling variation. The 5 per cent. data sample has been rated in line with Work and Pension Longitudinal Study data. 5. CTB data excludes second adult rebate cases. HB data excludes any Extended Payment cases. 6. Estimates for 2000 to 2004 are based on past benefit data as at May of each year. Estimates for 2005-06 and 2006-07 use estimated annual average caseloads for HB and CTB and data as at May of each year for other benefits. 2007-08 is based on a forecast annual average caseload for HB and CTB and data for other benefits as at May of each year. Source: DWP, one per cent. data samples, five per cent. data samples and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study