Hansard

State Retirement Pension

Volume 481: debated on Tuesday 28 October 2008

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Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals received the state pension in each of the last five years. (229996)

Ms Rosie Winterton

The information is in the table.

Number of individuals in receipt of state pension

2008

12,011,540

2007

11,785,670

2006

11,611,590

2005

11,519,880

2004

11,354,100

Notes:

1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Some additional disclosure control has also been applied.

2. Figures are taken at February for each year.

Source:

DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Steve Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of pensioners potentially entitled to lump sum payments of backdated retirement pension through payment of Class 3 National Insurance contributions his Department has identified to date in the special exercise that is underway; how much has been paid out in such lump sums to date; to how many people; when he expects to complete this exercise; and if he will make a statement. (230358)

Ms Rosie Winterton

[holding answer 27 October 2008]: The special exercise is due to be completed in December 2009. To date 4,917 pensioners have been identified with the potential to benefit from paying class 3 national insurance contributions. A further 1,580 pensioners have been identified who could potentially benefit from paying class 3 national insurance contributions and from home responsibilities protection. These pensioners are being contacted and given the option of whether to pay class 3 national insurance contributions. There are also 771 pensioners identified who could benefit from home responsibilities protection only. So far arrears of £13,650.28 state pension have been paid to nine pensioners who benefited from home responsibilities protection.