[holding answer 6 March 2009]: The latest estimates of the numbers eligible for means-tested benefits in Great Britain, covering income support, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance (income based) are published in the report ‘Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2006-07’, a copy of which is in the Library.
Estimates of the pensioner population who are not in receipt of pension credit but who are eligible for council tax benefit are not available.
The requested information about those in receipt of council tax benefit is in the table.
Number Total number of recipients of council tax benefit 5,079,080 Recipients of council tax benefit aged 60 and over and not in receipt of pension credit 444,880 Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Council tax benefit totals exclude any second adult rebate cases. 5. Administrative HB/CTB Information contains two age breakdowns (i) those under the age of 60 and (ii) those aged 60 and over. Therefore ‘Pensioners’ refers to recipients aged 60 or over. 6. Not all recipients of council tax benefit who are aged over 60 will be eligible for pension credit. Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in August 2007.
Analysis of the Family Resources Survey for 2006-07 suggests that 10 per cent. of pensioner families with a council tax liability but no entitlement to council tax benefit are in households where no one is liable to pay income tax.
For people of working age 3 per cent. of families with a council tax liability but no entitlement to council tax benefit are in households where no one is liable to pay income tax.
These estimates refer to Great Britain and are based on survey data and modelling so are subject to sample variation and to other forms of errors.
We estimate that in 2007-08 67 per cent. of all new council tax benefit claims were successful.
Notes:
1. Not all local authorities return their quarterly clerical forms; Figures for any non-responding authorities have not been estimated.
2. Claim processing data are supplied to DWP by local authorities and are unaudited.
Source:
Quarterly Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Administration Data.