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Pensions

Volume 506: debated on Wednesday 24 February 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of pensioners receive earnings-related state pensions under (a) the state earnings-related pension scheme only, (b) the state second pension scheme only and (c) both schemes. (317177)

The information is in the table

Pensioners in receipt of additional state pension (Great Britain, March 2009)

State earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS) only

State second pension (S2P) only

Both SERPS and S2P

Number of pensioners in receipt

6,491,000

144,900

1,838,000

Percentage of total number of recipients of any state pension

59

1

17

Notes:

1. Figures shown are for March 2009.

2. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 100 pensioners. Percentages are rounded to the nearest percent. Note the denominator used in the percentages is total state pension caseload in Great Britain, rather than total population in Great Britain at or above state pension age.

3. The state second pension (S2P) scheme reformed the state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS) from April 2002. Only people reaching state pension age from April 2003 onwards can have built up some entitlement to S2P.

4. Pensioners in receipt of additional pension under the S2P scheme but not under SERPS were either credited into S2P through caring or disability, or are receiving an S2P top-up on account of contracted-out employment.

Source:

Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, administrative data 5 per cent. sample