Pensioners (Minimum Income)

Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people who will benefit as a result of the new guaranteed minimum income for pensioners on income support. [80948]

Mr. Timms
The number of pensioner benefit units that will benefit from the Minimum Income Guarantee for pensioners in 1999–2000 is estimated to be 1.47 million. A pensioner benefit unit represents a single person aged 60 or over, or a couple where one or both members is aged 60 or over.

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and exclude pensioners in residential care and nursing homes.

2. The estimates are based on forecasts published in the March 1999 Departmental Report.