Written question asked by Peter Luff (Conservative) on Monday, 28 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 April 2005. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Monday, 4 April 2005 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the number of pensioners eligible for pension credit who are not claiming the credit. (Failed OPQ)

Answer: Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of pensioners eligible for pension credit who are not claiming the credit. [224428] Malcolm Wicks: Reliable estimates of the number of people eligible for pension credit but not receiving it are not yet available. We plan to publish definitive National Statistics on take-up and entitlement for the first six months of pension credit by the end of 2005. At the end of December 2004, 3,600 pensioner households (4,460 individuals) in Mid Worcestershire were receiving pension credit, with an average weekly payment of £37.88 per household.

Secondary information