Written question asked by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Monday, 28 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 April 2005. It was answered by Chris Pond (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 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 the average (a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit payment to pensioners was in the last period for which figures are available.

Answer: Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average (a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit payment to pensioners was in the last period for which figures are available. [224672] Mr. Pond: The average council tax benefit payment to claimants over 60 is £11.90 a week. The average housing benefit payment to those claimants over 60 is £48.98 a week. Notes: 1. The figures are based on a one per cent. sample and subject to a degree of sampling variation. 2. Council tax benefit data excludes any second adult rebate cases. 3. Housing benefit data excludes extended payments. 4. The figures are rounded to the nearest penny. 5. The figures refer to cases where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 or over. Source: Housing benefit and council tax benefit management information system, annual one per cent. sample, taken in May 2003.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c1482-3W;432 c1478-9W; 224672
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Council tax benefits Housing benefit Pensioners Payments Social security benefits
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk