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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on low income households of delaying commencement of paying state retirement pension until the beginning of the week following the birthday that brings entitlement to that pension; [139485] (2) to commence entitlement to state pension from the actual date of the (a) 65th birthday for men and (b) 60th birthday, for women. [139486] Malcolm Wicks: There are no plans to change the date from which entitlement to State Pension commences. The rule that entitlement begins on the payday on or following the day on which a man reaches his 65th birthday, or a woman her 60th birthday, derives from the fact that State Pension is paid in advance. In practice any effect upon low income households is beneficial as the following chart shows. In the case of bereavement benefits, which are also paid in advance, there is no change upon reaching pension age, since the same payday is maintained. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Date Payment in Advance Payment in Arrears Thursday 4 December 2003 Man becomes 65 years/woman becomes 60 years. Monday 8 December 2003 Entitled to standard rate State Pension. Would receive £44.28 (4/7ths of £77.45) Receives £77.45 full week's payment for for the period 4.12.03 to 7.12.03 the coming week _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: In respect of the period up to Wednesday 3 December 2003 the individual from a low income household would typically receive one or more of the following, paid around this time: final earnings, monthly or weekly in arrears, with holiday pay, week in hand etc. incapacity benefit/jobseeker's allowance--paid fortnightly in arrears income support--paid weekly or at another period, in arrears

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

413 c1070-2W;413 c1070-1W; 139485;139486

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Eligibility Low incomes Pensions Payments State retirement pensions

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk