Written question asked by James Purnell (Labour) on Friday, 4 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 June 2004. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Monday, 14 June 2004 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, how many pensioners in Stalybridge and Hyde received the winter fuel allowance; and how many receive the pension credit. - Inc figures.

Answer: James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Stalybridge and Hyde received the winter fuel allowance; and how many receive the pension credit. [177685] Malcolm Wicks: The number of pensioners in Stalybridge and Hyde who received a winter fuel payment for winter 2003-04 was 15,580. As at 31 May 2004, 4,530 households (5,430 individuals) in Stalybridge and Hyde were in receipt of pension credit. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. 2. The winter fuel payment figure includes only the main payment run--i.e. it does not include late payment run figures. We estimate that there are approximately 100,000 people in Great Britain paid via late payment runs (0.8 per cent. of all payments). However, since late payment runs are mainly in respect of non-system cases whose claim had not been received by qualifying week, they are heavily skewed towards men aged 60. 3. Individuals in receipt of pension credit include a small number of cases of couples where the partner is under age 60.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 177685; 422 c733W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Pension credit Pensioners Recipients Social security benefits Winter fuel payment Stalybridge and Hyde
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk