The National Audit Office said that more could be done to improve take-up of benefits by pensioners, including setting national targets for pension credit, and collecting better data (including for particular groups such as ethnic minorities) to enable it to assess whether take-up work is having an effect.
Source: Tackling Pensioner Poverty: Encouraging take-up of entitlements, HC 35 (Session 2002-03), National Audit Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | NAO press release | Age Concern press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 1.5
Date: 2002-Nov
Retirement pension and bereavement benefits will increase in April 2003 by more than the retail prices index. Basic retirement pension is to increase by 2.58 per cent ( 1.95 a week) for a single pensioner to 77.45 a week, and by 2.57 per cent ( 3.10 a week) for a couple to 123.80 a week. Minimum income guarantee (income support) rates will rise to 102.10 for a single pensioner and 155.80 for a pensioner couple.
Source: Press release 18.11.02, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7712 2171)
Links: Press release | Table of benefit rates (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 1.5
Date: 2002-Nov
Single older people need between 160 (homeowners) and 200 (tenants) a week for an 'adequate' income in retirement, according to new research: but around half of all pensioners and as many as 80 per cent of those who are local authority tenants are not reaching this level.
Source: Hermione Parker (ed.), Modest but Adequate A reasonable living standard for older households aged 65-74, Age Concern England (020 8765 7200)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
Campaigners called for a substantial rise in the basic state pension and for a link to earnings; they also said that the legal framework and level of funding of occupational pensions should be strengthened, with a pooling of risk by state-backed insurance.
Source: Work and Pensions Committee Inquiry into Future of UK Pensions: Response, Northern Pensions Resource Group (0191 232 2968) and Independent Pensions Research Group
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Oct
A study examined the reality of life on a low income in older age and the harsh financial choices that have to be made. Taking a sample of people aged 70 and over in receipt of benefits but able to do their own shopping, the study provided empirical data on lifestyle and expenditure patterns.
Source: Maxine Whetstone, Hard Times: A study of pensioner poverty, CPA Report 31/Nestl Family Monitor 14, Centre for Policy on Ageing, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2002-Oct
Research into older people's use of the Social Fund found that lack of knowledge, the stigma of applying, communication difficulties, the high rates of repayment for loans, and a deep-seated opposition to borrowing, all contributed to low take-up.
Source: Elaine Kempson, Sharon Collard and Sally Taylor, Social Fund Use amongst Older People in Britain, Research Report 172, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report (pdf links)
Date: 2002-Aug
Research found that the average value of occupational pensions-in-payment, paid on top of state pensions, reached nearly 4,500 a year for the latest year for which figures were available.
Source: Pensions Bulletin July 2002, Incomes Data Services (020 7324 2599)
Links: Link removed
Date: 2002-Jul
The government insisted that the pension credit scheme and the second state pension scheme are complementary, and rejected a suggestion by a committee of MPs that the second state pension might become redundant with the introduction of the pension credit.
Source: Pension Credit: Government Response to the Second Report of Session 2001-02, Second Special Report (Session 2001-02), HC 1006, House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 1.5
Date: 2002-Jul
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in favour of a British man who was denied the same widow s benefits as a woman.
Source: Case of Willis v The United Kingdom, 11.6.02, Application 36042/97, European Court of Human Rights (33 0 388412018)
Links: Summary of judgement
Date: 2002-Jun
The State Pension Credit Bill received Royal Assent.
Source: State Pension Credit Act 2002, Department for Work and Pensions, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Act
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124 (paragraph 1.5)
Date: 2002-Jun
Average net income before housing costs for all pensioner units was 192 a week, up 23 per cent in real terms since 1994-95 (Great Britain, 2000-01).
Source: The Pensioners' Income Series 2000-01, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7962 8688)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121 (paragraph 1.5)
Date: 2002-May
A report called for a higher basic state pension and a new relationship between state and non-state providers.
Source: Resolving the Pensions Dilemma, Work Foundation (formerly Industrial Society) (07970 936187)
Links: Summary
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124 (paragraph 1.5)
Date: 2002-May
