Background to the Research

• In 1999 means-tested income support for poorer pensioners was renamed the MIG. Given the existing problems of poor take-up of means tested benefits great efforts were made to get pensioners to claim the new MIG.
• This article examines the extent of non-take-up of the MIG within the context of the level and sources of pensioners' incomes and sets these issues within the policy context of pension policy in the United Kingdom.
  

Research Approach

• The authors draw on data in relation to 818 pensioners interviewed in the 1999/2000 NILT annual survey.
  

Main Findings

• Of those sampled, 59% of single women fell below the £90 minimum weekly income required by a single pensioner.
• The data shows the very limited role of occupational pensions for pensioner couples in the survey (38% compared with 66% in Britain).
• Gender played a significant role in relation to income support with 15% of single men being recipients compared with 32% of single females.
• There is a heavy reliance on components of disability benefits, particularly amongst women, with 27% of single females receiving attendance allowance or disability living allowance care component.
• It appeared that 13% of interviewees were entitled, but not claiming the MIG, in 89% of cases the apparent entitlement was £5 or more.