The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1983-1987 Parliament

Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Over-80s (Pension) – 10 March 1987

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Over-80s (Pension) on 10th March 1987.


Mr. David Atkinson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to seek to bring the over- 80s into the state retirement pension scheme.

Mr. Major People aged over 80 are not excluded from the state retirement pension scheme. Contributory pensions are payable for life, and non-contributory pensions are payable to those people over 80 who either have no entitlement to a contributory pension or whose rate of pension is below the level of the over-80s non-contributory pension. Eligibility for this non-contributory benefit is based on a residence test. There are no plans to alter these arrangements.