A charity wants the government to uprate Local Housing Allowance so older private renters aren’t forced to make up what it calls “ever increasing shortfalls in their rent.”
The demand comes from charity Independent Age, and it is one of a number of calls being made on government.
Independent Age also wants the government to develop a take-up strategy for all financial entitlements so all older people can receive the financial support they are eligible for. This includes Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Attendance Allowance.
It wants to work with utility companies in energy and water to introduce a single social tariff to reduce fuel and water poverty, so there is some immediate financial relief for older people in poverty.
And it wants to establish a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing in England, and an Older People’s Commissioner for Scotland, to act as an independent champion for older people, ensuring the voices of all older people – including those living on a low income – are heard by decision makers.
The demands come alongside what it claims is substantial public support.
A survey conducted for the charity claims that 82% of people think the UK government should be providing more support to older people. The polling also shows the importance of this issue at the ballot box, with more than 4 in 5 (81%) saying that policies to support older people in poverty would influence their vote in a General Election.
The polling shows that 79% of people of all ages believe that older people living in poverty is ‘a significant issue’ or ‘somewhat of an issue’, and more than 3 in 4 (77%) think that the UK government has a role to play in addressing this problem.
This polling which took place before the UK Government’s recent announcement to provide the Winter Fuel Payment to more people – asked about the UK Government’s first year in office, and a majority of people of all ages (61%) said policies introduced during the past 12 months have negatively impacted older people in poverty. According to the polling, the policy that has caused the most damage was means testing of the Winter Fuel Payment, with 69% saying this was bad for people over 65.
The research also found that the public support a number of policies to improve later life for current and future generations, including providing further help for older people with water costs (83%), providing more support for housing costs (83%), and creating a long-term strategy to ensure the State Pension is fit for purpose (85%).
Independent Age chief executive Joanna Elson says:“With almost two million older people living in poverty, the UK Government has a moral duty to reduce this number and support those currently living in financial hardship. We know firsthand from speaking to the older people in poverty, what an isolating and difficult experience it can be. It means going to bed early to stay warm, not washing regularly to save on water, and limiting yourself to one meal a day. This shouldn’t be happening in modern day Britain.
“The UK Government must take the opportunity to address later life poverty. Last week it took a step in the right direction by widening the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment. While positive, this isn’t the silver bullet that will solve pensioner poverty, and it puts many back to the same financially strained situations they were in previously. The ultimate goal should be the long-term financial security of all older people. This will be difficult, but there are policies that can make this a reality for current and future generations. The UK Government should work with water and energy companies to introduce a social tariff for both utilities. This will help protect those on low incomes from future spikes in costs.
“There also needs to be a consensus among all the political parties on the adequate income needed in later life to avoid financial hardship. Once this is established, plans can be put into place to ensure every older person receives this amount. With the political will, poverty in later life can become a relic of the past.”
