Hundreds of thousands of pensioners going without essentials, report finds
Hundreds of thousands of elderly people are struggling to meet the basic costs of the UK, retired poverty scale has put forward a new report.
Research by the Living Wage Foundation (LWF), more than half of the low -income retirees (54 percent) says they find it difficult to keep up with the bills.
Since philanthropy is not enough to meet the foundations of 35 percent of the basic revenues, 35 percent of the benefits or money from friends and family relieves.
This is particularly evident to rent retirees, in particular the fact that he cannot meet or receive loans to meet the foundations, which are left behind with approximately one quarter (24 percent) invoices.
LWF Director Katherine Chapman said: “These findings show difficult reality for too many retirees that are still not enough to live after a lifetime.
“No one should worry about boiling the kettle when it is cold or a cup of tea. The good news is that there is a simple way for employers to play a role in the fight against retirement poverty.”
LWF’s report found the following:
- Living standards have fallen, almost half of the retirees (48 percent) says that they have to reduce their hobbies and entertainment.
- Approximately two (42 percent) of low -income retirees said that for most of their working lives, they see themselves as mid -elderly people and that they said that a similar rate is more struggling than they work.
- Most retired states are dependent on the pension and more than half (54 percent) has no workplace pension.
Sheila, who retired in the eighties, said, “It’s hard, it’s really hard. Everyone thinks it’s rich in old people, but it’s not true. I haven’t opened my heating for three years.”
“The most difficult exchange was between heating and food because this is in winter. When something broke, I need a win, a refrigerator or a new pair of shoes, I panic, because I know I can’t just change it.”
“Let’s say, we don’t want retirees luxury, we just want to pass. We worked, we paid and now we’re left to fight.”
LWF urged businesses to receive a voluntary savings target to help employers to create a pension pot that will provide sufficient retirement pots to meet basic needs in retirement.
It is based on an annual contribution of 12 percent of a employee to the pension pot or savings of £ 2,950 at 2024/25 and does not come more than 5 percent than the employee.
According to Age UK, it is estimated that approximately 2 million retirees in England are in poverty, which is believed to rise rapidly.
Caroline Abrahams CBE, who responded to the LWF report, said: “higher life costs are hit by every household, but many elderly people in low or humble fixed income find that it is impossible to cope with constantly rising prices such as food and energy.”
Last year, the Solution Foundation estimated that £ 100,000 would be needed in retirement to support the state pension and to ensure minimum income standard.
The effective thinking tank first supported the retirement policy in 2021, which was directed by the current retirement Minister Torsten Bell.
Shadow work and retirement secretary Helen Whatly said: “The numbers are deeply worried.
“In the government, the conservatives introduced a triple lock and removed many retirees from poverty, but since the Labor Party’s elections and consequently economic failures, since inflation has gradually seduced, too many elderly people are fighting to end the decision to reduce winter fuel payments for last winter.”
The report comes after the Labor and Pension Committee calls for a national strategy to cope with retirement poverty in July.
In addition to proposing a strategy to increase the recruitment of pension loans, the group of interpersonal deputies, the government should set a minimum retirement income and provide a plan for each retirement to reach this level, he said.
At that time, the Committee President Debbie Abrahams said, “Poverty is insidious. Isolas, health and damage you to dignity. After contributing to society for decades, dignity in retirement is the least you deserve.”
“But too many people are forced to make sacrifices that will accelerate their aging because there is not enough to live.”
“In the more costly rented accommodation, high energy costs are faced with a combination of patient health and higher retirement rates, not only a DWP issue of the fight against retirement poverty. Therefore, we call a country -wide strategy for an aging society that needs to root in self -esteem and prosperity.”
A DWP spokesman said: “It is the greatest priority to support retirees, and thanks to our devotion to a triple lock, millions of people will see that this parliament has increased from £ 1,900 £ 1,900.
“At the same time, we have carried out the biggest campaign so far to increase the purchase of pension loans, and more than 57,000 extra retired households have benefited an average of £ 4,300 per year.
“To ensure that the retirees of tomorrow will not be poorer than today, we play the Pension Commission to cope with obstacles that prevent too many people from saving.”
