4 - The Pensioner Poverty Time Bomb

Summary

Hang on, isn't this supposed to be a “golden age” for old age? Aren't the young getting a raw deal while older generations enjoy the fruits of gold-plated pensions, a house price boom and generous state support? Yes, but not all pensioners are sitting pretty and enjoying a healthier and wealthier retirement than could have been imagined by previous generations, or than is likely to be on offer for their grandchildren. There are hundreds of thousands who are suffering and see no way out.

A 2013 report for the DWP (Kotecha 2013) included descriptions of the experiences of older people living on low incomes. Despite the dispassionate language, they show the dire situations some found themselves trapped in:

Nathan is 68 years old and has worked in various manual professions all his life – his last job was as a self-employed pallet provider for building sites. He is now divorced and finds himself living alone in social housing with an income of £120 per week. Nathan is also a diabetic, which means he has to eat regularly and to have good quality fruit and vegetables. Nathan feels his income does not allow him to do this; he can only afford to have two meals a day and cannot afford to buy the quality of meat and vegetables he needs. He knows that it is vital to manage his blood glucose levels and does this by supplementing meals with frequent intakes of cheap, sugary tea. He feels grateful when his children come over as they sometimes help him buy groceries, but he knows they are struggling too.

Gill is in her 70s and lives alone. She has a number of health conditions that profoundly affect her ability to manage independently, including arthritis and cardiac issues. This means she often needs help bathing and dressing, as well as with her shopping. Changes in her benefits mean that she can no longer afford to have the frequency of care that she needs. She has had to cut down the number of times a carer comes in from seven days a week to three days a week.

Research by the charity Independent Age (Seaman 2020) highlights how disempowered and trapped many older people feel, especially those on low incomes.