𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Some four years now into the cost of living crisis, life remains extremely tough for older people on very tight fixed incomes.

Inflation may be down compared to before but the cumulative impact of all the rises in utility and food bills over the last few years is hitting them hard today and every day.

We also often hear from pensioners who were frugal throughout their working lives and expected to enjoy a comfortable retirement, but who now find their careful planning has been overtaken by price hikes on all sides, leaving them in a bind.

Without the triple lock the position would have been even worse – a rebuke to those who say this crucial policy should now go – but the truth is that the triple lock is not enough on its own to prevent 1.9 million older people from experiencing poverty in the UK, equivalent to almost one in five of all over-65s.

Many of them are compelled to resort to keeping their heating turned down low or off for periods in winter, limiting their meals, cutting out non-essentials like the occasional small treat, and not showering or bathing every day – a joyless existence and one that can undermine their mental and physical health too.

And the solutions? More generous state pensions, a real Government effort to get vital top-up benefits like pension credit to older people in desperate need, and guaranteed cheap deals for energy and other utilities, to reduce outgoings. It’s within Government’s power to act.

Caroline Abrahams is charity director at Age UK