Tag: Independent Age

Reeves Budget ‘tackles cost-of-living and backs Scottish industry’

Scottish families will benefit from a Budget to cut the cost-of-living, create more high skilled jobs and invest in public services, as the Chancellor reaffirmed her commitment to drive economic growth.

  • Chancellor announces fair deal for working families with removal of two-child benefit cap, energy bill saving and fuel duty freeze 
  • Scottish industry backed by investments in Grangemouth, Greenock, Leith and Fife 
  • Public services backed with extra £820 million for Scottish Government

Rachel Reeves recognised Scotland’s huge £204 billion annual contribution to the UK economy with investments in Grangemouth, Greenock, Leith and Kirkcaldy, and provided long-term certainty to the oil and gas industry to support North Sea jobs and investment. 

Despite wages growing more in the first year of this government than at any point in the 2010s, the Chancellor was clear too many families are still struggling with the cost of living which is why the Budget included a range of measures to cut bills and boost pay packets.   

Saying that the fairest way to help people with the cost-of-living was to cut inflation and increase wages, Reeves announced £150 off energy bills, a fuel duty freeze, and national minimum and living wage rises. 

The Chancellor announced the removal of the two-child limit. 95,000 children in Scotland will benefit from this change. Funded by tackling welfare fraud and long-overdue reforms to the Motability scheme, it will result in the biggest reduction in child poverty at any Budget this century.

The Chancellor’s Budget also ensured that Scottish public services are fairly-funded, with an extra £820 million for public services in Scotland through the Barnett Formula, on top of a record settlement in June.

Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander MP said: “This is a Budget which delivers for Scotland – raising children out of poverty and helping tackle the cost of living for working families with action on energy bills.

“Scrapping the two-child benefit cap will lift thousands of Scottish children out of poverty. Funded by raising online gambling taxes and tackling welfare fraud, it will result in the biggest reduction in child poverty at any Budget this century.

“The UK Government has backed Scotland’s public services with an extra £820 million — on top of the extra annual £9.1 billion already committed at the Spending Review.

“The £14.5 million announced for Grangemouth is also vital investment in Scotland.”

Ms Reeves also announced reforms to modernise the tax system, asking those with broader shoulders to contribute more through long-overdue fair reforms.

Backing Scottish industry 

  • £14.5 million will back Grangemouth’s transition to a hub for low carbon technologies as the UK Government cements Scotland’s place as the home of the UK’s clean energy revolution. 
  • A further £20 million for Inchgreen near Greenock will upgrade the port’s dry dock, creating up to 1,750 jobs.  
  • Up to £20 million will transform Kirkcaldy town centre and waterfront, including the creation of ‘Adam Smith Growth Works’, boosting local business and tourism.
  • £25 million will be released following the full sign-off of Forth Green Freeport – spanning Leith, Grangemouth and Fife.
  • To support oil and gas workers, the UK Government is introducing ‘Transitional Energy Certificates’ to manage existing North Sea fields for the entirety of their lifespan, and a new Jobs Brokerage Service – offering end-to-end career transition support.

Tackling child poverty, the cost-of-living and economic inactivity

  • 95,000 children in Scotland will benefit from the removal of the two-child limit. 
  • Raising the National Living Wage by 4.1% and the National Minimum Wage by 8.5% —building on April 2025 increases to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage that already directly benefitted 220,000 workers in Scotland. 
  • Uprating Universal Credit Standard Allowance by 6.1%, the first ever permanent real terms increase.
  • Increasing the State Pension by 4.8% from April 2026, directly raising incomes for 1.1 million pensioners in Scotland. 
  • Extending the fuel duty freeze and 5p cut, saving the average car driver £49 next year. 
  • Unleashing talent and opportunity with a Youth Guarantee package. This will include ensuring every eligible 18-to-21-year-old who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months in Great Britain will get a six-month paid work placement.

Public services investment 

  • The Budget provides an extra £820 million for the Scottish Government to spend on its priorities such as education and tackling NHS waiting times— on top of the extra £9.1 billion already committed during the Spending Review.   
  • The Scottish Government continues to receive over 20% more funding per person than equivalent UK Government spending across the rest of the UK reflecting the real costs of delivering services across Scotland’s diverse geography, from the Highlands to the central belt.

Holyrood: ‘Chaotic’ UK Budget fails to deliver for Scotland

Finance Secretary responds to Chancellor’s statement

The UK Budget “fails to deliver” for Scotland and will not move the dial on the cost of living for squeezed households, according to Holyrood’s Finance Secretary Shona Robison.

Responding to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s statement, Ms Robison said: “This Budget has been absolute chaos from start to finish. Westminster has been consumed with leaks, briefings and out and out incompetence – with Scotland left as an afterthought and families left to pay the price.

“We needed a step change from the UK Government with investment in public services, support for jobs and industry in Scotland and serious action on energy bills. Instead, we got a chaotic mess and the increase in funding for the Scottish Government will not even cover half the cost of the employer’s national insurance contributions brought in this year.

“With UK energy bills £340 higher than the Prime Minister promised even after today’s announcement, the UK Government are not even trying to deliver on the their promises. It is insulting to see the UK Government stand up and trumpet a proposed reduction that does not even cover the increase since they came to office.

“It does not come close to meeting the Prime Minister’s pledge on energy bills – they have not even attempted to keep their promises.

“The electric vehicle tax is the wrong decision for motorists, the climate and for Scotland given its disproportionate impact on rural drivers.

“And there is no serious support for jobs and industry in Scotland. The Energy Profits Levy is to remain in place – risking thousands of jobs in Scotland and in the North East in particular. Yet again, Scotland is an afterthought.

“And while the moves on the two child cap are welcome, they are long overdue and the UK Government has been forced into this position by the Scottish Government and other campaigners. And without a simultaneous change to the benefit cap it falls well short of the bold anti-poverty measures we have been calling for from the UK Government.

“But the complete chaos around this Budget gets to the heart of the fact that we should not be leaving crucial decisions around the economy, public finances and household bills in the hands of a deeply incompetent Westminster UK government.  We should take these decisions for ourselves with the fresh start of independence.” 

The impact of the increase Employers National Insurance contributions on public services is forecast to cost the Scottish Government at least £2 billion over the next five years.

Responding to the UK Government’s Budget, Poverty Alliance Chief Executive Peter Kelly said: “The Chancellor’s decision to fully scrap the unjust two-child limit is the right thing to do.

“For eight years, this cruel policy has severed the link between what families across the country need and the support they are entitled to, pushing children into poverty and limiting their potential. Our children deserve better.

“Campaigners across Scotland have been unified in their demand to scrap the two-child limit and we are pleased that the UK Government has listened, sending a strong message that every child in this country matters. The end of this policy must be the starting point of reform which ensures that our social security system truly provides security.

“This decision also frees up money earmarked for the mitigation of the policy in the Scottish Budget. Coupled with the additional £820 million allocated to the Scottish Government in this UK Budget, this will allow further investment in the action we know is needed to meet our child poverty targets, including increases to the Scottish Child Payment.”

Commenting on the UK Government’s Budget response, Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager for Independent Age said: “The Autumn Budget was an opportunity to address pensioner poverty across the UK. However, the UK Government has sadly missed the chance to take action on an issue that now affects almost two million older people across the UK, including 160,000 pensioners in Scotland. 

“While we welcome the retention of the Triple Lock, this measure alone does not go far enough for older people on the lowest incomes who are living across Scotland in cold homes and with not enough money to live on. 

“We continue to call on the UK Government to increase the Warm Home Discount to ease the burden of escalating bills, to support older private renters by uprating Local Housing Allowance so no one has to make dangerous sacrifices to pay their rent, and to boost income through a comprehensive take-up strategy for entitlements, including Pension Credit. 

“The absence of meaningful action to address later-life poverty will leave many older people on a low income in Scotland feeling forgotten and many will be worried about losing more of it in tax, because of the extension of the freeze on personal tax allowances to 2031, a year longer than was expected. 

“We estimate that without decisive government intervention almost 190,000 pensioners in Scotland could be in poverty by 2040. Worryingly, nothing in this Budget suggests we are being steered away from this frightening outcome.” 

Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive of Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity said: “We welcome the UK Government’s decision to scrap the two-child limit as outlined in the Office for Budget Responsibility report. This is long overdue and frees up Scottish Government budget for other crucial support for children and families.  

“Poverty has a devastating impact on children’s mental and physical health, development, happiness and ability to learn that can last a lifetime.   

“Both governments must now work together to build on progress and meet the legal target to reduce child poverty in Scotland. Families need a stronger social security offer, for example, through the Scottish Child Payment and whole family support across Scotland to give every family the financial, practical and emotional help they need to tackle the root causes of poverty.  

“Children can’t wait. The Scottish Government must use this opportunity to go further and faster in their stated mission to eradicate child poverty.”  

Children First’s manifesto for the 2026 Holyrood elections calls on the next Scottish Government to deliver a comprehensive offer of whole family support to tackle child poverty and give every family the emotional, practical and financial support they need. 

Read the manifesto here: 2026 Holyrood Election Manifesto | Children First 

Helen Barnard, director of policy at Trussell, said: “Trussell is delighted to see the Chancellor take this bold step which will protect hundreds of thousands of children from growing up facing hunger and hardship. She has listened to the families and food banks across the UK who have been imploring her to act.

“The cruel two-child limit has driven countless families into hardship, forced to turn to food banks to survive. Today’s announcement of its full and swift removal will help ensure all our children have the best possible start in life, ease pressure on public services, and help to boost our economy.  

“This government came to power promising to end the need for emergency food and reduce child poverty. Removing the two-child limit will make a vital and significant contribution towards delivering on those manifesto commitments.

“This move will pull 470,000 children out of severe hunger and hardship by 2027 and ease pressure on food banks throughout the UK.

“The government has built on positive steps in strengthening support for people facing severe hunger and hardship. But this cannot be the end. Food bank need remains well above levels five years ago and many people are still struggling to afford the essentials.

“We need more bold choices to transform lives across our communities.”

The End Child Poverty Coalition commented:

Letters: Urgent action needed to support older Scots

Dear Editor,

Our charity recently released a new Index into the financial wellbeing of older Scots. Across the country, the results were stark, and closer to home they reveal the tough choices many in later life in the Lothian region are being forced to make.

Our data has shown that, shockingly, in the region, 22% of older people have skipped meals in the last year. Just 20% say that the State Pension is enough to cover basic living expenses.

The Scottish Government recently put forward its Programme for Government, and again, despite rising levels of pensioner poverty, there was no proposed plan to tackle this.  

At Independent Age, we know urgent action is needed. A pensioner poverty strategy should include a Pension Credit awareness campaign, which is a vital source of support for older people on a low income that a significant number in the region – 18% – do not even know about.

The results of our Index show the unacceptable financial difficulties many older people in the Lothian are experiencing. This must change. Both the UK and Scottish Government must act.

Debbie Horne

Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age

Independent Age is a national charity supporting older people facing financial hardship. You can access advice on money, housing, health and care at independentage.org or through a free helpline on 0800 319 6789.

Programme for Government: ‘Building the best future for Scotland’

Poverty Alliance: ‘People in Scotland are demanding better’

The NHS will deliver 100,000 additional GP appointments and Scotland will have a ‘best in UK’ cost-of-living guarantee, including the permanent abolition of peak rail fares, First Minister John Swinney announced as he set out a Programme for Government against a backdrop of global economic challenges. 

Speaking one year since he was elected First Minister and one year before the end of this Parliament, Mr Swinney committed to a package of cost-of-living initiatives for households and businesses and a new Six Point Export Plan to unlock target markets.

He set out plans to strengthen the NHS with the delivery of extra GP appointments for key health risks such as high blood pressure, and 150,000 more NHS appointments and procedures, including a 50% increase in surgical procedures such as hip and knee replacements.  

Key announcements include:   

  • 100,000 enhanced service GP appointments by March 2026 for key risk factors including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, obesity and smoking as well as more than 150,000 extra appointments and procedures, including surgeries and diagnostic tests, and target cancer pathways to tackle backlogs against the 62-day referral to treatment standard 
  • The cost-of-living guarantee which includes ongoing free prescriptions, eye exams, bus travel for 2.3 million people, free tuition for students and more than £6,000 in early learning and childcare support for each eligible child 
  • ScotRail peak rail fares abolished and the general alcohol ban on ScotRail trains removed and replaced with time and location restrictions 
  • Winter fuel payments for pensioners restored 
  • A new Six Point Export Plan, with a focus on actions to unlock target markets, and showcase Scotland to global buyers 
  • A national regeneration fund that will support at least 26 projects to renew and restore communities, with a focus on delivering more local jobs 
  • More rights and stronger protections for tenants, helping deliver more than 8,000 affordable homes, including for social and mid-market rent, and removing barriers on stalled building sites with the potential to deliver up to 20,000 new homes 

The First Minister said: “This Programme for Government is focused on providing the best cost-of-living support across the UK, as well as delivering a renewed and stronger NHS.   

 “When I became First Minister a year ago, I heard loud and clear people’s concerns about the NHS which is why I am taking serious action to ensure the NHS meets the needs of the public.  

“This PfG also shows decisive action to protect Scotland’s economy and maximise our economic potential in the face of global challenges.   

 “It is being published earlier than usual, in part because it allows a clear year of delivery on the NHS and other public services, but also due to the scale of the looming economic challenge.    

 “It is a programme for a better Scotland, for a stronger NHS and a more resilient and wealthier Scotland. It is a Programme for Government that gets our nation on track for success.”

POVERTY ALLIANCE: Government programme misses need for fundamental change

Commenting on the Programme for Government, Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “Many of today’s announcements are welcome, but the package doesn’t go far enough towards creating a just and compassionate Scotland where people have what they need to build a life beyond poverty.

“More and more people in Scotland believe the system is rigged against them and their families. And they’re right.

“Scrapping peak rail fares for good will help many people on low incomes, but many, many more are still being left with unaffordable buses that don’t meet their needs.

“It’s welcome that this programme turns its back on previous cuts to affordable homes, but we urgently need more investment to create a social housing programme that will bring the scandal of child homelessness to an end.

“Reversing the effect of the unjust two-child limit for households in Scotland is the right thing to do, but there was no sign of a pledge to raise the Scottish Child Payment – never mind raising it to the £40 a week that we know is needed to meet our legal child poverty targets.

“And it was good to hear the First Minister talking about sharing Scotland’s growing wealth more fairly, but the Government simply can’t do that without using its powers over investment and taxation.

“People in Scotland are demanding better, and they want a Scottish Govt that will make the big, fundamental changes that will empower households to build a better life for themselves and a better future for all of us.”

STUC: Scrapping peak fares is a victory for workers in Scotland

Commenting on the scrapping of peak rail fares within the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, STUC Deputy General Secretary Dave Moxham said: “This is deeply welcome news that, whilst long overdue, shows the strength of campaigners and rail unions in demanding an affordable and accessible rail network that is fit for the future.

“This is a clear victory for workers in Scotland and it’s commendable the Scottish Government has listened to the voices of our movement – and listened to their own evidence – which showed the positive impact of scrapping peak fares.

“Peak fares were, simply put, a tax on workers that hit commuters directly in the pocket. We can now ensure we build an interconnected, cheaper and greener rail networks that puts people before profit and puts peak fares out of commission for good.”

Children First: First Minister missed another chance by not increasing Scottish child payment

Children First statement on Scottish Government Programme for Government

Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children first, said: “We hoped the First Minister would bring bold, ambitious plans to tackle the crippling levels of child poverty in Scotland. Instead, the Programme for Government, while well-intentioned, lacked real action. The First Minister missed another chance to help families by not increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40.

“While we recognise the Scottish Government’s commitment to eradicating child poverty, supporting whole families and improving mental health support for young people, we are deeply concerned that it lacks urgency and the necessary financial resources and policy ambition.

“Scotland is facing a childhood emergency. The children and families we support cannot wait another 12 months for yet another fresh approach.

“They need action now.”

ALBA Party: Scotland “won’t accept” the Scottish Government’s decision to omit independence from its Programme for Government, says Ash Regan

For the second year in a row First Minister John Swinney has failed to mention independence in his Programme for Government with the document not setting out any plans to give Scots a choice on their future in the remainder of the current Parliament. 

The SNP were re-elected in 2021 promising a referendum would be held during the life of the current Parliament but after the Supreme Court ruled against the Scottish Parliament’s ability to do so the Scottish Government have taken no action to find a path to giving the people of Scotland a choice on their future. 

Alba’s Ash Regan wanted to see First Minister John Swinney set out the actions his Government will take to advance the case for Scottish independence in the run up to next year’s Scottish Parliament elections. But she has hit out as the Government has confirmed today that the only action it will take in the next year will be the publication of another independence paper. 

The Alba MSP says that the Scottish Government’s plan for how it intends to progress the case for Scottish independence should have featured “front and centre” of John Swinney’s plans and the failure to do so is a “missed opportunity.” 

Last year, in his first ever PfG as First Minister, John Swinney did not make reference to independence when he addressed parliament and in his speech today he again failed to reference any actions his Government would take to help deliver independence. 

Commenting Alba Party Holyrood leader Ash Regan MSP said: “Last year the word ‘independence’ was not mentioned once in the Programme for Government statement to Parliament. Since then we have witnessed consistent polling showing that at least half the country favour independence. 

“The failure to put independence front and centre of today’s Programme for Government is a wasted opportunity. The people of Scotland are now ahead of the SNP when it’s comes to independence and that is why we have seen a separation of support for independence and support for the SNP. 

“Scots want to see a drive towards governing competently again and focus to be put back onto the people’s agenda of health, the economy, jobs and the protection of women and children.

“The case for independence has never been stronger, it is now vital we see support for Alba Party on the list to ensure the SNP don’t see out another term of Parliament without taking action on independence.”

RCEM: Scotland’s Programme for Government a ‘missed opportunity’ to tackle UEC crisis

After enduring another challenging winter, Scotland’s Programme for Government has failed to deliver a tangible plan to address the emergency care crisis. That’s the response from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine after the First Minister, John Swinney, delivered a speech today (6 May 2025) which laid out his government’s key pledges for the final year of the Scottish Parliament’s current term.  

Relating to the NHS, the First Minister’s key pledges were: 

  • Reducing time patients wait for treatment by delivering more than 150,000 extra appointments and procedures, including surgeries and diagnostic tests.
  • Ensuring more people can see their GP and get cared for in the community – reducing pressures in hospitals
  • Ensuring more people can be cared for at home, reducing pressures in hospitals by expanding the number of Hospital at Home beds to at least 2,000 by December 2026. 

Mr Swinney’s speech coincided with the release of new data by Public Health Scotland which revealed in March, there was an average of 1,925 people waiting to be discharged from hospital, despite being deemed medically well enough to go home.  

That’s the highest number of so called ‘delayed discharges’ for the month of March since guidelines changed in 2016.  

This is often caused due to a lack of social care support. Therefore, the system grinds to a halt, with patients stuck in Emergency Departments, often on trolleys in corridors, facing extreme waits because there’s no in-patient beds available.  

Today’s figures, which cover March 2025, also show:  

  • 120,143 people attended a major Emergency Department in Scotland – a 17.7% increase when compared to February. 
  • One in three patients waited four hours or more in Emergency Departments, one in 9 waited eight hours or more, and one in 23 waited 12 hours or more. 
  • While waits have slightly improved across the board when compared to February, they are significantly higher when compared to March 2018. The numbers waiting four hours or more has increased by 158%, the numbers waiting more than eight hours by 490%, and the numbers waiting more than 12 hours by 803%. 
  • There was a total of 60,129 days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed – a 2.5% increase compared to March 2024 (58,646).  

The data comes after Scotland’s Emergency Departments also experienced the worst February on record for performance. 

Dr Fiona Hunter, Vice President of RCEM Scotland said, “Today’s Programme for Government is a missed opportunity. It was a moment to resuscitate emergency care but instead, we have been left without a tangible plan.

“You just have to simply look at today’s figures from Public Health Scotland to see the level of pressure our Emergency Departments our under – thousands of people waiting extreme and dangerous long stays, often on trolleys, in corridors, because there are no available beds on wards for them to move to.  

“And let’s be clear – these aren’t just numbers, data, statistics. Each is a loved family member – mums, dads, grandparents, sons, daughters.   

“While we welcome the government’s commitment to improving access to GPs, this can’t be done in isolation. Equal attention is needed at the ‘back door’ of hospitals – ensuring patients who are well enough to be discharged, can be, with the appropriate social care in place. 

“Only then will our patients be able to move as they should throughout the hospital system, rather than experiencing significant delays.  

“Our members and their colleagues will be deeply disappointed after enduring another challenging winter. It’s left us asking, when will Emergency Care become a political priority?” 

Greens hail peak rail fares U-turn and call for cheaper buses

The Scottish Greens have welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision to finally take forward the Green policy of scrapping peak rail fares for good, and have called for action to make public transport cheaper across the board.

The policy was initially secured by the Scottish Greens through budget negotiations in 2023 before being dropped by the SNP in 2024. 

In the 2025 budget the Greens secured a £2 bus fare cap that the Government has committed to rolling out as a regional pilot project by January 2026.

Speaking in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2025-26 debate today at Holyrood, the party’s co-leader, Lorna Slater, said: “I am delighted that the Government has finally committed to the Scottish Green policy of ending peak rail fares for good. 

“Earlier this year, they said they wouldn’t do it. They even voted against Green calls to do it. We’ve finally got there.

“More brave decisions are needed to make all public transport cheaper. 

“The Scottish Government agreed to Green proposals for a £2 bus cap, only as a local pilot from January 2026, but people all across Scotland need cheaper buses now. 

“Will the First Minister avoid the hesitation he showed over peak rail fares, get on with delivering another great Green idea: capping the price of bus fares in Scotland for good?”

Independent Age: No New Support for Older People in Poverty

Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age said: “Today’s Programme for Government announced no new support for older people in poverty.

“Making sure every pensioner in Scotland receives some winter heating support is very welcome, particularly for older people on lower incomes. However, there is more the Scottish Government should do to reduce the growing number of pensioners in poverty.  

“With 156,000 older people across Scotland currently living in poverty – an increase of 30% the last decade – the need for a clear strategy to address this is more urgent that ever. Our polling shows that people of all ages in Scotland agree that a strategy to reduce pensioner poverty should be created – with 9 in 10 supporting the idea.  Without one, people facing financial hardship in later life will continue to struggle to maintain even the most basic quality of life. 

“Poverty at any age is extremely damaging to both mental and physical wellbeing. Our 2025 Index showed that nearly one in five (19%) older people in Scotland have a household income of under £15,000 a year and almost one in three (29%) older people in Scotland have skipped meals in the last 12 months.  

“In a compassionate and wealthy society, this shouldn’t be the case. Both the UK and Scottish Governments need to take action. If the Scottish Government wants to make Scotland the best place to grow old and tackle the injustice of pensioner poverty it is essential they have a plan for doing so.” 

Independent Age: Pension Credit

Pension Credit can top up your income to a minimum level if you’ve reached State Pension age. Lots of people who qualify for it aren’t claiming it, so it’s worth checking if you can get it.

Who can claim Pension Credit?

To qualify for Pension Credit, you must have reached State Pension age. Use the Gov.uk online tool to check when you’ll reach State Pension age.

There are two types of Pension Credit:

  • Guarantee Credit
  • Savings Credit.

To qualify for Guarantee Credit, your weekly income will need to be less than the minimum amount the government says you need to live on. For 2025/26, this is £227.10 for a single person and £346.60 for a couple. This amount could be higher if you’re disabled, a carer, are responsible for children or have certain housing costs.

You can only get Savings Credit if:

  • you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, or you have a partner who reached State Pension age before this date and was already getting it
  • and you have qualifying income of at least £198.27 a week for a single person and £314.34 a week for a couple.

Read our factsheet Pension Credit for more information.

Use our free benefits calculator to work out if you might be able to get Pension Credit. You can also call our free Helpline on 0800 319 6789 to speak to an adviser.

How much can you get?

Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to:

  • £227.10 for a single person
  • £346.60 for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or living together).

You might be able to get more than this if you’re disabled, a carer, are responsible for children or you have certain housing costs. See our factsheet Pension Credit for more information.

Savings Credit can give you up to:

  • £17.30 a week for a single person
  • £19.36 a week for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or living together).

The exact amount you’ll get depends on your income.

Savings, investments or other capital of more than £10,000 will also affect how much you get. For every £500 (or part of £500) you have over £10,000, it’s assumed you have an extra £1 of weekly income.

Here’s an example:

Mr Smith is 76 years old. He is not a carer and he has no health conditions or personal care needs. He is single, rents his home and has a State Pension of £140.18 a week and an occupational pension of £25 a week. He also has savings of £11,000. The first £10,000 are ignored, and an extra £1 of income is counted for every £500 above this. This means he has an assumed income from savings of £2 a week. So, his income is calculated as:

  • £140.18 State Pension + £25.00 occupational pension + £2.00 assumed income = £167.18 total income
  • Mr Smith’s appropriate minimum guarantee is £227.10
  • £227.10 appropriate minimum guarantee – £167.18 income = £59.92

This gives him Guarantee Credit of £59.92 a week.

Other entitlements if you get Pension Credit

If you get Pension Credit, you may qualify for other benefits, including:

If you’re 75 or over, you can also apply for a free TV licence.

How to claim Pension Credit

To apply for Pension Credit, call the claim line on 0800 99 1234. You can also claim online if you’ve already applied for your State Pension. Or you can download an application form to print out. You won’t need a stamp when you return your form.

You can apply for Pension Credit up to four months before you reach State Pension age, and any time after. Claims for Pension Credit can be backdated by up to three months if you qualified for it for the whole of that period. 

When you claim, you’ll need the following information:

  • your National Insurance number
  • information about your income, including your pensions
  • details of your savings, investments and other capital
  • your bank account details.

If you have a partner, you’ll need the same details for them too.

If you need support to fill in the form, one of our advisers can help you complete it over the phone. Call our Helpline on 0800 319 6789. Or you could get help from your local Citizens Advice. Search the Citizens Advice website for England and Wales or visit Citizens Advice Scotland to find your nearest branch.

Rules for mixed-age couples

You cannot usually make a new claim for Pension Credit if you live with a partner who is under State Pension age unless:

  1. one of you reached State Pension age before 15 May 2019, and
  2. one of you has been claiming pension age Housing Benefit since 15 May 2019 as part of the same couple. 

If you cannot claim Pension Credit, you may be able to claim Universal Credit instead, until you both reach State Pension age.

Contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 for more information. 

New economic index shows brutal reality of poverty in later life in Scotland

  • Just one in five (21%) older people say the State Pension is enough to cover basic living expenses.
  • ‘Older people living on a low income, with caring responsibilities, or with a health condition are more likely to have cut back on heating and food.’
  • Independent Age call on Scottish Government to create a Pensioner Poverty strategy. 

A charity’s new annual index on the economic wellbeing of older people in Scotland has revealed the difficult reality of being on a low income in 2025.  

‘Older People’s Economic Wellbeing Index: Scotland 2024-25’, commissioned by Independent Age and conducted by the Diffley Partnership is a nationally representative poll of people aged 66 and over. This year marks the first year of the Index. The research will be repeated annually to track trends over time.  

The Index shows that nearly one in five (19%) older people in Scotland have a household income of less than £15,000 a year, and paints a stark picture of difficulties in later life in income, costs, housing, quality of life and political representation. The research shows that certain groups are being particularly affected by the cost of living on a low income, including carers, people in one-person households and people living with a disability.  

The number of older people in poverty is rising, with 156,000 or one in seven currently affected, a number that has risen by 25% in the last decade. Independent Age are calling for the Scottish Government to create a dedicated strategy to tackle this and for the UK Government to make sure that all social security payments provide enough to live on.  

Income and financial wellbeing 

The Index shows that older people across Scotland on a low income generally do not feel positive about their financial situation and that Government support for older people does not feel sufficient.  

  • Just over one in five (22%) older people with an income of less than £15,000 rate their financial situation as good. 
  • Three in five (61%) older people say the amount they receive from the State Pension isn’t enough to cover basic living expenses.
  • One in four (24%) older people with a health condition are not aware of Attendance Allowance/Pension Age Disability Payments.
  • One in four (24%) older women reported having an income of less than £15,000 compared to one in eight (13%) men. 

Costs and cutbacks 

Rising costs are hitting older people across Scotland, especially those living on a low income. Women, disabled people, carers and one-person households were found to be at particular risk of being financially forced to cut back on heating, skip meals and reduce social interaction. 

  • Almost one in three (29%) older people in Scotland have skipped meals in the last 12 months
  • Less than half (47%) of older people in Scotland on an income of less than £15,000 are confident they will be able to pay their heating bills over next 12 months
  • Half (50%) of older people report that they have cut back on heating or utilities at least occasionally because of financial difficulties.
  • Over four in five (83%) older people with an income of less than £15,000 have cut back on heating or utilities.
  • Almost a third (32%) of older people with a health condition have skipped meals because of costs, compared to a fifth (21%) without a health condition.
  • Almost one in four (23%) women frequently or always cut back on heating or utilities, compared to one in six (17%) men. 

Housing  

The number of older private renters is rising across Scotland, yet this group often feel ignored by society. The Index shows that for too large a number, their housing situation is less than ideal.  

  • People in the most deprived neighbourhoods (SIMD 1) are least likely to own their home outright and the most likely to rent from a social landlord compared to those in all other neighbourhoods (SIMD 2-5). 
  • Older people renting from a private landlord were the least likely to say their home is ‘entirely suitable’ (40%) compared to those who own with a mortgage or loan (61%) or those who out-right owned (63%). 
  • One in four (24%) older people report a challenge with the affordability of their housing, with it becoming unaffordable for them to live there.  

Quality of life and political representation 

Although most older Scottish residents polled said they are satisfied with their quality of life, most felt they were not well represented by political offices.  

  • 63% of people of pensionable age say they are not represented by the Scottish Government. This increases to 77% when it comes to the UK Government. 
  • 85% of older people supported the Scottish Government creating a pensioner poverty strategy and 81% supported the creation of an Older People’s Commissioner. 
  • Across the board, older individuals with one or more health conditions are less likely to be satisfied with each aspect of life than those without any health conditions, including their quality of life as a whole (67%; 90%), their level of social interaction with others (66%; 83%), their general health (50%; 90%) and their ability to access public transport (54%; 73%). 

Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager said: “In a fair and just society, no one should be living their later years cutting back on food or not using the heating. They shouldn’t be living in a home that doesn’t meet their needs. Our new Index paints a stark picture of the reality of living on a low income in Scotland in 2025. 

“We’re calling on the Scottish Government to develop a Pensioner Poverty strategy to address the misery felt by a rising number of older Scots on a low income. This should set out actions to boost incomes and social security take up and improve housing affordability and energy efficiency.

“They should also work to create an Older People’s Commissioner who could make sure that the voices of older people across Scotland are heard in policy making. Also, the UK Government must make sure that the social security payments that they control are adequate to live on. 

“An Index to measure the economic wellbeing of older people across Scotland is overdue. We know that many in this group feel ignored by wider society, and that the poverty facing many of them isn’t given the attention it needs. We hope that the Index will change that.” 

Mark Diffley, Founder and Director of the Diffley Partnership said: “This important new survey provides valuable insight into the challenges older Scots face and highlights areas where support is needed, particularly for those on low incomes. 

“Many are struggling financially and feel poorly supported and represented by government bodies and political representatives. Cost cutting behaviours are pervasive amongst older people and are especially prevalent amongst those who are further marginalised, such as those living in deprived neighbourhoods and people with health conditions.  

“As the population ages, it’s vital to develop policies which ensure financial security and confidence to support continued independence and dignity in later years. We look forward to continuing to work with Independent Age to measure how these attitudes change over time.” 

INDEPENDENT-AGE-REPORTDownload

Independent Age reacts to Scottish Housing Conditions survey

Reacting to the 2023 Scottish House Condition Survey results, Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age said:  
“The latest statistics released today show that 317,000 older households (37%) were in fuel poverty in Scotland in 2023, with 1 in 4 older households (25%) living in extreme fuel poverty. This is extremely concerning and shows a step change will be required to meet Scotland’s fuel poverty targets.  

“As well as this, almost half (49%) of people in later life live in homes with an EPC rating of band D or below. Cold homes are hazardous to health, especially for older people. Every day, our helpline hears from people in later life who are wearing a coat indoors, washing less and skipping meals. In a socially just and wealthy nation no older person should be in fuel poverty.  

“While it is welcome that the Scottish Government is working with energy companies to encourage them to put in place social tariffs for financially vulnerable customers, there is more that can be done.  

“We’re calling on the Scottish Government to urgently create a strategy to tackle pensioner poverty.  With 317,000 older households in fuel poverty, this can’t come soon enough. Today’s figures underscore the need for strategic action to lower bills by improving energy efficiency support and making sure the energy social security older people can access is sufficient.”  

Fuel poverty targets were introduced in Scotland through the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019.

Interim targets for 2030 state: 

a) no more than 15% of households in Scotland are in fuel poverty,

(b)no more than 5% of households in Scotland are in extreme fuel poverty.

Scottish House Condition Survey: 2023 Key Findings – gov.scot 

Scottish Government announces energy cost support for pensioners

Universal payments to be reinstated from next year

The Scottish Government will provide universal support through the introduction of Pension Age Winter Heating Payments next year ensuring a payment for every pensioner household in winter 2025-26.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has confirmed that on the roll-out of the new benefit next winter, pensioners in receipt of a relevant qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit will be receiving Pension Age Winter Heating Payments of £300 or £200, depending on their age. Meanwhile all other pensioner households will receive £100 from next winter, providing them with support not available anywhere else in the UK.

 Ms Somerville also announced a £41 million package of support for people struggling with energy costs this winter.  These measures include an additional £20 million which will be provided for the Scottish Welfare Fund, to enable councils to provide more vital support to people in crisis this winter.

An additional £20 million will be invested into the Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme, the national fuel poverty scheme which helps people install energy efficiency measures and more efficient heating systems, saving on average around £300 per year in household energy bills.

Meanwhile grant-funding of £1 million will be made available to registered social landlords and third sector partners to fund work to help sustain tenancies and prevent homelessness. This is in response to calls from a coalition of housing and anti-poverty organisations for a shift in spending from crisis intervention to prevention.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1862188516400120274

Ms Somerville said: “The measures I have announced today will go some way to allay the fears of pensioners in Scotland ahead of next winter, but the Scottish Government recognises that more must be done.

“Ahead of next winter I will bring forward regulations to introduce universal Pension Age Winter Heating Payments in winter 2025-26 for Scottish pensioners.

“This universal benefit – providing much needed support not available anywhere else in the UK – will deliver support for all pensioner households as we had always intended to do before the UK Government decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments cut the funding available to support our new benefit in Scotland this winter by £147 million.

“We will not abandon older people this winter or any winter. We will do our best to make sure no-one has to make a decision between heating and eating, and we will continue to protect pensioners”.

Reacting to yesterday’s announcement by the Scottish Government, Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age said: “The reintroduction of winter heating support for all pensioners in Scotland from next winter is welcome and will offer some comfort to the 900,000 pensioners who were set to completely lose the previous Winter Fuel Payment. 

“Since the decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only older people on Pension Credit, we’ve seen a surge in the number of older people getting in touch with Independent Age who are worried about heating their homes, and making ends meet, through the winter. Many have told us they are heating only one room, staying in bed all day with a blanket, and cutting back on food to avoid the energy costs associated with cooking.  

“With energy prices set to rise again in January, and a staggering 330,000 older households living in fuel poverty in Scotland, it is clear that changing the eligibility of the payment in this way was the wrong decision. It is positive that this has been recognised in Scotland, with the Scottish Government making a payment available to all older people next year, and we hope the UK Government will also reconsider their decision.  

“In a compassionate and socially just society, no one should face fuel poverty. We are pleased the Scottish Government has listened to older people, and taken this action today. However, we remain concerned about older people who face this winter without this much needed financial support.

“Going forward, the Scottish Government should continue to monitor the situation and be open to taking further action in future.” 

A spokesperson for AGE SCOTLAND said: “Bringing back an energy support payment for all pensioners is very good news and will be a huge relief. It shows the power of this campaign and the relentless efforts from all quarters.

“The decision to remove the universal winter fuel payment by the UK Government, and its impact on pensioners this winter is nothing short of disastrous.

“Over the last few months we have been urging the Scottish Government to bring this back and we are delighted that they have listened to the strong arguments and have taken action.

“It also demonstrates the power of devolution and what Scotland can do when we put our minds to it.”

Around three quarters of older people feel their issues are not understood by Scottish Government

Scottish Parliament debates committee report on commissioners

  • Over seven in ten (74%) older people (over 65)  in Scotland feel their issues are not understood by the Scottish Government.
  • Charity Independent Age calls for greater focus on the issues affecting older people in Scotland and the creation of an Older People’s Commissioner. 
  • Polling revealed as Scottish Parliament set to debate Finance and Public Accounts Committee report that proposes a pause on new commissioners in Scotland.  

Independent Age, the national charity supporting pensioners in poverty is calling on the Scottish Parliament to ‘carefully and urgently’ consider how it will ensure older people on a low income will be protected, have their voices heard and their rights upheld.  

As the Scottish Parliament is set to debate a report from the Finance and Public Accounts Committee into the commissioner landscape in Scotland, new polling commissioned by the charity shows that 74% of pensioners in Scotland feel their issues are not understood by the Scottish Government.1  

The report calls for a moratorium – a pause – on any new commissioners in Scotland until a review can be carried out2  , which the charity says risks continuing to leave older people without an independent champion in these times of rising energy costs, the onset of winter, and recent changes to the eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments.

Support for an Older People’s Commissioner is wide-spread. In May last year, over 30 organisations working with and supporting older people across Scotland called for an OPC.3 The MSP Colin Smyth introduced a Private Member’s Bill calling for the creation of the position which recently secured the cross-party support required to be formally introduced to Parliament.   

The charity says this has never been more urgent as the number of pensioners in poverty – 150,000 – is up in number by 25% since 2012 and has remained stubbornly high in recent years. 4

Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age, said: “It’s hard to overstate the devastating impact that deepening poverty is having on older people across Scotland.

“In a socially-just society, no one should live in poverty. It is also incredibly worrying that the majority of older people feel their issues are not understood by the Scottish Government. 

“While we welcome the robust efforts of many MSPs to support their older constituents and represent their views in Parliament, polling shows that more needs to be done. Careful and urgent action is required to support the many pensioner households suffering the impacts of poverty.

“We firmly believe the only way to tackle pensioner poverty in Scotland is through a strategic approach. A key part of this being the introduction of an independent Older People’s Commissioner. Without such a champion we worry that older people’s issues will continue to fall between the gaps.” 

Latest Pension Credit take-up figures for Scotland ‘disappointing’ says Independent Age

Statistics published today by the DWP, reveal that just 65% of older people who are entitled to Pension Credit were receiving the payment between April 2022 and March 2023.

Independent Age estimate that in Scotland this means that up to 70,000 older households could be missing out on the Pension Credit they are entitled to, with a combined value of £140 million.

We know there has been an increase in applications since the UK Government announcement that the Winter Fuel Payment would be means tested, but it is unclear how many of these will result in successful claims.

Both Governments must work together to address the issue of low take-up of Pension Credit and the unacceptably high levels of poverty in later life. Independent Age is urging the UK Government to review and ensure overall adequacy of the social security system for older people, to prevent pensioner poverty.

Alongside calling on the Scottish Government to introduce a pensioner poverty strategy for Scotland – setting out the actions that can be taken  alongside with local authorities, to tackle poverty in Scotland.

Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age, said: “What is clear from the figures released today is that too many older people living on a low income are still missing out on Pension Credit in Scotland, and across the UK.

“There has been a disappointing lack of progress on Pension Credit take-up. We estimate that up to 70,000 older households could be missing out on Pension Credit between April 2022 and March 2023 worth a combined £140 million.

“Independent Age is urging the UK Government to maintain the Winter Fuel Payment in its current form until significant action can be taken to substantially increase Pension Credit take-up.

Previous strategies have not moved the dial, we can’t have more of the same. We need an innovative, evidence-based, long-term take-up strategy that maps out how older people living in, or on the edge of, poverty can access the financial support they are entitled to.

“It is too early to say what the impact of the recent increase in claims for Pension Credit will have on overall take-up rates. However, there is no room for complacency when an estimated 70,000 older households in Scotland are missing out on this much needed money and 150,000 live in poverty. In a socially just and compassionate society, we can and should do more.”

Letters: Charity urges older people to check Pension Credit eligiblity

Dear Editor

With the days feeling shorter, our thoughts are turning to the winter ahead and people up and down the country will be thinking about switching their heating on soon. But now, many older people, including millions living on a low income, will head into the colder months justifiably anxious about having their Winter Fuel Payment taken away from them as they do not receive Pension Credit.

The latest figures show that only 63% of eligible people are receiving Pension Credit, meaning up to 1.2 million older people could be missing out on an important entitlement, and so could have their Winter Fuel Payment taken away despite living on an extremely low income. In Edinburgh a massive £12.5 million in Pension Credit is going unclaimed.

Our helpline is regularly receiving calls from older people that are frightened about losing the money, and we are concerned that many will feel forced to keep their heating off. Being cold can be damaging to your physical and mental health, but the people we speak to think this is their only option as they simply do not have enough money to cover even higher energy bills.

If you are 66 and over and are concerned about losing the Winter Fuel Payment, we urge you to check your Pension Credit eligibility as the one-off payment is now tied to this entitlement.

Your claim for Pension Credit can be backdated, and if you successfully apply before the 21st December you will qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment as long as you lived in the UK during the qualifying week which is between 16th and 22nd September 2024, and you can show you were entitled to Pension Credit during that time.

You can check your eligibility through the UK Government’s Pension Credit Calculator and apply direct by calling this number 0800 99 1234. Or you can come to a charity like us at Independent Age by calling our free and confidential helpline on 0800 319 6789 and we can help work out what you might be eligible for and help you apply if needed.

Pension Credit can be transformative, it tops up income by on average, almost £4,000 a year. It also acts as a gateway to other benefits such as free TV licences for over 75s, free NHS prescriptions, council tax reduction, Housing Benefit, free eye tests and much more.

Yours Faithfully,

Joanna Elson, CBE

Chief Executive of Independent Age