LifeCare are proactively recruiting 4 new trustees, as members of our existing board reach the end of their term. This year more than ever is an exciting time to join our board as we celebrate our 85th year.
“After a long career in the NHS, becoming a LifeCare Trustee felt like a natural way to continue supporting peoples’ health, wellbeing and independence.
I feel I bring experience in strategy and governance, whilst helping to support LifeCare to turn good ideas into practical action for older people, their families and carers” – Lorna Jackson-Hall, current Chair
From 1 October to 31 December 2026 energy prices will go up by 4% for a typical household who use electricity and gas and pay by Direct Debit.
Energy price cap rates 1 October to 31 December 2026
You are not affected by the changes to the energy price cap if you have changed to a fixed rate tariff.
Electricity rates
If you are on a standard variable tariff (default tariff) and pay for your electricity by Direct Debit, you will pay on average 26.32 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh). The daily standing charge is 54.83 pence per day. This is based on the average across England, Scotland and Wales. It does not include VAT from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027./
Gas rates
If you are on a standard variable tariff (default tariff) and pay for your gas by Direct Debit, you will pay on average 7.97 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh). The daily standing charge is 29.68 pence per day. This is based on the average across England, Scotland and Wales and includes VAT at 5%.
Changes to VAT from 1 October 2026*
The government has removed VAT from electricity bills from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.
As a result, VAT is not included in electricity bills for people covered under the energy price cap between 1 October and 31 December 2026. You will still pay 5% VAT for gas.
This means that all households that are covered by the energy price cap (on a default tariff) will pay less for their electricity. This also applies to some small businesses.
Some people who use more electricity than gas, or only use electricity, will have a bigger reduction in their bill.
We have included this change in the figures we have published. You might not see the full impact of the VAT reduction on electricity in your bill, because gas wholesale prices are still high due to global events.
Costs cannot be compared directly to previous periods because of this change.
This increase is a result of higher wholesale gas prices, caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. However, prices are still very much below the height of the energy crisis in 2022. The government then put a limit on bills of £2,500.
Managing your energy bills and tariff
You are covered by the energy price cap if you are on a default tariff and pay for your electricity and gas by:
standard credit (payment made when you get your electricity and gas bill)
Direct Debit
prepayment meter
Economy 7 (E7) meter
The actual amount you pay will depend on how much energy your household uses, where you live and the type of meter you have.
You could pay less for your energy by changing your energy tariff or payment type. Find out if you can change or fix your tariff and how to switch energy supplier.
You could also save money if your supplier offers half price or lower cost electricity at weekends. Most people who have a smart meter or other low carbon technologies can take advantage of these offers.
Tell your energy supplier if you cannot pay your bills. They must help you if you ask. They could set up a repayment plan or provide you with emergency credit.
Energy price cap level dates
We review and update the price cap level on how much an energy supplier can charge for each unit of energy, including the standing charge, every 3 months. The levels for the next periods will be announced by:
25 November 2026 – period 1 January 2027 to 31 March 2027
23 February 2027 – period 1 April 2027 to 30 June 2027
26 May 2027 – period 1 July 2027 to 30 September 2027
We may publish before these dates if we need to because of external reasons.
“Households set to have their hopes dashed… but there is an escape route.”
Richard Neudegg, director of regulation at Uswitch.com, said: “Households holding out for a last-minute reprieve on rising energy bills set to have their hopes dashed, with predictions suggesting a 4% increase in the October price cap.
“With continued instability in the Middle East, higher energy costs are now looking very likely throughout winter as a third consecutive price cap hike is predicted for January.
“Those still on price cap tariffs who don’t take action before October should brace themselves to pay even more for their heating, with standard gas prices likely to be a staggering 26% higher than they were last year.
“But there is an escape route. The best fixed deals on the market right now undercut this prediction by around 12%, with the cheapest priced at £1,522 for a typical home.
“Don’t suffer higher winter bills when you don’t have to – a decent fixed tariff beats these rates and protects you from further price rises. Every week spent on a standard tariff is another week paying higher rates than you need to.”
Commenting on today’s Ofgem energy price cap announcement, Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson, CBE said:“Today’s Ofgem energy price cap announcement will heap more pressure on the already stretched budgets of the 1.7 million older people in the UK living in poverty and the million others teetering on the brink.
“With winter on the horizon, older people on low incomes will once again be forced to take drastic action to keep themselves warm as rising energy bills eat away at already inadequate incomes.
“Each winter we hear heartbreaking testimony from older people wearing winter clothing to bed to fend off the cold, being forced to choose between putting food on the table or using their heating, and some are abandoning their cold homes altogether to find warmth in public buildings.
“We are urging Andy Burnham’s government to protect people on low incomes, including people in later life, from relentless energy price hikes. Boosting the Warm Home Discount from £150 to £400, funding this increase directly and improving targeting would make an immediate difference to those who cannot make ends meet.
“In the long-term, the development of a more comprehensive targeted energy social tariff is essential to protect low-income households from the all too regular price shocks that are pushing them deeper into financial hardship and poverty.”
National charity Independent Age is distributing £1.5 million in funding to projects supporting carers aged over 65 who are living on a low income, and is encouraging local Edinburgh organisations to apply.
The focus for this round of Independent Age’s Older People’s Fund is on improving access to community-based and in-person advice for older carers on a low income, which can make a significant difference to their financial wellbeing.
This funding is aimed at organisations that understand the financial challenges that caring can bring for older people, including reduced income, increased costs, housing issues and barriers to support. The funding is dedicated to support both older carers and the older people they care for, recognising the impact of caring across whole households.
Funding is also available to organisations in the following locations:
Birmingham
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Dorset
Cornwall
Leeds
Grants are for a three-year period, and eligible organisations can apply for:
up to £150,000 (£50,000 per year) for individual applications
or a shared total of up to £210,000 (£70,000 per year) if applying in partnership
This is the third round of this grant funding. In each round, the Older People’s Fund aims to support older people who are more likely to face financial hardship in later life. The previous rounds funded projects to support older women from racially minoritised groups and older private renters.
This round is focused on supporting older carers and the people they care for, as they are at high risk of experiencing financial hardship due to the costs of caring, the impact of being a carer during working age on income in later life, and the complexity of the social security system for older carers.
Morgan Vine, Director of Grants at Independent Age, said:“Being a carer for someone close to you can be physically, mentally and emotionally demanding, and it can often feel isolating.
“Caring can also bring additional costs that many people would not otherwise face. Yet we know that too many older carers miss out on the financial support and advice available to them.
“That’s why we have chosen to focus this round of our Older People’s Fund on improving access to support services for older carers on low incomes, helping them to access the financial support they need.
“We know there are incredible community organisations in Edinburgh already carrying out vital work, and others who may want to reach older carers but don’t have the means to do so. This £1.5 million investment will help them continue and expand the valuable support they provide, ensuring more carers can access trusted advice and services in their local communities.
“We encourage organisations that meet the criteria to visit our website or contact our Grants team to find out more and apply.”
Applications will be held in two stages, starting with an Expression of Interest (EOI). The closing date for submissions for the EOI is 2pm on Wednesday 26th August 2026. Successful EOIs will then be invited to submit a more detailed application for the Independent Age grants panel to consider.
Independent Age is the national charity focused on ending financial hardship in later life. We want every older person to be able to afford to live well.
Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free, practical support to older people without enough money to live on.
Independent Age has provided more than 140 grants since 2021 to local organisations working directly with older people across the UK,
This support has impacted nearly 55,000 older people.
The charity uses the knowledge and insight gained from our services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s commitment to exempt state pensioners with no additional income from income tax, Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age said: “Recommitting to exempting the State Pension from income tax is a welcome signal that the new Prime Minister is listening to the concerns of older people on low incomes.
“However, questions remain about how the policy will be implemented across a complex pensions system where one solution does not fit all.
“Different versions of the State Pension mean some older people receiving a lower State Pension and a small private pension would be dragged into the tax system, while others receiving only the State Pension will be exempt, despite the amount they receive being largely the same.
“Clearly, this is a situation that needs to be addressed so no older person on a low income loses out.
“Every day we hear from older people with chronic money worries who are making difficult decisions to make ends meet, from rationing their energy and water use to skipping meals.
“We look forward to receiving clarity from the UK Government on how the State Pension tax exemption will work to protect all pensioners on low incomes.”
Would also save the NHS and social care services over half-a-billion pounds
Research shows that 100% take up of key benefits would cut numbers of pensioners in poverty by 280,000
Due to health impacts, full take-up would also save the NHS and social care services in England £790 million a year
Independent Age recommends the UK Government publish a take-up strategy for financial entitlements to ensure all older people are receiving everything they should be
New research from national charity Independent Age shows that full take-up of three key financial entitlements could lift 280,000 older people out of poverty across the UK, reducing pensioner poverty by 15%.
This includes Pension Credit, pensioner Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction. The analysis was carried out by the research agency Public First.
The report released today, entitled ‘The only way is up: The impact of improved entitlement take-up on pensioner poverty and healthcare spending’ also shows that increasing take-up of these entitlements to 100% could help improve older people’s health, leading to a reduction in health and social care public spending by up to a colossal £790 million a year in England.
Independent Age is calling on the UK Government to publish an all-entitlements take-up strategy for the UK. This should include a strong commitment and targets to increase take-up.
The number of older people in poverty in the UK is rising, with around 1.7 million in relative poverty in 2024/25, which is an increase of 200,000 compared to the year before. Another one million live close to the poverty line.
Despite this, the charity says that too many eligible older people are missing out on money set aside for them. Over one in three (38%) of those eligible for Pension Credit are not receiving it, and around 230,000 older households are missing out on Housing Benefit.
Official take-up figures of Council Tax Reduction are not produced, however the report analysis indicates that over a million pensioner households could be missing out on this vital support.
The organisation is also calling for the Pensions Commission to agree on what an adequate income in later life looks like, and the UK Government to commit to ensuring everyone receives this.
Concerningly, full take up would also provide an additional 770,000 older people with more vital income, but they would still remain in poverty, indicating that financial entitlements and the State Pension alone is not always adequate to live on.
Joanna Elson CBE, Chief Executive of Independent Agesaid: “Our social security system was designed as a safety net for all of us but the evidence is clear, it is failing older people in poverty. Money that has been set aside is not reaching the older people who need it and at a time with increasing costs, the impact of this is devastating.
“Through our helpline, we hear often from older people who are having to skip meals or only wash once a week to make ends meet. This is unacceptable.
“Older people on a low income have been left to struggle for too long. That’s why we urgently need a strategy to ensure everyone receives the support they are entitled to and an agreement on what an adequate income looks like in later life for all of us as we age.
“With the upcoming changes in leadership, this is a golden opportunity for the UK Government to reverse the worsening picture of poverty in later life.”
Independent Age’s report found that three groups especially benefitted from increased take-up of these entitlements. These were: older people living alone, older renters and those on the old State Pension. This is due to a combination of likely higher initial costs such as housing or energy, and a lower income.
Valerie’s Story
Valerie, 68, from the Isle of Wight
“Once the rent was paid, along with Council Tax – more than £150 a month even with the single person discount – there wasn’t enough left. I had to cut back on everything. I lived on £1 meals from Iceland because they were cheap and filling, even though I knew they weren’t very nutritious.
I relied on a local community pantry where £5 bought roughly £15 of food. I couldn’t afford to put the heating on. My house is all electric and it was simply too expensive. I spent winters wrapped in blankets, drinking cups of instant soup to keep warm, and sometimes slept downstairs so I didn’t have to walk through cold rooms at night.”
Valerie called Independent Age and, while she wasn’t eligible for Pension Credit, an adviser supported her to start receiving Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction, which she hadn’t previously been aware of.
After starting to receive these entitlements, Valerie described the impact this had on her life:
“Life is so much better now. I still budget carefully, but I’m not living on my credit card anymore. I can buy fresh vegetables, cook proper meals and freeze portions so food lasts longer.
“I can travel to the mainland to see family, and I enjoy the things that matter to me, such as going to the local theatre and being part of the choir.
“I called the Independent Age Helpline at a time in my life when I didn’t know where to turn. The support I received has made a dramatic difference to my daily life. I nearly didn’t make that call – but I’m so glad I did.
“Before that call, I was surviving day to day. Now, I feel like I’m living again.”
This is a new activity we are piloting which hopes to connect generations through play, storytelling, singing and company. Here at LifeCare we run our own day club and support older people to remain active and apart of the community.
Even if you can’t make the taster session, please let us know if you would be interested in further dates we are planning!
Annual financial wellbeing index shows little to no progress for pensioners in poverty across Scotland.
Numbers of older people on a low income cutting back on food and energy remain worryingly high.
Independent Age calls for political action to prevent a generation left in poverty.
Independent Age’s second annual index into older people’s financial wellbeing in Scotland shows little progress on key indicators of pensioner poverty.
The ‘Older People’s Economic Wellbeing Index: Scotland 2026’, commissioned by the national older people’s financial hardship charity and conducted by the Diffley Partnership is a nationally representative poll of 1,800 people aged 66 and over. The research is repeated annually to track trends over time, and this is the second year that the research has been conducted.
The 2026 Index shows that one in five older people in Scotland have a household income of less than £15,000 a year. Of this group:
more than 1 in 2 have skipped meals.
8 in 10 have cut back on heating.
almost half have housing costs that are, or are becoming, unaffordable.
UK and Scottish Government statistics show that 130,000, or one in eight, older people in Scotland are currently living in poverty.
Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Agesaid: “Action on pensioner poverty is at risk of stalling, with a generation of older people left trapped in poverty and making dangerous cutbacks as a result.
“Our latest Index shows that, in many areas, little progress has been made in the last year, including older people still feeling unrepresented by politicians, being weighed down by mounting costs, and not feeling their incomes and the financial support available is enough.
“With an ageing population it is vital that politicians across the political spectrum recognise the need for dedicated and sustained action to ensure older people living on a low income can live a decent and dignified life.
“This is a golden opportunity for the new Scottish Government to act now, to change the picture and create a much more positive reality for all of us as we age.”
Independent Age is calling for the introduction of a Pensioner Poverty Strategy to coordinate efforts to drive down poverty among pensioners.
The Index looks at five research areas: income and financial wellbeing, costs and cutbacks, housing, quality of life and political representation.
Income and financial wellbeing
Just one in 20 (6%) of all older people were confident that the State Pension would be enough to cover basic living expenses in the future.
Awareness of most social security payments has remained mostly static since 2025. Of all the people on a low income of under £15,000 a year, 1 in 5 are not aware of Pension Credit (19%), and the number is the similar for Housing Benefit (20%). One in eight are not aware of Council Tax Reduction (14%).
Only around half (54%) of older people agreed that they were confident they were receiving all the financial support they were entitled to, and less than half (45%) agreed they were confident they know how to apply for the financial benefits they were entitled to.
Costs and cutbacks
Eight in ten (77%) older people on a low income said that they have cut back on heating, and more than a third say they cannot afford to keep their home warm. More than half have skipped meals.
Significant proportions of older people across all incomes are also worried about energy usage. 21% cannot afford to keep their home warm enough, 26% are not content with the energy efficiency of their home, 29% say their current energy bills are not affordable and 13% are not confident they can meet the cost of their energy over the next 12 months.
Housing
More than 1 in 4 older people are living in a home that is becoming, or is, unaffordable to them. The housing affordability picture is considerably worse for older people on a low income than the general older population, with almost half (48%) saying their housing costs are, or are becoming, unaffordable.
Political representation
Most older people in Scotland do not feel well represented by political bodies and representatives. This generally has remained unchanged since the 2025 Index, where feelings of lack of political representation were high. One significant decline in feeling has been towards the UK Government. These have eroded particularly strongly – this research wave shows a five-percentage-point increase in the proportion who say the UK Government do not represent them (‘not very’ or ‘not at all’).
Recommendations
Independent Age recommends:
All political parties commit to working cross-party to address pensioner poverty.
The Programme for Government commits to introducing:
a national Pensioner Poverty Strategy.
a Warm Homes Programme for older people, to reduce energy bills through improving energy efficiency.
The Scottish Government’s Benefit Uptake Strategy refresh takes a holistic approach to maximising the income of older people by taking action to improve take-up of devolved and reserved entitlements.
Improving the social security system and support available to older people in Scotland.
The Scottish Government guarantee the right to a secure and affordable home, by improving access to, and increasing funding for, Discretionary Housing Payments and building the affordable social homes older people need.
An Older People’s Commissioner for Scotland is created.
The UK Government ensures reserved social security payments are set at an adequate rate.
The Pensions Commission has today (19 May) published its interim report on the state of retirement saving in the UK, setting out the key challenges facing the current system and where it will focus its work next.
Interim report highlights key challenges in retirement saving across the UK with 15 million people currently undersaving for retirement.
Findings sets direction for further work to improve retirement outcomes ahead of final recommendations in 2027.
Commission set up as part of government’s wider reforms to pensions system to help more people retire with dignity.
The Pensions Commission has today (19 May) published its interim report on the state of retirement saving in the UK, setting out the key challenges facing the current system and where it will focus its work next.
The report highlights that many people are not saving enough for retirement, particularly among low and middle earners, the self‑employed and women, and points to the need for the system to evolve to meet modern working lives.
There are currently 15 million people under saving for retirement which could reach 19 million without action, leaving large groups across the UK facing a severe cliff-edge when they retire, according to a new report from the Pensions Commission.
Set up by the Government in July 2025, the Commission aims to address a savings challenge that has been building for decades, examining why tomorrow’s retirees’ risk being worse off than today’s and making recommendations to reverse this.
This follows the success of the 2002 to 2006 Commission which built a consensus for the roll-out of Automatic Enrolment into pension saving, resulting in 89% of eligible employees now saving into their pensions, up from 55% in 2012.
Its findings include:
Low and middle earners are most at risk, with around half saving only at minimum Automatic Enrolment levels with little else to fall back on.
45% of working-age adults – around 18 million people – are not saving into a pension at all, despite nearly half of them being in work.
Where employers are contributing about the statutory minimum this is largely benefiting higher earners.
Just 4% – one in 25 – of wholly self-employed workers are saving for retirement, and it’s even lower among younger self-employed people.
On current trends around 3 in 10 private pension pots are accessed at the earliest possible opportunity with half of all pots taken out in full. Nearly half of these are spent on large expenses like a car, holiday or renovations.
The Commission examined why tomorrow’s retirees are on track to be poorer than today’s with too many working age adults are saving nothing at all into a pension. A final report with recommendations will follow in early 2027.
Pensions Commissioner, Baroness Jeannie Drake said: “Over the past two decades since the Turner Commission there is no doubt pensions reform can be described as a success. Yet the second Pensions Commission is looking forward and seeing many people not saving enough and millions not saving at all.
“This demands a renewed national settlement on pensions.
“Achieving this will require clarity of purpose, but it also offers a moment of opportunity; to renew a social contract that commands confidence across the country.
“The recommendations we present in our final report will address the need to secure adequate income in later life and a pension system that is fit for decades to come.”
The Commission will set out the course to improving future outcomes whilst ensuring the system is fair and sustainable within and between generations.
Minister for Pensions, Torsten Bell MP, said: “Britain has got back into the pension saving habit, but the job is only half done with tomorrow’s pensioners still on track to be poorer than today’s.
“The Pensions Commission sets out clearly the scale of the challenge: not enough people are saving for retirement, and many of those that are aren’t saving enough.”
The Commission warns that without action millions more people could be at risk of becoming reliant on state support in retirement.
It adds that there is much for public policy to do to shape the future of pensions, whilst maintaining the broad political consensus pensions has had since the Turner Commission in the 2000s. The Commission is clear that change must happen in the right way, with any recommendations for change implemented gradually.
The Government has ruled out any changes to Automatic Enrolment contributions this Parliament.
Dr Yvonne Braun, ABI Director of Long-Term Savings Policy said: “The report makes a powerful case for a new national settlement for pensions. Automatic enrolment is a sturdy foundation, but must evolve to meet the scale of the challenges ahead.
“We and our members stand ready to work with the Commission to deepen saving, extend coverage and support better decisions in retirement, so that everyone can look forward to greater financial security in later life.
“Over the next year the Commission will hear a wide range of views before presenting its final report and recommendations in early 2027. A call for views from all interested parties has also launched today.
Rocio Concha, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Which? said: “Which? welcomes this interim report from the Pensions Commission and the valuable evidence it brings together on the UK’s pension adequacy challenge.
“It is very encouraging to see recognition of the need to increase private pension saving rates and coverage, while also acknowledging the financial pressures caused by the cost of living crisis.
The report rightly highlights that too many working people are projected to reach later life without sufficient savings, and that women, carers, the self-employed and many ethnic minority groups continue to face structural barriers. It is also promising to see a strong focus on how to support people to use their pension savings throughout retirement.
“Which? looks forward to continuing to work with the Commission, industry and wider civil society groups to help drive the reforms needed so people are better prepared for retirement.”
Julian Mund, Chief Executive of Pensions UK, said: “Pensions UK welcomes the breadth and ambition of this report, and shares the Commission’s view that we need a new national settlement on pensions.
“Evidence presented in the report clearly strengthens the case for more pension saving over longer working lives, alongside systemic change that delivers sustainable incomes – building on welcome reforms in the Pension Schemes Act.
“We look forward to working with Government to explore how that diagnosis can be turned into a practical roadmap for reform, well before the next generation fall short of the retirement incomes they expect and deserve.”
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK: “We welcome this new report from the Pensions Commission, which provides an excellent analysis of the problems facing our pensions system today.
“This is the first and necessary step for ensuring the pensions system of the future enables tomorrow’s older people to have a decent standard of living.
“There’s a clear need to improve the way the State Pension and private pension systems work together; otherwise people on low incomes are at risk of falling through the cracks and hurtling towards their retirements without the required funds, or the time to make up the shortfall.
“We look forward to working with the Commission as it explores the best solutions for future pensioners.”
Aside from the commission, the government is also reforming the pension landscape and improving retirement for today’s workers. The Pension Schemes Act, passed this month, will benefit 22 million workers by up to £29,000 by the time they retire, driving down costs, boosting returns and enabling the automatic consolation of small pension pots to ensure every pound saved works harder for working people.
Louise Hellem, Chief Economist, CBI, said: “The publication of the Pensions Commission’s interim report is an important step towards building a long-term framework that delivers adequate living standards in retirement. Getting this right requires the government, businesses and individuals all to play their role in supporting better saving.
“As the debate progresses, it is vital that retirement adequacy is considered hand in hand with the UK’s growth ambitions. Strong economic growth underpins sustainable pension outcomes by supporting employment and higher sustainable wage growth, enabling individuals to save, and driving stronger investment returns over time.
“It is only growth that can sufficiently reduce difficult trade-offs and maintain political, public and business support for change.”
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Workers deserve a pension system that guarantees against poverty in retirement and enables them to maintain their standard of living.
“Although millions more people are now building up workplace pensions, far too many on low and middle incomes are not heading for a decent retirement – with women, Black and minority ethnic and disabled workers, and those in the gig economy at highest risk.
“The Commission must now develop a bold plan to fix this, which will need to include higher employer contributions and a fair deal for those currently missing out.”
Nausicaa Delfas, Chief Executive of The Pensions Regulator, said: “The pensions system is still unfinished business with too many people on track for an inadequate retirement income.
“That is why we welcome the Pensions Commission report, and look forward to continuing to work with the Commission, Government and industry to create a system which delivers what matters most: a sustainable income in retirement for everyone.
Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson, CBE reacts to the Pension Commission’s interim report:“We welcome the Pension Commission’s interim report, which clearly sets out the challenges future pensioners will face in securing an adequate income.
“It is positive that the Commission recognises the vital role of the State Pension and social security entitlements in supporting those on low incomes. The findings that certain groups, including women and disabled people, are at greater risk of under-saving are concerning, but not unexpected. They echo our own research, which shows that these groups are more likely to experience poverty in later life.
“With 1.7 million older people currently living in poverty and 1 million more hovering precariously on the edge, it is clear change is needed to ensure a future where everyone in later life has a dignified and financially secure older age.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Commission as it develops its final recommendations.”
National charity Independent Age and 12 other organisations1 have teamed up to send an open letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden, calling for an end to the mixed age couples rule.
The rule, introduced in 2019, could be preventing around 70,000 low-income couples from receiving entitlements specifically for older people until they bothreach State Pension age, leaving affected couples up to £7,000 worse off a year.
As well as the range of organisations calling for change, new polling from Independent Age shows that a large majority of the UK public back ending the rule, with 62% saying that couples where one person is over State Pension age should receive pension-age entitlements2.
Together the organisations are urging the UK Government to reverse the mixed-age couples rule, to allow couples to claim pensioner benefits, like Pension Credit, once the older partner reaches State Pension age.
Data from 2019 shows that 12% of couples who could be eligible for Pension Credit have an age gap of more than 10 years, meaning the older partner may have to wait an extremely long time to access pensioner entitlements, adding to their financial strain. While couples in this situation are eligible to receive Universal Credit, this is paid at a lower rate and is not designed to meet the needs of people over State Pension Age.
In the letter the organisations say the issue is urgent:
‘Nobody should be punished financially because of who they love. Yet as many as 70,000 older people are missing out on the financial safety net designed to protect pensioners, just because of their partner’s age.
‘This is urgent. With the incoming rise in State Pension age, more and more couples on a low income will face an even longer wait to receive the entitlements they need due to the mixed-age couples rule.’
Independent Age Chief Executive, Joanna Elson CBE said:“Every day we hear from older people struggling to make ends meet, and for thousands of mixed-age couples the system is making that struggle even harder.
“This rule is unfairly locking around 70,000 older people out of vital pension-age support simply because their partner is younger.
“The UK Government has created a flawed system where two people of the same age can be treated completely differently depending on who they love. The financial support they are missing out on could be the difference between heating and eating or paying the rent.
“Twelve organisations have joined us in calling on the UK Government to act now and scrap the mixed-age couples rule, to ensure all older people on a low income get the financial security and dignity they deserve once they reach pension age.”
In the letter the organisations also express concern over ‘the assumption that all younger partners are able to be financially responsible for their household’ and how this ‘does not reflect reality for many couples. In lots of cases, a younger partner will have health conditions or unpaid caring responsibilities that could mean they are unable to work.’
Lynn, 62, and her husband David from Eastbourne have a five-year age gap and have been unable to access the support they need as a result: She said:“David and I met on a blind date. We’ve been married for nearly 24 years.
“Although David is my full-time carer, we’ve had a hard time getting any financial support because he’s five years older than me. We used to receive Employment and Support Allowance, but once my husband reached State Pension age, it stopped.
“David and I trudged around four different places, including the council, to try and find out what we were entitled to and we were told we could claim Pension Credit. But after seven months of receiving Pension Credit, we got a letter saying there had been a mistake and we weren’t entitled to it because we are a mixed-age couple. We were told to apply for Universal Credit instead.
“All this happened when we were in the middle of moving house and our Pension Credit payment was due. I remember thinking: Now what are we going to do? and being so worried as we literally had no money for our move. We just couldn’t understand why we were told we were eligible to claim Pension Credit and then the payments were suddenly stopped.
“For the first time ever, we had to turn to a food bank to get by. If it wasn’t for our children, I don’t know what we’d have done. They helped us get through this very stressful time in our lives.”
Jan Shortt, General Secretary, National Pensioners Convention said:“To treat people differently on the basis of who they fall in love with is nonsense.
“Mixed age couples are suffering financially because they cannot access the support they need. Decisions made by the government penalise mixed age couples and this must be addressed to enable them to be financially secure in the future.”
The organisations who have signed the letter alongside Independent Age are:
Age Scotland
Ageing Without Children (AWOC)
Age UK
Civil Service Pensioners Alliance
National Federation of Occupational Pensioners
Northern Irish Commissioner
National Pensioners Convention (NPC)
Re-engage
Unison Retired Members
National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO)
Welsh Older People’s Commissioner
Wise Age
For more information on Independent Age’s mixed aged couples campaign, see:
Funding linked to new homes will help reinstate vital music sessions for older people
MUSIC-LED sessions for older people in South Queensferry are set to return after a charitable donation from a major housing developer.
A £2,500 contribution from Cala Homes (East) was given to Manor Estates Housing Association (MEHA) and its community fund following the final handover of 25 social rent properties at the Queensferry Heights housing development.
The full amount has been awarded to Queensferry Churches Care in the Community (QCCC) to restart popular music sessions that had been scaled back due to financial pressures.
Derek Lawson, Strategic Land Director at Cala Homes (East), said: “We are pleased to see this community benefit donation support such a worthwhile, local cause.
“At Cala, we are committed not only to delivering high-quality homes, but also to making a positive contribution to the communities in which we build.
“It is particularly rewarding to know this donation will help QCCC continue its valuable work supporting older people and reducing social isolation.”
QCCC supports around 400 older people each year across South Queensferry and surrounding communities, helping to reduce isolation and improve wellbeing through a range of services and activities.
The organisation had been forced to scale back some of its music-based sessions due to financial pressures, despite their proven benefits for emotional wellbeing, memory stimulation and social connection.
Claire Ironside, CEO of Manor Estates Housing Association, said: “We know just how beneficial these sessions are, particularly for older people. To be able to help bring them back through this funding is incredibly rewarding and shows the value of partnership working in action.”
The latest handover between Cala and Manor Estates brings Cala’s total delivery to 44 affordable homes across the development, forming part of a wider commitment tied to the site and local community.
The homes include a mix of houses and flats designed to meet a range of housing needs, helping to address ongoing demand for high-quality affordable housing in the area.
Claire added: “It has been hugely reassuring working with Cala throughout this development. The quality has been consistent from start to finish, and the finished homes are ones we are genuinely proud to offer to tenants.”
