Pensioner Poverty: challenges and mitigations

Work and Pensions Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 22 Nov 2024 Closed: 1 Jan 2026 Parliament page
Are pension age benefits and the State Pension enough to stop pensioners from falling into poverty? We are looking at the state of pensioner poverty in the UK. Which groups are most affected? What are the health impacts? How do the State Pension and other pension age benefits mitigate the … Read more
12 Recommendations
31 Conclusions
1 Report
8 Oral sessions
1 Letter
8 Events
Activity timeline 19 events
10 Nov
2025
Report published
24 Jul
2025
Report published
25 Jun
2025
Correspondence
4 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
4 Jun
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
21 May
2025
Oral evidence
21 May
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
12 May
2025
Oral evidence
12 May
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Senedd, Cardiff
30 Apr
2025
Oral evidence
30 Apr
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
26 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 8 sessions
4 Jun 2025
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Work and Pensions Committee
Andrew Latto · Department for Work and Pensions Laura Adelman · Department for Work and Pensions Torsten Bell MP · Department for Work and Pensions
21 May 2025
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Work and Pensions Committee
Anthony Pygram · Committee on Fuel Poverty Ned Hammond · Energy UK Peter Smith · National Energy Action Simon Francis · End Fuel Poverty Coalition
12 May 2025
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Pensioner Poverty
Faye Patton · Care and Repair Cymru Rhian Bowen-Davies, Older People's Commissioner for Wales Victoria Lloyd · Age Cymru
30 Apr 2025
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Pensioner Poverty: Panel 1; Pensioner Poverty: Panel 2; Pensioner Poverty: Panel 3
David Finch · The Health Foundation Dr David Attwood · Pathfields Medical Group Dr Ruth Law · The British Geriatrics Society Professor Sir Michael Marmot · University College London (UCL) Toby North · Marie Curie
26 Mar 2025
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Work and Pensions Committee
Daphne Hall · National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers (NAWRA) Dr Juliet Stone · Centre for Research in Social Policy, Loughborough University Dr Kingsley Purdam · Manchester University Gareth Morgan · Ferret Information Systems Gary Vaux · Hertfordshire County Council Professor Matt Padley · Loughborough University
26 Feb 2025
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Work and Pensions Committee
Alistair Smyth · National Housing Federation Councillor David Fothergill · Local Government Association Deven Ghelani · Policy in Practice Fabian Chessell · Policy in Practice
22 Jan 2025
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Work and Pensions Committee
Angela Madden · The WASPI Campaign Debbie de Spon · The WASPI Campaign Dr Daniella Jenkins · Women’s Budget Group Dr Suzy Morrissey · Pensions Policy Institute Karl Banister · Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Sasjkia Otto · Fabian Society Sue Ferns · Prospect Trade Union
18 Dec 2024
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Work and Pensions Committee
Adam Stachura · Age Scotland Carl Emmerson · Institute of Fiscal Studies Carole Easton · Centre for Aging Better Caroline Abrahams · Age UK Daniella Silcock, Independent Research Consultant Jonathan Safir · National Pensioners Convention Morgan Vine · Independent Age Peter Matejic · Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challenges and mitigations HC 465 24 Jul 2025 43 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
10 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Pensioner poverty has risen since 2010, leaving millions below the Minimum Income Standard.
The reductions in pensioner poverty in the late 1990s and 2000s, with the introduction of Pension Credit, were a success. However, we are concerned that from 2010 rates started to rise again. And the latest data on living standards paints … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the concern about pensioner poverty, highlighting existing measures like the State Pension Triple Lock, Pension Credit, and Automatic Enrolment. It also mentions future reports from the Casey Commission on social care and the Long-Term Housing Strategy.
Department for Work and Pensions
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3 Recommendation Accepted
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Commit to reporting on the gender pensions gap at least every two years.
Sporadic reports on the size of the gender pensions gap are insufficient to track whether the situation is improving and to focus attention on the reasons for this. As such, the Government should commit to reporting on the gender pensions … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to monitoring and publishing reports on the Gender Pensions Gap at least every two years, in line with the availability of ONS Wealth and Assets Survey data.
Department for Work and Pensions
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4 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Require the pensions adequacy review to consider pension inequalities and poverty in retirement
The pensions adequacy review should consider pension inequalities, the groups who are more likely to live in poverty in retirement, and how this will be addressed. (Recommendation, Paragraph 30) 81 Impact on older people
Government Response
The government states that the Pensions Commission's terms of reference already specifically include considerations of adequacy and improving retirement outcomes for those at greatest risk of poverty, with its final report expected in 2027.
Department for Work and Pensions
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5 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Pensioners face increased health risks and unsustainable care demand without a preventative, whole-system approach
As pensioners are generally on a fixed income, they face challenges responding to cost-of-living increases. Those on low incomes are likely to respond by cutting back on food, energy use and social interactions, adding to existing health risks. Various social … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines current and planned initiatives to address pensioner poverty and support, including increases to the National Living Wage, the Triple Lock, Automatic Enrolment, Pension Credit, a Social and Affordable Homes Programme, and the Casey Commission on adult social care.
Department for Work and Pensions
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14 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Analyse potential impacts of new DWP policies on claimants and assess health implications.
As previously recommended in our report on Safeguarding Vulnerable Claimants, DWP should analyse the potential impacts of new policies or key policy changes on claimants that will be affected, including older people. This should include reviewing the capacity, data and … Read more
Government Response
The government states DWP already has a statutory duty to analyse policy impacts, including on older people, and is actively strengthening this analysis. It confirms recommendations from a previous report are being addressed, a new safeguarding approach is under development, and it recognises the value of joint assessments with the Chief Medical Advisor.
Department for Work and Pensions
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18 Recommendation Accepted
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Report on legislative changes to enable data sharing for social tariffs and targeting households.
The Government should report back to the Committee by the end of 2025 on: the changes to primary legislation for data sharing needed to enable the introduction of a social tariff; and any short-term changes to secondary legislation that could … Read more
Government Response
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero commits to writing to the Committee by the end of 2025 with an assessment of necessary legislative changes for data sharing and improved access, and details of planned government action.
Department for Work and Pensions
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19 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Pride and reluctance remain key barriers to Pension Credit take-up.
We welcome the Government’s commitment to increase Pension Credit take-up and progress so far, with 60,000 additional awards since July 2024. Long experience and extensive research demonstrate that the main barriers to claiming relate to pride, not wanting to ask … Read more
Government Response
The government details its significant progress in implementing place-based and strategic partnerships for Pension Credit promotion, utilizing trusted advocates, councils, and community groups. It also describes embedding messaging to position DWP as a supportive service, creating accessible materials to help people access entitlements.
Department for Work and Pensions
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21 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Allocate resources for efficient claims, provide expert advice, and promote benefits proactively.
The Department should put in place the resources needed to process claims in an efficient and timely manner and helpline advisers able to give the advice needed to navigate the system in more complex cases. The Government communications on social … Read more
Government Response
The government states it already has resource plans and staffing flexibility to process claims efficiently and ensure staff are equipped for complex cases. It also details its existing significant progress in place-based promotion through trusted advocates and embedding supportive messaging in its communications, alongside developing accessible materials.
Department for Work and Pensions
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28 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Government recognises need for improved data sharing to increase means-tested benefits take-up.
We welcome the Government’s recognition of the importance of better data sharing arrangements to increase take-up of means-tested benefits, and the work it is doing to address the issues. (Conclusion, Paragraph 141)
Government Response
The government outlines its current extensive data sharing arrangements with local authorities, including 28 bulk data shares and access to DWP and HMRC information, and notes how simplifying legislation could further improve data sharing.
Department for Work and Pensions
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41 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
State Pension age increases disproportionately impact deprived areas, raising pre-pensioner poverty levels.
The State Pension age is an important tool for containing the costs of the State Pension. However, improvements in life expectancy across the country have stalled. People living in the most deprived areas of the country have lower life expectancy … Read more
Government Response
The government outlined its existing process for conducting impact assessments and evaluations for State Pension age increases, including past assessments and a future evaluation of the rise to 67 once it is complete in 2028.
Department for Work and Pensions
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Government Response AI assessment · 42 of 12 classified
Accepted 10
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 10
Deferred 7
Not Addressed 8
Rejected 6
Total 12 recs + 31 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
25 Jun 2025 From committee Letter to Torsten Bell MP, Minister for Pensions. relating to the Pensioner Poverty evidence session on 4 June
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