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
7 results
Clear
2 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Women face systemic challenges and policy 'blind spots' in pension system design.
Improving pension outcomes requires an understanding of the systemic challenges. Of the groups at risk, we took most evidence on the position of women, who make up two-thirds (67%) of pensioners in poverty. Some positive steps have been taken to … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the issues around women's pension outcomes and the Gender Pensions Gap, stating it will continue to monitor and publish data every two years. It defers substantial consideration of improvements to the Pensions Commission, which will report its recommendations in 2027.
Department for Work and Pensions
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10 Recommendation Deferred
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Appoint an Older People's Commissioner for England or propose equivalent advocacy mechanisms
We recommend the Government appoint an Older People’s Commissioner for England. If the Government decides not to, it should explain what alternative mechanism it proposes to address the issues of, for example, accountability, co-ordination and advocacy, and how this will … Read more
Government Response
The government defers a decision on appointing an Older People's Commissioner for England, stating it will consider the experience and effectiveness of the Welsh Commissioner to inform future thinking, without proposing an alternative mechanism.
Department for Work and Pensions
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16 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Consult urgently on new social tariff for wider, more generous energy bill support.
As a matter of urgency, DWP and DESNZ should consult on a new long-term targeted energy bill support scheme (a ‘social tariff’) able to provide more generous support than the existing Warm Homes Discount scheme and also to reach a … Read more
Government Response
The government responds by announcing the expansion of the Warm Home Discount and acknowledges the issue of supporting those not on means-tested benefits. It states a new Fuel Poverty Strategy, due later this year, will set out details of its approach to data and targeting future bill support, without committing to a consultation on a new social tariff.
Department for Work and Pensions
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17 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Lack of data hinders introduction of a social tariff for energy bill support.
Data is needed to identify people not on means-tested benefits but in need of bill support. Not having the mechanisms for this is one of the barriers to the introduction of a social tariff for energy. It is already an … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges data availability as a key barrier and states it is continuing cross-departmental work on data matching. It plans to set out more details on its approach to data and targeting future support in the new Fuel Poverty Strategy, due later this year.
Department for Work and Pensions
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32 Recommendation Deferred
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Consult on State Pension objectives, aiming for dignified living standards and reducing pensioner inequality.
The pensions adequacy review should consult on objectives for the State Pension, taking account of adequacy, sustainability and fairness. Given that it is the core of the Government’s offer to pensioners, relied on by many pensioners on low incomes, a … Read more
Government Response
The government states the Pensions Commission, due to report in 2027, will examine the pensions system, including considerations of adequacy and improving retirement outcomes for vulnerable groups, but does not commit to consulting on specific State Pension objectives or setting a strategy now.
Department for Work and Pensions
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34 Recommendation Deferred
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Establish a plan to ensure State Pension adequacy for all, reviewing undermining system aspects.
Once an objective for the State Pension relating to adequacy has been agreed, the Government should put in place a plan for getting everyone to that level. The first step should be to review those aspects of the state pension … Read more
Government Response
The government states the Pensions Commission will examine the pensions system to build a future-proof, strong, fair, and sustainable system, considering adequacy and retirement outcomes, with its final report expected in 2027, deferring the immediate action of putting a plan in place.
Department for Work and Pensions
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40 Recommendation Deferred
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Assess Local Housing Allowance impact on pensioner living standards; include older people's housing in strategy.
The Government should assess the impact of the Local Housing Allowance on pensioners and whether it leaves them with the income needed for a minimum, dignified, socially acceptable standard of living and report back to the Committee by the end … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that the Local Housing Allowance is regularly reviewed, including for age-related impacts, and confirmed that the upcoming Long-Term Housing Strategy will include considerations for older people's housing. However, it did not commit to a specific new impact assessment and report by the end of 2025 as recommended.
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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