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
9 results
Clear
6 Conclusion Not Addressed
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Government lacks consistent cross-departmental strategy for older people, conflicting with preventative health goals
The Government says it is taking a cross-department approach to address the challenges faced by older people. We were interested in arguments that it would help to have a strategy where the Government set out its objectives for older people … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines existing and planned initiatives to support older people and address poverty, but does not address the committee's specific observation about the helpfulness of a dedicated strategy for older people or the criticism regarding Winter Fuel Payments.
Department for Work and Pensions
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7 Conclusion Not Addressed
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Lack of central strategy hinders local cross-sector progress for pensioners' preventative support
In addition, a preventative approach requires a cross-sector approach, with stakeholders across a range of policy areas pulling together in the same direction. We were impressed by the work in areas like Greater Manchester where local authorities are collaborating with … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines existing and planned initiatives to support older people and address poverty, but does not address the identified lack of a framework for local government accountability or a central government strategy for an ageing society, which the conclusion highlights as barriers.
Department for Work and Pensions
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8 Recommendation Not Addressed
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Commit to a cross-government strategy for an ageing society with clear accountability mechanisms
The Government should commit to a cross-government strategy for an ageing society, with equity of health and well-being for older people at its centre. This strategy should set out how cross-sector working is to be achieved, with effective mechanisms for … Read more
Government Response
The government describes various existing initiatives to support older people, such as increases to the National Living Wage, the Triple Lock, and housing programs, but does not commit to developing a cross-government strategy for an ageing society as recommended.
Department for Work and Pensions
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11 Conclusion Not Addressed
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
2024/25 Winter Fuel Payment eligibility poorly targeted, while 2025/26 reforms are welcomed
For winter 2024/25, the Government linked eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment to receipt of Pension Credit. This removed the payment from many who needed it and set the bar for continued payment too low. Up to 760,000 pensioner households … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the committee's comments but responds by outlining its statutory duties regarding equality, steps to strengthen analysis, and its ongoing work on safeguarding from a separate report, without addressing the specific observations about Winter Fuel Payment eligibility.
Department for Work and Pensions
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12 Conclusion Not Addressed
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Winter Fuel Payment changes created significant uncertainty and anxiety among older pensioners
Our predecessor Committee is amongst those that have criticised Winter Fuel Payments for being poorly targeted and a ‘blunt instrument’ for tackling fuel poverty. As a universal payment, WFP went to pensioners who did not need it, and its real … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the committee's comments but responds by outlining its statutory duties regarding equality, steps to strengthen analysis, and its ongoing work on safeguarding from a separate report, without addressing the specific observations about Winter Fuel Payments.
Department for Work and Pensions
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13 Conclusion Not Addressed
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Limited equality analysis of Winter Fuel Payment reform failed to assess broader health impacts
The Government conducted a very limited high-level equality analysis of WFP reform, estimating the impact on the number of pensioners in poverty. We heard repeatedly about the possible impacts on their health, as well. While this may be difficult to … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the committee's comments about limited WFP equality analysis and states its Chief Analyst is strengthening general analysis, but primarily discusses safeguarding policies and reviews from a separate context, not directly addressing the call for a fuller WFP impact assessment.
Department for Work and Pensions
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24 Conclusion Not Addressed
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Many local authorities lack resources to coordinate effective benefits take-up support.
Effective take-up work requires, firstly, face to face support and encouragement from trusted individuals and organisations on the ground. The complexity of the benefits system means that expert welfare rights advice is often also needed. In some areas, local authorities, … Read more
Government Response
The government response describes its existing internal resource plans for timely claim processing and ongoing strategies for place-based promotion and supportive communications. However, it does not directly address the committee's observations regarding varying local authority coordination or the need for external expert welfare rights advice.
Department for Work and Pensions
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29 Conclusion Not Addressed
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Report progress addressing data sharing barriers for local authorities accessing benefit data by 2025.
DWP should report back by the end of 2025 on progress in addressing the barriers to data sharing identified by the Minister, particularly in relation to enabling DWP to give local authorities more visibility of Pension Credit and Universal Credit … Read more
Government Response
The government's response details existing extensive data sharing arrangements with local authorities and discusses the benefits of simplifying data sharing legislation, but does not commit to reporting back on progress in addressing specific barriers or increasing visibility of Pension Credit and Universal Credit data by end of 2025.
Department for Work and Pensions
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43 Conclusion
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: ch…
Government's refusal to compensate 1950s women for maladministration causes continued deep disappointment.
We recognise that many 1950s women are deeply disappointed by the Government’s refusal to pay compensation following the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s finding of maladministration. The decision has been legally challenged and we await the outcome of that process. … Read more
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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