Almost four million pensioners could be living in poverty and struggling to afford even the basics of food in the next 15 years, forecasters warn. The projection of 3.9 million pensioners living in poverty is double today’s level and comes amid findings that many older people are already skipping meals , washing in cold water and are too frightened to switch on their lights due to the high costs.
Research by the charity Independent Age concluded that if current trends remain unchecked there could be four million older people in poverty by 2040, compared to two million now. Aftab Ahmad, 71, who lives in Leeds, is one of the founders of the Hamara Centre in the city, which supports people in the community and he is chairman of the men’s elderly group. He told i that he sees people who are struggling to even afford food and are often sitting in freezing homes with blankets around them as they know they cannot afford high heating bills.
He says that not only is this affecting people’s health, it is having an adverse effect on people’s mental health and ability to socialise with others as the cost of things is leading to them staying at home. “The cost of living is a big issue for some of the people who come to the centre,” he said. “The average pension isn’t enough to meet the food bills, utilities and everything else.
” Plans to scrap winter fuel payments to most pensioners have been met with dismay by some of those who will lose out. About 10 million older people will no longer qualify for the benefit, which is worth between £100 and £300, because they are deemed too wealthy. The new Labour government says it is right to target those most in need, given the “dire” public finances it has inherited.
However, Independent Age says it is particularly concerned about pensioners who will narrowly miss out on the payment. The charity says ending the winter fuel payment for those not receiving pension credit risks driving hundreds of thousands of older people into further financial hardship. Cuts to adult social care over the years has also left the system in crisis and many people go without the care they need.
The crisis in social care also has knock-on effects for the NHS and increases pressures in hospitals. The rising cost of living crisis is having a detrimental impact on everyone from affording to cover rising bills to astronomical prices of essentials such as food. Among the groups hardest hit by the crisis are older people, who are often on a fixed income and tend to spend more on home energy bills than other households.
“You have to start going into savings and those who don’t have savings are falling behind. It causes stress and arguments in people’s homes,” said Mr Ahmad. “The cost of things is making some people stay at home.
We know that some won’t come on community trips because they are worried about the expense. They won’t tell us that’s the reason, they keep it to themselves. “Hamara tries to encourage them to come regardless and say that we will help to pay.
It is important that people are still able to come out and that they aren’t stopped by the cost. “Community is everything and socialising shouldn’t be a luxury.” Mr Ahmad, who is married with five children, 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild, says he is lucky as he was a railway guard for 36 years and has a railway pension, as well as his state pension.
However, he says even with a private pension and state pension, things can sometimes be hard so he can’t imagine what life is like for those trying to survive on the state pension alone. “I try and manage everything with my monthly income, but if I have to pay for something extra, such as car or home repairs, it has to come out of savings,” he said. “But there are a lot of people just surviving on state pensions who have no savings to fall back on.
They may have gone from earning a decent salary when they were working to having just a few hundred pounds to survive on. “We hear a lot of heart-rending stories and try to help make people’s lives as comfortable as possible, but it’s not easy. “Some of them are very proud people who contributed a lot to this country and don’t want to express that they are in difficulties.
Some of them are reserved and it is a pride thing. Mr Ahmad says the centre has a food bank two days a week, as well as offering hot meals for £2. He says it is heartbreaking to know that older people are cutting back on necessities such as food and warmth.
“I went to someone’s house who was poorly and his house was so cold, it felt like it was freezing. He was curled up under a blanket. “Some older people are going without food and it seems the rich are getting richer, while the poor are getting poorer.
Older people deserve better and it is so sad when they have worked hard all their lives. Read Next Older people are waking up in the middle of night to boil water, trying to save on energy “They know they have to be careful with their money as once it leaves their pocket, it doesn’t come back. But it affects their health if they can’t have food or pay for heating their home.
” Independent Age says its stark findings about the predicted surge in the number of older people who will experience financial difficulties should serve as a wake up call to the Government. Joanna Elson, Independent Age chief executive, said: “Too many people currently experience financial hardship in older age, including those who Aftab meets through the Hamara Centre. “The rocketing levels of poverty in later life that this research projects are bleak.
It must serve as a wake-up call for the new UK Government. “Every day, we speak to some of the almost two million older people already in financial hardship who are skipping meals, washing in cold water or not using the lights in the evening, all to save money. “It’s a horrible situation, but it’s the reality for one in six older people.
This is a scandal, and this new research shows it could get even worse, rising to affect almost one in four. “With collective action from politicians, businesses, regulators, housing providers, charities and others, we can ensure the voices of current and future generations of older people are heard, that they live in safe, affordable and secure homes and have the income they need to live a dignified and fulfilling life.”.
