LLA welcomes Independent Age report on pensioner entitlement take-up

Later Life Ambitions has welcomed Independent Age’s new report, The Only Way is Up.

The report – backed by research conducted by Public First – examines how improving take-up of financial entitlements could reduce pensioner poverty and pressure on health and social care services.

It finds that full take-up of Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction could help 2.5 million older people living in financial hardship, including lifting 280,000 out of poverty. Improved take-up could also generate savings of up to £790 million a year across health and social care spending in England.

The findings strengthen the case for co-ordinated action to ensure older people receive the support to which they are entitled. They also underline that improving take-up must sit alongside wider consideration of income adequacy in later life.

LLA’s Budget for Later Life calls for a Minimum Income Guarantee linked to the real cost of a decent and dignified life, alongside action to protect older people from poverty and financial insecurity.

Alan Lees, Chief Executive of the National Association of Retired Police Officers and a spokesperson for Later Life Ambitions, said: “This report from Independent Age and Public First provides further evidence that too many older people are missing out on support that could make a significant difference to their lives.

“The Government should make it simpler for people to receive everything to which they are entitled. However, improving take-up must sit alongside a wider examination of whether older people have enough income to meet the real cost of living.

“Our Budget for Later Life calls for a Minimum Income Guarantee so that everyone can live with dignity and security in retirement. This report is an important and timely contribution to that discussion.”

Independent Age is calling for an all-entitlements take-up strategy, alongside a wider review of the social safety net and income adequacy in later life.

Read The Only Way is Up