The survey of over 1,200 over 60s also revealed that nearly one in five pensioners had cut back on their heating over the winter months in order to make ends meet. This is particularly worrying in the face of the extra 25,000 older people dying during the winter months in recent years. Among poorer pensioners, one in five say they are going out less in order to save money, and over a third are buying cheaper or less food.
These results highlight the importance of Age UK's ‘More Money in Your Pocket' campaign - which kicks off today - encouraging people in later life to claim the benefits they are entitled to. As much as £5.4 billion in pensioner benefits goes unclaimed each year, often because people are unaware of the help which is available. Encouraging people to claim their benefits is a key part of Age UK's Let's Talk Money campaign, which is helping people maximise their income in retirement and reduce poverty.
Shockingly one in ten pensioners report having outstanding debts such as a mortgage, credit card or bank loan, with levels of debt being higher among younger pensioners. These figures are slightly higher than results from a similar survey carried out in 2008, which showed one in twelve pensioners were in debt. This is a worrying indication of the lengths to which many older people are going to stay afloat financially.
The majority of pensioners live on low to middle incomes[ix] and many have been hit hard by the rising cost of food, which has shot up by 6.2 per cent and energy which has increased by 4.2 per cent over the last year. Pensioners are hit particularly hard by climbing inflation rates because they spend a larger percentage of their budget on food and fuel, as shown in Age UK's Enterprises Silver RPI.
Despite just under half of all pensioners being entitled to pension credit - a top up for people on low incomes - a third of people don't claim it. Our survey shows that overall only 22 per cent are claiming it although this rises to just under half for poorer pensioners. The vast majority of people surveyed said that claiming pensioner benefits had improved their quality of life or helped them worry less about making ends meet.
Much more needs to be done so that all pensioners receive the money to which they are entitled. 1.8 million pensioners live in poverty, and many thousands more are living just above the breadline as indicated in this survey - yet millions of pounds of pensioner benefits goes unclaimed each year. This is because many people are unaware of the range of benefits available or don't realise they are eligible, think the claiming process is too complicated and intrusive, or simply feel too proud to make a claim.
Up to 1.97 million pensioners are still missing out on council tax benefit worth £1.5 billion per year - if claimed this could boost their income by an average of £728 a year. Yet with homeowners making up the vast majority of pensioners missing out on the benefit (83%), Age UK is worried that many who are struggling to pay their bills don't realise they are entitled to extra help.
Launched today, the charity's nationwide More money in your pocket campaign is aiming to get an extra £120 million into the pockets of 500,000 older people over the next year. Age UK is calling on older people to get in touch with their local Age UK or Age Concern, or call Age UK Advice, the charity's free national advice line, on freephone 0800 169 65 65.
Michelle Mitchell, Age UK's Charity Director, commented:
"At a time when so many people are struggling financially, it is unacceptable that vital benefits are failing to reach some of the poorest and most vulnerable older people in our society. This is money that could make a huge difference to people's quality of life.
"Ultimately the best way to ensure that people receive the benefits they are entitled to is for them to be paid automatically. But in the meantime, the evidence shows that clear, independent information and advice and face-to-face communication are key to improving the take-up of benefits.
"The ‘More Money in Your Pocket' campaign is working to break down the barriers that stop older people claiming benefits such as people not realising that they are entitled to the money or feeling reluctant to claim."
