Challenge Poverty Week Scotland: The changes we need to see for a better later life

Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager, reflects on Challenge Poverty Week and sets out what pensioners in poverty need from Government.

This week is Challenge Poverty Week in Scotland. A week where charities, elected representatives, trade unions, and others come together to call for action to tackle poverty. All united behind the message that we can end the injustice of poverty, together.

It’s my second Challenge Poverty Week since joining Independent Age. As someone who has worked in the anti-poverty space for a good few years, joining an organisation with the vision that no one should face financial hardship in later life made me reflect on the lack of attention pensioner poverty has received in recent years — whether that be from Government or the lack of attention I had been guilty of paying personally before I started working for Independent Age. I found myself asking:

• Where is the outrage that 1 in 7 older people in Scotland live in poverty?
• Why is pensioner poverty so often hidden and the voices of older people in poverty unheard?
• Where is the strategic, long-term action from Government? Both in the UK and Scotland.
• And most importantly, how can we halt and reverse the trend of rising pensioner poverty?

The hidden reality of pensioner poverty

Starting with hearing the voices of older people living in poverty. I want to tell you the story of a woman I had the pleasure of meeting last month. A few of us from the team at Independent Age were out speaking to older people in Glasgow, when we were met by one woman, Cathy*, who had dropped by after trying to go to the bank to get an issue with her energy bill sorted. She was told to come back to the bank later. Cathy, told us that she had felt suicidal last Winter due to her rising gas and electricity bills. She had reduced her food intake and was struggling with the worry of her money running out, constantly thinking about how much money she had to cover the cost of turning on the washing machine or taking a bath.

Cathy told us: “If I can get my bills sorted and enough for food, I would be quite happy.”

We can all agree that no one, not Cathy, or anyone else should have to live like this. But too many people in Scotland do. Over 1 million people face the daily reality of being in poverty, and 150,000 of these people are pensioners.

• Of the single older women in Scotland, 1 in 4 live in poverty (22%).
• And, for older people in the private rented sector, a staggering 39% live in poverty in the nation.

What needs to change?

Independent Age is here for older people in Scotland who are in poverty, experiencing money worries or facing financial hardship, through our free helpline and advice. But we need action from both the UK and Scottish Governments if we are to address the underlying causes of poverty in later life.

On income — we must have adequate social security for older people. Whilst we know the current triple lock on the State Pension isn’t perfect, any loss in value of the State Pension would bring significant harm to older people in poverty. It’s also essential the UK Government and Scottish Government do all they can to increase the uptake of the benefits people passed State Pension age are already entitled to but not receiving.

On housing — we know that almost 4 in 10 older people in the private rented sector are living in poverty. The forthcoming Housing Bill must contain measures to manage rent costs, we also want to see the right to adequate housing enshrined in Scots Law.

On costs — the current costs crisis has seen upward spiralling costs affect everyone. But for older people in poverty, being in a cost-of-living crisis is not new. We’ve heard stories from older people that paint a stark picture of the costs people don’t always think about, and the cumulative impact they are having on older people who simply do not have enough money. We need action to ensure broadband companies all have social tariffs and actively promote them to their older customers on low income. We also want a social tariff for energy and better promotion and access to all existing financial support for utilities and Council Tax.

A voice for later life — vitally, older people in Scotland need a voice for later life. For too long, older people’s issues have slipped down the political agenda. We’re calling for the creation of an Older People’s Commissioner for Scotland to make sure that the rights of older people — including social and economic human rights — are upheld.

Any attempt to claw back from the pockets of pensioners in poverty must be challenged and stopped. Last week, we heard worrying speculation that the Winter Fuel Allowance could be taken away from older people who are not on Pension Credit. Despite that fact that over 30% of older people who should be getting Pension Credit are currently missing out and that many people who hover just about the Pension Credit eligibility threshold are struggling.

Outdated and simply false stereotypes of older people all living a life of luxury in retirement and that subsequently older people don’t need as much social security are frankly dangerous and deny the hidden reality for 150,000 pensioners in Scotland.

For action on pensioner poverty older people cannot afford to wait any longer. They shouldn’t have to wait for solutions — and fundamental realisation — of their basic dignity and right to a life free from poverty. In a compassionate, just society we can and must do better. By the time Challenge Poverty Week comes around again next year, we must have seen action from the UK and Scottish Government. Together, we can end the injustice of pensioner poverty.

*Name has been changed