![\"MPs](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/5_Senior-old-elderly-person-learning-computer-and-online-pension-and-banking-internet-skills-protect.jpeg\")
MPs are calling for a national strategy to combat pensioner poverty(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\nThe Commons Work and Pension Committee said around 2.8million pensioners are living below the ‘minimum income standard’ and cutting back on essentialsMPs are calling for a national strategy to combat pensioner poverty(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
Keir Starmer should commit to a national strategy to tackle pensioner poverty<\/a>, MPs demand in a new report today.<\/p>\n The Commons Work and Pension Committee<\/a> also urges the government to decide on a minimum level of retirement income. The report warns around 2.8million pensioners are living below the Minimum Income Standard<\/a>.<\/p>\n MPs said this means older people “cutting back on essentials, like food, energy use and seeing friends, in an attempt to manage costs”. They also said women make up two-thirds of those in poverty.<\/p>\n Among the recommendations, the Work and Pensions<\/a> Committee calls for a “take-up strategy” for pension credit, which is available to the very poorest pensioners. The extra cash of up to \u00a34,000 helps low income people with essential living costs.<\/p>\n But the MPs point out that take-up has been around 61% to 66% for around a decade with an estimated 700,000 households being eligible but not claiming. Despite an extra 60,000 extra awards last winter, MPs said there is still a long way to go.<\/p>\n A taper to pension credit should also be considered to “mitigate the cliff-edge effect” for those who currently miss out, they said.<\/p>\n Be the first with news from Mirror Politics<\/p>\n BLUESKY: Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here<\/a>. And follow our Mirror Politics team here – Lizzy Buchan<\/a>, Mikey Smith<\/a>, Kevin Maguire<\/a>, Sophie Huskisson<\/a>, Dave Burke<\/a> and Ashley Cowburn<\/a>.<\/p>\n POLITICS WHATSAPP: Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here.<\/a> We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n NEWSLETTER: Or sign up here to the Mirror’s Politics newsletter<\/a> for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n PODCAST: And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell<\/a>, hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday.<\/p>\n But the MPs welcomed the decision to U-turn on the controversial cuts to winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners<\/a>. “Whatever the merits of the change, it created uncertainty and anxiety for pensioners about how they would manage,” they said.<\/p>\n Committee chairwoman Debbie Abrahams said: \u201cPoverty is insidious. It isolates, damages health, and strips you of dignity. After decades of contributing to society, dignity in retirement is the least you deserve.<\/p>\n “But too many are forced to make sacrifices that will accelerate their ageing because they don\u2019t have enough to live on. To boost incomes, the Government needs to come up with a strategy to increase pension credit take-up. It\u2019s a scandal that so many have missed out for so many years, often through an aversion to claiming benefits altogether, or lack of support.\u201d<\/p>\n She added: \u201cFaced with a combination of high energy costs, ill-health and ever higher rates of pensioners in more costly privately rented accommodation, tackling pensioner poverty is not simply a DWP<\/a> issue.<\/p>\n