The Commons Work and Pensions Committee has told the Prime Minister that the government must deliver a new strategy to tackle pensioner poverty after the Winter Fuel Payment U-turnWoman looking worried while checking electricity bill at home. Electricity, finance, crisis and bills concept.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has come under pressure to step up efforts to combat pensioner poverty following a reversal on the government’s contentious Winter Fuel Payments cuts this year. A stark report has highlighted that close to 3 million pensioners are enduring a substandard quality of life in the UK.

Have your say! How can you see pensions and other benefits changing in the future? Should older people be a priority in this country? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.

The Commons Work and Pension Committee has issued a fresh report demanding that the government formulate a new plan to enhance living standards for the elderly.

The report reveals that approximately 2.8 million pensioners are subsisting below the ‘Minimum Income Standard’, which gauges the necessary income for an individual in specific circumstances to live not only with the essentials but also with dignity and societal participation.

MPs have pointed out that numerous seniors are finding it tough, “cutting back on essentials, like food, energy use and seeing friends, in an attempt to manage costs”, as per the Mirror. Women represent two-thirds of those living in poverty.

One proposal is to encourage more eligible individuals to apply for Pension Credit, which boosts weekly income for the most financially vulnerable pensioners and can aid those with disabilities or carers. The reduction in Winter Fuel Payments last year led to a 60,000 increase in Pension Credit claims, yet MPs believe further efforts are needed to guide potential claimants.

Pension Credit payouts might also be adjusted to benefit those narrowly missing out on additional funds, softening the abrupt “cliff-edge” effect of a strict cut-off.

Additionally, the government is reviewing the state pension age, a process it undertakes every six years, to assess its suitability against factors such as life expectancy and older people’s health.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has voiced concern that 45% of working-age individuals aren’t contributing to a pension scheme. They worry that the cost of living crisis is compelling people to use their current finances rather than save for the future, which could worsen living standards over time.

Committee chair Debbie Abrahams remarked: “Poverty 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.

“But too many are forced to make sacrifices that will accelerate their ageing because they don’t have enough to live on. To boost incomes, the Government needs to come up with a strategy to increase pension credit take-up. It’s a scandal that so many have missed out for so many years, often through an aversion to claiming benefits altogether, or lack of support.”

She further stated: “Faced 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 issue. So, we’re calling for a nationwide, cross-government strategy for an ageing society that should be rooted in equity and wellbeing.”

Have your say! How can you see pensions and other benefits changing in the future? Should older people be a priority in this country? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.