Select Committee · Work and Pensions Committee

Pensioner Poverty: challenges and mitigations

Status: Closed Opened: 22 Nov 2024 Closed: 1 Jan 2026 12 recommendations 31 conclusions 1 report

Are pension age benefits and the State Pension enough to stop pensioners from falling into poverty? We are looking at the state of pensioner poverty in the UK. Which groups are most affected? What are the health impacts? How do the State Pension and other pension age benefits mitigate the risks? What part is played … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challenges and mitigations HC 465 24 Jul 2025 43 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

10 items
9 Conclusion 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Acknowledged

Older people's interests are unheard, demonstrating the effectiveness of an independent Commissioner

Some older people do not feel that their interests are being heard in government decision making. Wales’ Older People’s Commissioner has made a substantial difference in areas including digital inclusion, care homes and access to GP practices. The Commissioner’s statutory powers of review give the role authority and it has … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the effectiveness of Wales' Older People's Commissioner and commits to considering its experience and impact to inform its future thinking in England.
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Department for Work and Pensions
15 Conclusion 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Acknowledged

Warm Homes Discount insufficient; widespread support for a more generous social tariff.

Direct reductions in energy bills ensure that money is spent on energy, giving pensioners the confidence needed to turn the heating on. This is currently provided through the Warm Homes Discount, which provides a discount of £150 on bills for households on means-tested benefits. There is general agreement that this … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government announced the expansion of the Warm Home Discount to 6 million households this winter and acknowledges that those not on means-tested benefits miss out on support due to data availability. It is working on data matching and will detail its approach in a …
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Department for Work and Pensions
20 Conclusion 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Acknowledged

Existing DWP trust issues impact older people's willingness to claim benefits.

The Minister referred to the reputation of the Department and the reluctance of people to engage with it. We know that trust issues exist between working age people and the Department, and these will endure as they reach pension age. Given this, we disagree with the Minister that there is … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it is strengthening its communications approach by embedding messaging that positions DWP as a supportive service and developing accessible materials to help people access their entitlements.
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Department for Work and Pensions
22 Conclusion 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Acknowledged

Legislative differences complicate benefit mergers and impact Pension Credit for carers.

Differences in rules mean that it is not straightforward to award one benefit based on information provided for another without changes in legislation. We look forward to seeing the consultation on the Government’s proposed merger of Housing Benefit and Pension Credit and how the challenges arising from the differences are … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the confusing system for carers to qualify for Pension Credit and states it is considering ways to improve the link between Carer’s Allowance and Pension Credit, as well as application routes for pensioners with caring responsibilities.
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Department for Work and Pensions
26 Conclusion 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Acknowledged

Multi-year funding for Crisis and Resilience Fund supports local welfare and take-up.

Local Welfare Support plays an important role both in crisis support and in funding take-up campaigns. We note the importance of longer-term funding to allow local authorities to plan ahead and so welcome the announcement in the Spending Review of a multi-year settlement for the Crisis and Resilience Fund in … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of the Crisis and Resilience Fund for preventative support and benefit take-up, and is working closely with stakeholders on its detailed design, planning to issue guidance before the scheme starts on 1 April 2026.
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Department for Work and Pensions
27 Recommendation 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Acknowledged

Encourage using Crisis and Resilience fund for benefits take-up and assess advice sector capacity needs.

When the guidance is produced, it should encourage the use of the Crisis and Resilience fund for benefit take-up work. The Government should assess what more is needed to increase the advice sector capacity needed to support this work. (Recommendation, Paragraph 136) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government recognizes the importance of benefit take-up and the advice sector, stating they are working on the Crisis and Resilience Fund's detailed design, including considering advice sector capacity, with guidance due by April 2026.
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Department for Work and Pensions
30 Conclusion 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Acknowledged

State pension design and level significantly influence pensioner poverty and health outcomes.

We note evidence from the UK and internationally shows that the design and level of state pension benefits can have a significant impact on pensioner poverty, as well as improving health outcomes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 146)

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges challenges in the pensions system for future generations and has established a Pensions Commission to examine long-term questions of adequacy and retirement outcomes, alongside plans to support employment.
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Department for Work and Pensions
31 Conclusion 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Acknowledged

Pensions adequacy review welcomed for focusing on outcomes and diverse measurement approaches.

We welcome the pensions adequacy review and its focus on outcomes. We note that there are different measures, which are all helpful in telling us different things, such as: replacement rates indicate the extent to which 86 people are able to maintain a standard of living throughout life; the relative … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government confirms the Pensions Commission's terms of reference include adequacy and improving retirement outcomes for vulnerable groups, stating the Commission will consider all evidence, engage stakeholders, and submit its final report in 2027.
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Department for Work and Pensions
33 Conclusion 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Acknowledged

Many pensioners, including 2.1 million, rely on inadequate State Pension and experience hardship.

One in eight pensioners rely solely on the state pension and it makes up 80% of the retirement income of the poorest pensioners. The Minister for Pensions said to us that the State Pension formed the ‘bedrock of Government support’ for pensioners, yet we heard that many of those who … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government reaffirms its commitment to pensioners, highlighting the Triple Lock and significant spending on State Pensions, and mentions past government actions to support low-income households and improve retirement outcomes.
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Department for Work and Pensions
39 Conclusion 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Acknowledged

Rising number of private renting pensioners are at increased risk of poverty from Local Housing Allowance.

The Pensions Policy Institute expects the number and proportion of pensioners renting privately to grow from around 6% now to 17% in 2041. As many as 400,000 households could become dependent on means-tested benefits. Pensioners renting privately are already at risk of poverty, with the operation of the Local Housing … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government explained the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) and mentioned its increase in April 2024, alongside the availability of Discretionary Housing Payments. It also detailed a new Social and Affordable Homes Programme and noted that the upcoming Long-Term Housing Strategy will consider housing for older …
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Department for Work and Pensions

Oral evidence sessions

8 sessions
Date Witnesses
4 Jun 2025 Andrew Latto · Department for Work and Pensions, Laura Adelman · Department for Work and Pensions, Torsten Bell MP · Department for Work and Pensions View ↗
21 May 2025 Anthony Pygram · Committee on Fuel Poverty, Ned Hammond · Energy UK, Peter Smith · National Energy Action, Simon Francis · End Fuel Poverty Coalition View ↗
12 May 2025 Faye Patton · Care and Repair Cymru, Rhian Bowen-Davies, Older People's Commissioner for Wales, Victoria Lloyd · Age Cymru View ↗
30 Apr 2025 David Finch · The Health Foundation, Dr David Attwood · Pathfields Medical Group, Dr Ruth Law · The British Geriatrics Society, Professor Sir Michael Marmot · University College London (UCL), Toby North · Marie Curie View ↗
26 Mar 2025 Daphne Hall · National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers (NAWRA), Dr Juliet Stone · Centre for Research in Social Policy, Loughborough University, Dr Kingsley Purdam · Manchester University, Gareth Morgan · Ferret Information Systems, Gary Vaux · Hertfordshire County Council, Professor Matt Padley · Loughborough University View ↗
26 Feb 2025 Alistair Smyth · National Housing Federation, Councillor David Fothergill · Local Government Association, Deven Ghelani · Policy in Practice, Fabian Chessell · Policy in Practice View ↗
22 Jan 2025 Angela Madden · The WASPI Campaign, Debbie de Spon · The WASPI Campaign, Dr Daniella Jenkins · Women’s Budget Group, Dr Suzy Morrissey · Pensions Policy Institute, Karl Banister · Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Sasjkia Otto · Fabian Society, Sue Ferns · Prospect Trade Union View ↗
18 Dec 2024 Adam Stachura · Age Scotland, Carl Emmerson · Institute of Fiscal Studies, Carole Easton · Centre for Aging Better, Caroline Abrahams · Age UK, Daniella Silcock, Independent Research Consultant, Jonathan Safir · National Pensioners Convention, Morgan Vine · Independent Age, Peter Matejic · Joseph Rowntree Foundation View ↗

Who gave evidence

40 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Adam Stachura · Associate Director of Policy, Communications and … Age Scotland 1
Alistair Smyth · Director of Policy and Research National Housing Federation 1
Andrew Latto · Deputy Director, Devolution, Pensioner Benefits &… Department for Work and Pensions 1
Angela Madden · Campaign Chair The WASPI Campaign 1
Anthony Pygram · Member Committee on Fuel Poverty 1
Carl Emmerson · Member, and Deputy Director Institute of Fiscal Studies 1
Carole Easton · CEO Centre for Aging Better 1
Caroline Abrahams · Charity Director Age UK 1
Councillor David Fothergill · Chair of the Community Wellbeing Board Local Government Association 1
Daniella Silcock, Independent Research Consultant 1
Daphne Hall · Co Chair National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers (NAWRA) 1
David Finch · Associate Director, Healthy Lives Team The Health Foundation 1
Debbie de Spon · Communications Director The WASPI Campaign 1
Deven Ghelani · Director and Founder Policy in Practice 1
Dr Daniella Jenkins · Member of Policy Advisory Group and Incoming Exec… Women’s Budget Group 1
Dr David Attwood · GP Partner Pathfields Medical Group 1
Dr Juliet Stone · Research Fellow Centre for Research in Social Policy, Loughborough University 1
Dr Kingsley Purdam · Lecturer, Social Statistics Manchester University 1
Dr Ruth Law · Honorary Secretary The British Geriatrics Society 1
Dr Suzy Morrissey · Deputy Director Pensions Policy Institute 1
Fabian Chessell · Central Government Lead Policy in Practice 1
Faye Patton · Head of Policy and Insights Care and Repair Cymru 1
Gareth Morgan · CEO Ferret Information Systems 1
Gary Vaux · Head of Money Advice Hertfordshire County Council 1
Jonathan Safir · National Administration and Information Manager National Pensioners Convention 1
Karl Banister · Director of Operations, Legal and Clinical Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman 1
Laura Adelman · Deputy Director, Pensions and Later Life Analysis Department for Work and Pensions 1
Morgan Vine · Director of Policy and Influencing Independent Age 1
Ned Hammond · Deputy Director for Policy Energy UK 1
Peter Matejic · Chief Analyst, Insight and Policy Joseph Rowntree Foundation 1
Peter Smith · Director of Policy and Advocacy National Energy Action 1
Professor Matt Padley · Co-Director of the Centre for Research in Social … Loughborough University 1
Professor Sir Michael Marmot · Director of the Institute of Health Equity and Pr… University College London (UCL) 1
Rhian Bowen-Davies, Older People's Commissioner for Wales 1
Sasjkia Otto · Senior Researcher Fabian Society 1
Simon Francis · Co-ordinator End Fuel Poverty Coalition 1
Sue Ferns · Senior Deputy General Secretary Prospect Trade Union 1
Toby North · Head of Public Affairs Marie Curie 1
Torsten Bell MP · Minister for Pensions Department for Work and Pensions 1
Victoria Lloyd · Chief Executive Age Cymru 1

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
25 Jun 2025 From cttee Letter to Torsten Bell MP, Minister for Pensions. relating to the Pensioner …