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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

7 items
2 Conclusion 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Deferred

Women face systemic challenges and policy 'blind spots' in pension system design.

Improving pension outcomes requires an understanding of the systemic challenges. Of the groups at risk, we took most evidence on the position of women, who make up two-thirds (67%) of pensioners in poverty. Some positive steps have been taken to improve their pension outcomes: in particular, through the introduction of … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the issues around women's pension outcomes and the Gender Pensions Gap, stating it will continue to monitor and publish data every two years. It defers substantial consideration of improvements to the Pensions Commission, which will report its recommendations in 2027.
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Department for Work and Pensions
10 Recommendation 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Deferred

Appoint an Older People's Commissioner for England or propose equivalent advocacy mechanisms

We recommend the Government appoint an Older People’s Commissioner for England. If the Government decides not to, it should explain what alternative mechanism it proposes to address the issues of, for example, accountability, co-ordination and advocacy, and how this will ensure that older people in England have a strong independent … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government defers a decision on appointing an Older People's Commissioner for England, stating it will consider the experience and effectiveness of the Welsh Commissioner to inform future thinking, without proposing an alternative mechanism.
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Department for Work and Pensions
16 Conclusion 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Deferred

Consult urgently on new social tariff for wider, more generous energy bill support.

As a matter of urgency, DWP and DESNZ should consult on a new long-term targeted energy bill support scheme (a ‘social tariff’) able to provide more generous support than the existing Warm Homes Discount scheme and also to reach a wider group of pensioners in fuel poverty but not in … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government responds by announcing the expansion of the Warm Home Discount and acknowledges the issue of supporting those not on means-tested benefits. It states a new Fuel Poverty Strategy, due later this year, will set out details of its approach to data and targeting …
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Department for Work and Pensions
17 Conclusion 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Deferred

Lack of data hinders introduction of a social tariff for energy bill support.

Data is needed to identify people not on means-tested benefits but in need of bill support. Not having the mechanisms for this is one of the barriers to the introduction of a social tariff for energy. It is already an issue in other sectors, such as water, where social tariffs … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges data availability as a key barrier and states it is continuing cross-departmental work on data matching. It plans to set out more details on its approach to data and targeting future support in the new Fuel Poverty Strategy, due later this year.
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Department for Work and Pensions
32 Recommendation 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Deferred

Consult on State Pension objectives, aiming for dignified living standards and reducing pensioner inequality.

The pensions adequacy review should consult on objectives for the State Pension, taking account of adequacy, sustainability and fairness. Given that it is the core of the Government’s offer to pensioners, relied on by many pensioners on low incomes, a guiding principle should be that it provides the amount needed … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states the Pensions Commission, due to report in 2027, will examine the pensions system, including considerations of adequacy and improving retirement outcomes for vulnerable groups, but does not commit to consulting on specific State Pension objectives or setting a strategy now.
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Department for Work and Pensions
34 Recommendation 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Deferred

Establish a plan to ensure State Pension adequacy for all, reviewing undermining system aspects.

Once an objective for the State Pension relating to adequacy has been agreed, the Government should put in place a plan for getting everyone to that level. The first step should be to review those aspects of the state pension and benefits system that undermine its adequacy for some pensioners. … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states the Pensions Commission will examine the pensions system to build a future-proof, strong, fair, and sustainable system, considering adequacy and retirement outcomes, with its final report expected in 2027, deferring the immediate action of putting a plan in place.
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Department for Work and Pensions
40 Recommendation 2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challen… Deferred

Assess Local Housing Allowance impact on pensioner living standards; include older people's housing in strategy.

The Government should assess the impact of the Local Housing Allowance on pensioners and whether it leaves them with the income needed for a minimum, dignified, socially acceptable standard of living and report back to the Committee by the end of 2025. The long-term housing strategy, which will set out … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government stated that the Local Housing Allowance is regularly reviewed, including for age-related impacts, and confirmed that the upcoming Long-Term Housing Strategy will include considerations for older people's housing. However, it did not commit to a specific new impact assessment and report by the …
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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 …