Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
2nd Report - Pensioner Poverty: challenges and mitigations
Work and Pensions Committee
HC 465
Published 24 July 2025
Recommendations
3
Accepted
Commit to reporting on the gender pensions gap at least every two years.
Recommendation
Sporadic reports on the size of the gender pensions gap are insufficient to track whether the situation is improving and to focus attention on the reasons for this. As such, the Government should commit to reporting on the gender pensions …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government commits to monitoring and publishing reports on the Gender Pensions Gap at least every two years, in line with the availability of ONS Wealth and Assets Survey data.
Department for Work and Pensions
View Details →
18
Accepted
Report on legislative changes to enable data sharing for social tariffs and targeting households.
Recommendation
The Government should report back to the Committee by the end of 2025 on: the changes to primary legislation for data sharing needed to enable the introduction of a social tariff; and any short-term changes to secondary legislation that could …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero commits to writing to the Committee by the end of 2025 with an assessment of necessary legislative changes for data sharing and improved access, and details of planned government action.
Department for Work and Pensions
View Details →
Conclusions (8)
1
Conclusion
Accepted
The reductions in pensioner poverty in the late 1990s and 2000s, with the introduction of Pension Credit, were a success. However, we are concerned that from 2010 rates started to rise again. And the latest data on living standards paints a bleak picture, with 2.8 million pensioners living in households …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the concern about pensioner poverty, highlighting existing measures like the State Pension Triple Lock, Pension Credit, and Automatic Enrolment. It also mentions future reports from the Casey Commission on social care and the Long-Term Housing Strategy.
4
Conclusion
Accepted
The pensions adequacy review should consider pension inequalities, the groups who are more likely to live in poverty in retirement, and how this will be addressed. (Recommendation, Paragraph 30) 81 Impact on older people
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Pensions Commission's terms of reference already specifically include considerations of adequacy and improving retirement outcomes for those at greatest risk of poverty, with its final report expected in 2027.
5
Conclusion
Accepted
As pensioners are generally on a fixed income, they face challenges responding to cost-of-living increases. Those on low incomes are likely to respond by cutting back on food, energy use and social interactions, adding to existing health risks. Various social and environmental risk factors such as poverty, bereavement and isolation …
Government Response Summary
The government outlines current and planned initiatives to address pensioner poverty and support, including increases to the National Living Wage, the Triple Lock, Automatic Enrolment, Pension Credit, a Social and Affordable Homes Programme, and the Casey Commission on adult social care.
14
Conclusion
Accepted
As previously recommended in our report on Safeguarding Vulnerable Claimants, DWP should analyse the potential impacts of new policies or key policy changes on claimants that will be affected, including older people. This should include reviewing the capacity, data and processes it needs to do this effectively. As also recommended …
Government Response Summary
The government states DWP already has a statutory duty to analyse policy impacts, including on older people, and is actively strengthening this analysis. It confirms recommendations from a previous report are being addressed, a new safeguarding approach is under development, and it recognises the value of joint assessments with the Chief Medical Advisor.
19
Conclusion
Accepted
We welcome the Government’s commitment to increase Pension Credit take-up and progress so far, with 60,000 additional awards since July 2024. Long experience and extensive research demonstrate that the main barriers to claiming relate to pride, not wanting to ask for help and a feeling that ‘benefits are not for …
Government Response Summary
The government details its significant progress in implementing place-based and strategic partnerships for Pension Credit promotion, utilizing trusted advocates, councils, and community groups. It also describes embedding messaging to position DWP as a supportive service, creating accessible materials to help people access entitlements.
21
Conclusion
Accepted
The Department should put in place the resources needed to process claims in an efficient and timely manner and helpline advisers able to give the advice needed to navigate the system in more complex cases. The Government communications on social security benefits should emphasise that DWP is there to support …
Government Response Summary
The government states it already has resource plans and staffing flexibility to process claims efficiently and ensure staff are equipped for complex cases. It also details its existing significant progress in place-based promotion through trusted advocates and embedding supportive messaging in its communications, alongside developing accessible materials.
28
Conclusion
Accepted
We welcome the Government’s recognition of the importance of better data sharing arrangements to increase take-up of means-tested benefits, and the work it is doing to address the issues. (Conclusion, Paragraph 141)
Government Response Summary
The government outlines its current extensive data sharing arrangements with local authorities, including 28 bulk data shares and access to DWP and HMRC information, and notes how simplifying legislation could further improve data sharing.
41
Conclusion
Accepted
The State Pension age is an important tool for containing the costs of the State Pension. However, improvements in life expectancy across the country have stalled. People living in the most deprived areas of the country have lower life expectancy and lower healthy life expectancy than people in less deprived …
Government Response Summary
The government outlined its existing process for conducting impact assessments and evaluations for State Pension age increases, including past assessments and a future evaluation of the rise to 67 once it is complete in 2028.