Blog: Challenging poverty in later life
Challenge Poverty Week, running from 5-11 October, offers the chance to identify the barriers that too many people face when trying to lift themselves from poverty.
Poverty and financial disadvantage stand in the way of many older people in Scotland, preventing them from making the most of later life.
Recent figures from the National Records of Scotland found life expectancy in Scotland was 77.1 years for men and 81.1 years for women – and the gap between the wealthiest and poorest areas show that economic deprivation still has a huge impact on life expectancy.
With around 150,000 pensioners across Scotland living in relative poverty after housing costs, and many more just above the poverty line, there is plenty of work to be done to boost incomes, bring down the cost of living and ensure that services, including health, social care and housing, are put in place to support all older people and meet the demands of an ageing population.
Benefit eligibility
The system of benefits, allowances, tax credits and assistance is complicated: benefits can be administered by t Social Security Scotland, Department for Work and Pensions, HMRC or your local council and they may be means tested or depend on whether you have health problems or a disability, are a carer or have served in the armed forces.
Many older people in Scotland do not receive the benefits they are entitled to. In fact, in 2019, our skilled helpline advisors identified a record-breaking £719,212 in unclaimed benefits.
Among the most widely underclaimed is Pension Credit - a means tested benefit for people over State Pension age to help with the cost of living. If you have a low income and modest savings it can top your income up to a level set by the Government. Receiving Pension Credit can entitle you to other help with rent, energy and health costs too, and if you are aged 75 or over it would mean that you can continue to watch TV without having to pay for a licence.
But two fifths of people who are entitled to this benefit – about 100,000 pensioners in Scotland – aren't getting it. Some don't know they can claim, many struggle to apply and lots more feel embarrassed about needing help.
This is deeply worrying. Older people have contributed to society their entire life, it’s important that they claim what they are entitled to in order to maximise their income and are able to enjoy their later life. We would urge all older people to make sure they know exactly what they are entitled to claim. If you are unsure, our 0800 12 44 222 Helpline offers a full free benefits check.
Additional support from Age Scotland
Earlier this year, we released our new Benefits Maze booklet, which is a free guide to claiming benefits and grants for older people in Scotland featuring advice valid up to March 2021. This booklet has been prepared as a guide to help you untangle the maze of benefit, pension and social security entitlements and to give you an idea of the benefits you may be entitled to claim. Download your copy now.
We also produce factsheets which offer in-depth detail on various benefits, including widely underclaimed Council Tax Reduction.
Some temporary changes to the benefits system may still be in place due to COVID-19.
To help you navigate these changes, we put together some frequently asked questions from our Helpline, as well as where you can go for further information. Read it on our website here.
You can speak to one of our advisers by calling our helpline on 0800 12 44 222, who will carry out a free benefits check or look up your potential entitlements using our sister charity Age UK's benefit calculator.
