Pensioner poverty is an enormous challenge within the UK, with round two million older individuals struggling to get by and one other million residing precariously. The social safety system has an important position to play in supporting them however, sadly, it’s overly advanced and fragmented – stopping many older individuals on low incomes from receiving all of the monetary assist they’re entitled to. An older particular person trying to apply for the 4 predominant pensioner entitlements – Pension Credit score, Housing Profit, Council Tax Discount and Attendance Allowance – may must reply as much as 450 questions. This daunting and timeconsuming process was revealed on the launch of our newest report, Leaping Via Hoops. Even with the assistance of a educated adviser, it may take 4 hours.
A person making an attempt an utility on their very own may must spend an exorbitant period of time on the duty, which could be very worrying. Our helpline often receives calls from frightened older individuals who have discovered the method of making use of for monetary assist overwhelming; one girl mentioned she was left feeling suicidal. Residing in monetary hardship could be extremely isolating and looking for assist shouldn’t contain extra stress on this method. Given many older individuals could be reluctant to ask for assist, it’s no exaggeration to say complexities within the system could also be placing tens of hundreds of individuals off looking for help.
This winter, we noticed the dire affect of getting a social safety system that’s laborious to entry; older individuals in monetary hardship misplaced the Winter Gasoline Fee as a result of they don’t obtain Pension Credit score. With solely 65% of these eligible receiving it, nearly one million individuals misplaced the cost regardless of being low-income. It was a very robust winter, with common chilly snaps, and we spoke to older individuals throughout the nation taking drastic measures to remain heat – from going to mattress in hats and coats, to visiting heat public locations. Certainly this can’t be proper in Twenty first-century Britain?
Having seemed into older individuals’s experiences of navigating the social safety system to raised perceive the boundaries, we will recommend options to authorities and native authorities who put cash into the pockets of those that want it. Now’s the time for motion. Too many pensioner entitlements are impacted by low take-up. We interviewed many older individuals who have utilized for monetary assist and we additionally spoke to our educated advisers who often assist them in the course of the utility course of. Via this analysis, we now have a greater understanding of the system and the right way to enhance it.
The Authorities should begin by asserting a take-up technique for all entitlements. This could embrace plans to shorten the kinds that over-complicate the appliance course of. Ministers may declare the Pension Credit score type could be accomplished in 16 minutes – welcome information – however many older individuals we assist have extra wants due to well being circumstances and, in some circumstances, low literacy ranges, which might make making use of harder. Additionally, Pension Credit score is only one type – many older individuals have to use for a number of entitlements. In doing so, they will endure from an accumulative fatigue from filling out so many prolonged and complicated kinds.
The Authorities must also set out how its plans can harness the facility of knowledge to streamline the appliance course of. Candidates are often compelled to reply the identical repetitive questions. Repeated asks embrace Nationwide Insurance coverage quantity, sources of revenue and make contact with particulars. This may be extraordinarily irritating.
Totally different authorities departments ought to have the ability to share consenting candidates’ core private info and create pre-filled kinds. Candidates would merely be required to verify this info is right, saving time and making the method far much less daunting. It may additionally save crimson tape and forms inside straining social providers.
The social safety system can present a much-needed security web for older individuals. Nonetheless, it wants an pressing makeover to make sure no one in want of assist is left behind. If a number of easy enhancements are made, extra individuals in later life shall be financially safe. That’s one thing we must be excited to offer to present and future generations.
- Joanna Elson CBE is chief govt of Impartial Age. Go to independentage.org for extra info
