Age UK responds to poverty stats

In response to the new poverty (Household Below Average Income) published today, Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said:

'After positive progress in recent years, it's worrying to see that the percentage of pensioners living in poverty has increased slightly[1] and frankly unacceptable that so many are still struggling to afford the very basics.

'With 1.6 million older people living in poverty - as well as millions of working age families and children - we urgently need a concerted effort to help the most vulnerable. Better access to good quality information and advice, and increased take-up of pensioner benefits would be a good start. A national strategy which sets firm targets and workable solutions to end this scandal is long overdue.

'Ultimately we want to see pensioner poverty halved by 2020 but in the meantime, ensuring that the poorest pensioners receive all of the help that they're entitled to would make a huge difference to many lives.'

-Ends-

Ref: lfjvms

Media Contact: helen.spinney@ageuk.org.uk or media@ageuk.org.uk - 020 3033 1430 / Out of hours contact: 07071 243 243

Notes to editors

1 The percentage of pensioners living in relative poverty has increased from 13% (in 2012/13) to 14% (in 2013/14).

Age UK

We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI and our local Age UK partners in England (together the Age UK Family). We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.

Age UK believes that everyone should have the opportunity to make the most of later life, whatever their circumstances. We provide free information, advice and support to over six million people; commercial products and services to over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle.

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group ("we"). Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity's trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).