Age UK responds to the state pension uprating of 3.9% from April 2020
By: Age UK
Published on 16 October 2019 01:00 PM
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “The state pension increase from next April is good news for many pensioners and shows why the triple lock is so important, safeguarding the value of the state pension and ensuring that it rises in line with average earnings. This is just as important for younger people, protecting the value of their pensions in future.
“It’s worth remembering that the state pension is the main source of income for millions of older people. And for many aged 75+, particularly those on a low income who are not receiving pension credit, much of the increase will be swallowed up by the cost of having to buy a TV licence from next year if current plans go ahead.
“This is one of the reasons why we’re urging the Government to take back funding responsibility for free TV licences for the over-75s and calling on them to do much more to get vital benefits such as pension credit into the pockets of those pensioners who are most in need.
“In the meantime we urge any older person who is worried about money to get in touch for a benefits check – our advisers can help them to put in a claim which, if successful, could potentially really boost their income over the next few years.”