Guest blog: The need for a National Pensioner Poverty Strategy – could Scotland lead the way?

In a society as wealthy as ours, it is reasonable to believe we can choose to look after each other during the life events and stages which see us vulnerable to financial hardship.  Early parenthood, bereavement, the need to care for a partner, the onset of poor health or disability, and growing older are some of those times where, as a society, we could choose to support each other and ensure we have systems in place to maintain dignity and financial security for all.

However, for 150,000 pensioners across Scotland the reality that comes with older age is poverty, with over half of those - 80,000 - being in severe poverty. Even these numbers though are just a snapshot in time. Many more hover on the edge of poverty, moving in and out of it at various times after they pass State Pension age, while others will receive no respite from its persistent presence.

Those at greatest risk include one third of older people who rent their homes, whether from a private or social landlord, and almost a quarter of single older women.

The causes

We know the causes of pensioner poverty are numerous, including: low income during working age, inadequate social security payments, people not receiving their financial entitlements, a lack of suitable work options for people as they age, bereavement, relationship breakdown, an increased risk of health problems and disability, high costs of fuel, food and housing, and the exacerbation of poverty premiums through limited access to goods and services due to barriers in things like broadband and transport.

Put simply, too many older people do not have enough to live on. There needs to be better support to help with difficult life events, many of which become increasingly challenging and common with age.

The impacts

We know too that the personal impacts of pensioner poverty are severe, including lower life expectancy, lower healthy life expectancy, increased isolation, inadequate diet, unhealthy and unsuitable homes, all of which lead to an increased use of health and social care services. An older person recently told Independent Age:

“I worry as the cost of living has impacted badly on me. Birthday presents for family are difficult and I miss meals sometimes to keep costs down. The cost of insurances is so bad I'm considering having to sell my car. I need the car as I'm disabled!”

Within this, it is also important to recognise that, while we talk of pensioners we often seem to be thinking of someone other than ourselves, but older age is our future too.

We must bear in mind that generations are not fixed in time, but flow into one another. The choices we make today regarding pensioners will impact the lives, not only of current pensioners, but all our lives – adult and child alike – as we age.

The way ahead

The policy landscape we create for pensioners now is one into which we will all hopefully walk. So, from both altruist and self-interested points of view, we must ask ourselves:

How, as a society, can we ensure we are all able to grow older with dignity and financial security?

To do this we must systematically tackle the factors that cause or exacerbate poverty in older age. These factors, and the policy solutions they require, span numerous remits including social security, housing, food and energy. They span various levels of government across the UK and Scotland. There is also a role to play for broader civil society.

We know that addressing pensioner poverty is possible – significant improvements have happened before and they can happen again. That’s why at Independent Age we are calling on the Scottish Government to create a Pensioner Poverty Strategy for Scotland. A strategy which identifies and coordinates policy solutions across all these fronts and, vitally, defines a method for the effective oversight of the planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and review of those policies. Scotland could lead the way in becoming the first UK nation to have such a national strategy. Without it, both the older people of today and future generations will continue to be left behind.

Independent Age polling of pensioners in Scotland in 2022 showed over 90% support the idea of a Pensioner Poverty Strategy, we are determined to work with Government, Parliament and stakeholders to make this a reality. The upcoming Programme for Government in September marks an opportunity for the Scottish Government to commit to introducing a strategy to tackle pensioner poverty. We can tackle poverty in later life in Scotland now and make a fairer Scotland for all generations to come - older people cannot afford to wait any longer.