Warning 2 million pensioners susceptible to being in poverty in Britain | Politics | News | EUROtoday

The variety of pensioners residing in poverty in Britain is susceptible to hitting two million, it has been warned. Older individuals are taking “drastic measures” to make ends meet corresponding to skipping meals, taking much less baths and showers, and chopping their electrical energy use, in response to analysis by Age UK.

Around one in six pensioners – 1.9 million – already stay in poverty within the UK. But the charity fears that determine is ready to succeed in two million within the coming years because the older inhabitants grows except the Government takes extra motion to deal with the difficulty.

Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams stated: “As a country we need to do a lot more to tackle poverty among older people, a social ill set to worsen as our population ages we fear, unless something changes and soon.

“1.9 million older people are already living in poverty and we worry that this number will pass the two million mark within the next few years.”

Polling for the charity found one in three over-65s said they are using less electricity this winter to get by financially.

Some 15% said they will have baths or showers less often, while 5% – 690,000 people – said they would be forced to skip meals.

Age UK’s “crisis hiding in plain sight” campaign is urging older people to check if they are entitled to extra financial support, including pension credit which tops up income to a minimum level and acts as a gateway to other help.

An eye-watering £3 billion in benefits that older people are entitled to went unclaimed in the most recent year for which figures are available.

The charity said many older people miss out because they assume they will not qualify or find it difficult to complete applications.

Ms Abrahams said: “In our view the Government’s pension credit take-up initiative needs turbo-charging this year and we urge ministers to commit to that.

“Meanwhile, at Age UK we’ll certainly be doing everything we can to spread the word and to support older people who are potentially eligible to claim their due.

“In 2025, Age UK’s national advice line helped 6,006 older people with benefit checks and applying for benefits, identifying more than £36 million of support – averaging at £5,900 per person. This year our ambition is to exceed that if we can, because we know it’s one of the most important contributions we can make as a charity.

“For any older person trying to live on a small retirement income, every single pound counts and even a small weekly top-up could make a tangible difference, so if you reach state pension age in 2026, or if you’ve been a pensioner for longer and have not yet looked into what you can claim, please contact Age UK to check your entitlement. We’re here to help.”

Dennis Reed, director of the Silver Voices marketing campaign group, stated the analysis “nails the lie that the triple lock is no longer necessary”.

The triple lock coverage ensures the state pension rises every year in step with whichever is highest out of two.5%, inflation, or earnings.

Mr Reed stated: “In its wider review of the state pension system the Government needs to recognise that at the root of the problem of pensioner poverty is the scandalously low level of the basic state pension.

“No pensioner ought to need to depend on a bundle of advantages to eke out their retirement in a semblance of dignity.

“The basic state pension needs to be raised to at least half average earnings (£350 per week), the frozen tax thresholds need to be lifted, and the triple lock must continue until all pensioners can afford to heat their homes in the winter.”

Jan Shortt, common secretary of the National Pensioners Convention, stated the report is a “shocking insight into the day-to-day struggles faced by a rapidly growing number of older people”.

She added: “And it is clear from their findings that the numbers facing poverty will continue to rise sharply if nothing is done.

“NPC members more and more inform us they can’t make ends meet as the price of meals and power payments proceed to soar. The much-touted will increase in our many-tiered state pension simply don’t cowl them.

“It is heartbreaking that so many older people are still not claiming the billions of pounds in benefits, and we all must do more to encourage uptake.

“However, the federal government should do extra to assist older folks declare the monetary assist they’re due.

“Not only should they make the application process simpler and easier, they must be more proactive in identifying those who qualify for benefits and pension credit. It’s just not an option for the government to say they are doing enough.”

The Daily Express has a long-running crusade to protect the state pension triple lock, which the Labour Government has committed to for the duration of the current Parliament.

A UK Government spokesperson stated: “Supporting pensioners is a top priority and our commitment to the triple lock means millions of older people are set to see their state pension rise by up to £2,100 with an extra 47,300 pensioner households awarded pension credit – worth up to £86 a week.

“On top of this, nine million pensioners have benefitted from the winter fuel payment helping them pay their energy bills and the £150 warm home discount has been expanded to six million households.”Yonder carried out a survey of two,659 folks throughout the UK aged over 65 in October and November 2025 as a part of the analysis.

*Age UK can be contacted on 0800 169 6565 or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/benefits