Please listen to us and help us survive this cost of living crisis’ older people tell Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss

Please listen to us and help us survive this cost of living crisis’ older people tell Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss  

 In its letter Age UK also calls on both candidates to commit to firm action to tackling the worsening shortfalls in funding and personnel undermining both the NHS and social care 

Age UK has undertaken a survey of older people (aged 65+) about their priorities for our next Prime Minister. A massive 14,021 older people aged over 65 responded, with more than half (57 per cent) saying the restoration of the triple lock from April 2023 and help with the cost of living crisis was what they wanted to see the most, followed by action on the NHS and social care (25 per cent).  

When Age UK carries out research with older people it usually finds that strengthening the NHS and social care is their top priority, so the pre-eminence of cost of living issues this time shows just how anxious many are about the prospects for their finances as the prices of everything they buy continue to rise.  

Age UK has written to the two candidates for Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister to inform them of the results from the survey, urging them each to make a clear and unequivocal public statement about their commitment to restoring the triple lock and to giving emergency support with energy bills to see older people on low incomes through the autumn and winter.  

Age UK believes it would give older people huge reassurance to hear both candidates say, on the record, that the triple lock will be reinstated in April 2023. The survey highlights how many older people are worried by rising prices and are struggling to pay bills, and by all the forecasts suggesting the situation is likely to get a lot worse. Energy bills for a typical household could hit £4,266 next year, consultancy Cornwall Insight has warned. This equates to 45 per cent of the current state pension, which is a terrifying prospect for older people dependent on it to keep going.  

The State Pension is the largest source of income for most older people and, on average, pensioners receive less than £9000 a year from it. Due to the suspension of the triple lock in April 2022, the State Pension rose by just 3.1% this year; however, inflation is currently running at 9.4% and expected to rise further.  

Experts say they expect 8.2 million UK households to be in fuel poverty from October (figure from NEA and is all age groups, estimated in July 2022 when the Oct cap was expected to be £3,250). This means that an older person who is living in one of the least energy efficient homes (EPC bands D-G), which often lack access to adequate loft or wall insulation, will pay around £1,000 more on their annual energy bill than if they were living in more fuel efficient housing.  

Older people on low fixed incomes cannot possibly afford to upgrade their insulation and heating systems to make them more energy efficient. However, if both candidates committed to improving household energy efficiency for them and others with the least money it would certainly help them to stay warm this winter, while also making a substantial contribution to the economy. Based on today’s prices, if all the homes below EPC band C were improved the aggregate annual energy bill saving would be well in excess of £10bn.    

Before, as Age UK hopes, the triple lock comes back into force next April older people have to somehow get through an autumn and winter during which the cost of every essential, including utilities and food, will be high and rising, putting those on low and modest incomes in an impossible position. That’s why it is so important that whoever becomes Prime Minister takes determined action to protect the older people, and others in our society, at greatest risk. 

After the triple lock and help with the cost of living, the next important priority for the older people who took part in Age UK’s survey, (25 per cent) was determined Government action to address deficiencies in the provision of health and social care. This finding comes after a recent survey from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care (ADASS), which found that by the end of April this year more than half a million people were waiting for assessments, care, Direct Payments, or care reviews – many of them older people. This represents an increase of more than a third (37%) in just six months. Delayed discharges are also up, with many older people stuck in hospital beds when they are medically fit to leave, simply because there is no care in the community for them. The chronic shortage of home care is crippling patient flow in many hospitals up and down the land. Tragically, some people have waited up to nine months to be discharged from some trusts as a result. To restore their trust and confidence we believe it is imperative that the next Government takes swift action to tackle the shortfalls in funding and personnel undermining both the NHS and social care, as well as implementing the planned social care cap.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said: 

"The way the cost of living keeps rising is a nightmare for us all, but especially for people on low incomes, among them millions of pensioners. Every day the news about inflation seems to get worse, it’s no wonder some older people have told us they have switched off the news because they can’t bear to hear any more.  

“Substantial numbers are struggling financially already, but if the economic forecasts are accurate many more pensioners will be plunged into serious trouble come the autumn and winter, including some who until very recently believed their position to be totally secure. 

“With the benefit of all they have seen and experienced through their long lives older people know that this is an extraordinary situation, unlike anything before. They are telling us that they expect the Government of the day to take it with the same seriousness they do, and to bring forward measures to protect them in response. It shouldn’t be too much to expect, even at a time when the governing party is involved in a leadership contest to select our new Prime Minister.  

“This is why we have written to the two remaining leadership candidates, urging them to make some concrete commitments, on the record, to give older people the reassurance they desperately need. I cannot overstate how upset and worried some older people are to find themselves in such a seemingly precarious financial situation; it’s why it is so important that the Government keeps its promise to reinstate the triple lock from April next year.  

“Older people and others in our society on low incomes will also need a big injection of extra financial support from the Government to see them through the autumn and winter, because inflation is so rapidly eroding the help they were given just a few months ago. If this doesn’t happen our sincere belief is that we could see unprecedented numbers of older people dying of cold in their own homes, something we would never say lightly and that is incredibly shocking in the twenty first century.  

 “At Age UK we are urging any older person who is struggling with their bills to get in touch with us in case they’re entitled to some extra financial support. Successfully claiming Pension Credit, for example, will not only boost people’s income but if they claim as soon as possible they could also be entitled to additional support of up to £800 through cost-of-living payments and the Warm Home Discount, alongside other financial help.” 

“Older people are also deeply concerned about social care and the NHS. We are constantly hearing from older people about their worries concerning the performance of the NHS (waiting lists and problems accessing their GP), and the immense challenges many face accessing any form of reliable, decent quality social care. 

“Millions of older people depend on the NHS and social care to live independently and with dignity, so it is deeply worrying for them, and their families, if they cannot rely on these essential services when they need them the most. How the system is resourced for this to happen is first and foremost a matter for government, but it is important that Ministers have a workable plan we can all believe in to raise the very substantial sums required. The current Government has repeatedly rejected calls for a fully joined up Health and Social Care workforce strategy but surely that’s what we need. I hope the next administration will take a more enlightened view.  

“Meanwhile, lots of older people are stuck in hospital beds when medically fit to go home, losing physical capacity & becoming frustrated and despondent as their lives are put on hold. It’s an utterly miserable situation for everyone and it’s hard to see it improving unless and until the Government accepts that the root cause is the poverty pay in home care, and acts to give care workers a substantial pay rise. None of the care plans they have announced so far address this elephant in the social care room. Whoever emerges as our next Prime Minister, it is essential they understand the grave situation our acutely pressurised NHS and social care services are in, and that they take decisive action quickly to help turn things around.” 

 Here are just some of what older people told us in the survey 

• “Older people are not all wealthy and some of us are struggling to keep up with bills as well as feed ourselves. This is almost like going back to January 1940 for some of us when rationing was introduced during WW2” 
• “We need a decent rise in our pension each year so we can keep up with inflation and not just get poorer every year. Heating and food are my main concern. At present I am cutting back on food, buying cheaper brands, not buying clothes just so I can put enough by to pay for oil and electric. Only use my car when I really have to. So we definitely need the triple lock in place otherwise we will have to choose between food or heating. Cut back on everything else so there’s nowhere else to go.” 
• “I am 80 years old but have a private pension.  My wife, was 78 years old when she passed away in June 2022.  Within a few days of her death I was told that as she no longer lived at our home I could not have a free TV licence.  We had one on the strength of her Attendance Allowance & her state pension.  If the triple lock is not reconfirmed even with a private pension I will not be able to afford a TV licence.” 
• “As a retiree I have no way of increasing income and find price rises extremely worrying. “ 
• “I'm tired of having to live on my meagre pension, I, like many others would like something nice sometimes, just a little treat.” 
• “This is vital. Already our standard of living has dropped with a 3.1% rise we are going backwards. The Triple Lock has been promised by the previous Chancellor to be reinstated in April 2023 . It is essential that this happens . Many pensioners are struggling at the moment and are frightened for the future. I have written many times to my MP (Conservative) and also to Rishi Sunak when he was chancellor on this issue. Sorry to say these communications fell on deaf ears…….Pensions are not a gift, we have worked hard and paid in for years to be secure in our older years….I am more fortunate than most as I have a teacher’s pension as well as State. For those living on just a State Pension they must be living in fear of the cost of living and the looming spectre of winter.”  
• “I have 'morphed' into full time carer for my 80 year old wife .I find very little support out there for people like us who are 'able to manage' but not 'live a life'. We manage daily, but, I am fearful and anxious for the future unless 'the elderly' are given the support that they (may) need.” 
• “So many people in old age are left without any support, both financially and physically.   One of the biggest worries is having to pay for care, either in a home or at home, you do the best you can.  Recently my husband came out of hospital at 9.00p.m. No-one asked if I could manage at 87 or did we need assistance. I did manage but it is becoming more and more difficult, particularly when family live miles away. I pay for cleaning but there is much more to do than just this. We are the forgotten group.” 
• “So many of my family, friends and neighbours are unable to receive the healthcare they need, when they need it. Waiting hours, weeks and months for treatment is a frightening and exhausting way to live life, when one has worked and given to the community over many years.” 
• “My mum is 92 and really worried about being cold. Last year my husband who has COPD and very little mobility and myself with Crohn’s and asthma dare not put any heating on until lunchtime and we were very cold, I’m too worried to think about this year.” 
• “For many it is eat or heat. I served 22 years in the RAF and this has been followed by 50 years in the Royal British Legion. I am 90 and do not feel that the service us guys have given is fair. I am seeing my members having little or no one listening to their problems i.e. finance, pensions, health queues, loneliness and above all, having a voice in today's world.”

Letter to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss 

Sent by email

15^th August 2022

Dear Elizabeth Truss MP,

Older people's priorities for our next Prime Minister 

Age UK has just undertaken a survey of older people with whom we are in contact about their priorities for our next Prime Minister. I am writing to you to let you know the results.    

We carried out this survey of older people with whom we are in contact online. We were delighted that just over 14,021 older people aged 65 or over responded.  

By a considerable margin, the respondents said restoration of the triple lock and help with the cost of living crisis was what they wanted to see the most (57%).  

Their next important priority was determined Government action to address deficiencies in the provision of health and social care (25%).   

We were pleased and relieved to see media reports suggesting that if you become leader of the Conservative party and Prime Minister you intend to reinstate the triple lock next year. However, it would give older people, and Age UK, great reassurance if you would confirm this for us. I cannot overstate how worried many older people are by rising prices, of energy especially, and by all the forecasts suggesting the situation is likely to get a lot worse.   

Before the triple lock hopefully comes into play next April older people have to navigate an autumn and winter during which the cost of essentials like heating, using the phone and getting enough to eat are set to spiral, putting those on low incomes in an impossible position. We therefore call on you to make it clear now that you will take determined action to protect the older people, and others in our society, at greatest risk from inflation through this period.  

If there is no more extra funding directed to pensioners on low fixed incomes during the cold months our sincere belief is that we could well see unprecedented numbers dying of cold in their own homes. This is something we would never say lightly and that is incredibly shocking in the twenty first century.  

Knowing you are on their side in this way would mean a great deal to our older population.  

We wouldn't want you to conclude from these survey results that older people are less worried about social care and the NHS than we would normally expect. On the contrary, they are constantly telling us of their concerns about the performance of the NHS (waiting lists and problems accessing GPs), and the immense challenges they face in accessing any form of reliable, decent quality social care.  

Many older people depend on the NHS and social care to live independently and with dignity, so it is deeply worrying for them, and their families, if they cannot rely on these essential services when they need them the most. To restore their trust and confidence we believe it is imperative that the next Government takes swift action to tackle the shortfalls in funding and personnel undermining both the NHS and social care as well as implementing the planned social care cap. We call on you to demonstrate during your campaign that you recognise the gravity of these issues, and your commitment to act if you become Prime Minister.  

Yours,

Sent by email

15^th August 2022

Dear Rishi Sunak MP,

Older people's priorities for our next Prime Minister 

Age UK has just undertaken a survey of older people with whom we are in contact about their priorities for our next Prime Minister. I am writing to you to let you know the results.    

We carried out this survey of older people with whom we are in contact online. We were delighted that just over 14,000 older people aged 65 or over responded.  

By a considerable margin, the respondents said restoration of the triple lock and help with the cost of living crisis was what they wanted to see the most (57%).  

Their next important priority was determined Government action to address deficiencies in the provision of health and social care (25%).   

We were delighted when you committed as Chancellor to restoring the triple lock next year, but it would give older people great reassurance to hear you say this in public now, in your role as a candidate for the leadership of the Conservative party and our next Prime Minister. I cannot overstate how worried many older people are by rising prices, of energy especially, and by all the forecasts that the situation is likely to get worse. 

Before the triple lock hopefully comes into play next April older people have to navigate an autumn and winter during which the cost of essentials like heating, using the phone and getting enough to eat are set to spiral, putting those on low incomes in an impossible position. We therefore call on you to make it clear now that you will take determined action to protect the older people, and others in our society, at greatest risk from inflation through this period.  

If there is no more extra funding directed to pensioners on low fixed incomes during the cold months our sincere belief is that we could well see unprecedented numbers dying of cold in their own homes. This is something we would never say lightly and that is incredibly shocking in the twenty first century.  

Knowing you are on their side in this way would mean a great deal to our older population.  

We wouldn't want you to conclude from these survey results that older people are less worried about social care and the NHS than we would normally expect. On the contrary, they are constantly telling us of their concerns about the performance of the NHS (waiting lists and problems accessing GPs), and the immense challenges they face in accessing any form of reliable, decent quality social care.  

Many older people depend on the NHS and social care to live independently and with dignity, so it is deeply worrying for them, and their families, if they cannot rely on these essential services when they need them the most. To restore their trust and confidence we believe it is imperative that the next Government takes swift action to tackle the shortfalls in funding and personnel undermining both the NHS and social care as well as implementing the planned social care cap.

We call on you to demonstrate during your campaign that you recognise the gravity of these issues, and your commitment to act if you become Prime Minister.  

Yours,

Caroline Abrahams CBE,
Charity Director, Age UK