Low literacy and numeracy skills lead to difficulties accessing essential services and benefit entitlements, says Age UK.

New research from Learning and Work Institute, supported by Age UK, reveals an estimated 6 million people over 50 have difficulties with maths and 6 million have difficulties with reading.

Affected older people find it difficult to undertake important tasks, for example applying for Pension Credit, which means they will miss out on Winter Fuel Payment.

New research from Learning and Work Institute (L&W), sponsored by Age UK, found that an estimated 6 million people aged 50 and over have difficulties with basic maths, and the same number have difficulties with reading. [1]

Age UK analysis of data drawn from waves 9 and 10 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, in which participants were given literacy and numeracy tests. The literacy test consisted of four questions, and participants were defined as having problems with literacy if they answered any of the four incorrectly. The numeracy test consisted of six questions, and participants were defined as having problems with numeracy if they answered fewer than four of them correctly.

There is an economic cost to this too, risking disadvantage later in life. Someone who left school at 18 with ‘very poor’ literacy skills will have earned around £33,000 less by the time they reach state pension age than someone with basic literacy skills. [2]

Kerr, M (2021) Paying the price: The cost of very poor adult literacy, Pro Bono Economics (The research defines people with ‘very poor’ literacy skills as those who have only limited vocabulary and cannot read lengthy texts on unfamiliar topics)

Essential skills – including literacy, numeracy and digital skills – are key to supporting adults’ life chances. For example, poor basic skills in older adults can impact their mental and physical wellbeing, family life, political, civic and community engagement, and even life expectancy. In contrast, good essential skills often lead to a range of positive personal and social outcomes, including improved self-esteem and wellbeing and more confidence to complete everyday tasks.

Given the current changes to Winter Fuel Payments, the research shows poor literacy skills make it harder to fill out the Pension Credit application form, meaning affected older people will find it even harder to maintain their payment. Currently, around a third of eligible older households (700,000) do not receive Pension Credit – a key benefit that helps boost the incomes of low-income pensioner households. The form to claim Pension Credit has around 250 questions, so if you are an older person with low literacy skills, this would be a huge challenge to complete alone.

Age UK warns that the consequences of having low essential skills can be extremely damaging and can negatively affect health and financial capabilities. Additionally, poor digital skills can impact older people’s ability to access official online services and resources. This has a material impact on people’s finances and wider opportunities.

The Older people and essential skills report recognises there is a huge evidence gap in exploring older adults (over 50s) experiences of essential skills. It considers the implications of skills gaps for older people’s daily lives, their experiences of improving their skills and what support is needed to help them thrive in later life.

The research findings draw on interviews and focus groups conducted with older people and essential skills providers. More detail and recommendations for changes to policy and practice can be found in the full report. It found:

• Older people with low essential skills have unique and complex needs and circumstances, however there are some shared experiences. Experiences of worsening or new health conditions, bereavement, undiagnosed learning difficulties or disabilities (LDD) and leaving school with few to no qualifications are common.
• Low essential skills can negatively impact on older people’s ability to: Access essential services such as welfare support and healthcare provision, secure and progress in employment, manage their health and enjoy good wellbeing, including engaging in social interactions and feel confident in themselves.
• Older people with low essential skills find specific tasks challenging including understanding written information, filling out official forms, booking medical appointments online and completing job applications online.
• In the context of longer working lives, some older people experience career transition. However, low literacy, numeracy and digital skills can limit opportunities. Having targeted support available to help older people reskill and stay in employment is crucial.
• Literacy, numeracy and digital skills needs can overlap. For example, older people with low essential skills can struggle to enter written information using a smartphone or set up accounts online.
• Digital skills challenges are prevalent among older people, and they feel increasingly excluded as technology becomes more integral to our daily lives.
• The shame and stigma attached to having a skills gap can lead older people to hide the challenges they face. This is particularly prevalent in relation to maths skills.
• When older people do ask for help, they commonly rely on family and friends. But not everyone has access to trustworthy informal support networks, making the role of organisations like Age UK and adult learning providers that support older people crucial.
• Older people see the benefits of developing and maintaining skills later in life but can face a range of barriers to learning. Key practical barriers include cost, accessibility and availability of suitable provision. Attitudinal barriers including fear and shame of learning as an adult are also common.

Caroline Abrahams CBE, Charity Director at Age UK said: “We know there are many people of all ages with low levels of literacy, numeracy and/or digital skill in our society but relatively little is known about how this impacts our older population, and what the solutions may be. That’s why Age UK was delighted to sponsor this work, to help us understand what more we can do to help.

"We also hope the research raises the awareness of policymakers about how barriers like these impede older people from carrying out a wide range of essential tasks, of which successfully claiming the benefits they are due is one of the most important - especially now, given the changes to Winter Fuel Payment. It’s so easy for civil servants and politicians to forget that not everyone is as proficient at reading and writing, maths and using tech as they are, so the report is, we hope, a salutary reminder about the importance of keeping processes as simple and straightforward as possible – something from which we would all benefit from as citizens.

“We also want to emphasise that older people can have low levels of these skills for all kinds of reasons, from having been let down by the education system many years ago, to developing physical or cognitive impairments much more recently. This places a responsibility on organisations of all kinds to flex their processes accordingly, so they don’t inadvertently exclude these older people – or their younger counterparts – as a result.”

Stephen Evans, Chief Executive at L&W, commented: “At Learning and Work Institute, we’ve long known that good essential skills lead to a range of positive economic, personal and social outcomes. Everyone benefits from good literacy, numeracy and digital skills, which underpin employment opportunities, wellbeing and self-esteem and the confidence to complete everyday tasks.

“In the context of an ageing population, longer working lives and increasing digitilisation in society, it has never been more important to ensure that older people are not excluded from support with essential skills.

“Change is needed now. Everyone – employers, adult learning providers and civil society – has a role in supporting older people with the essential skills needed to thrive later in life.”

Notes to editors

To arrange a media briefing, please contact the Age UK press office via media@ageuk.org.uk or call 020 303 31430.

Age UK is urging any older person living on a low income or struggling with their bills to contact Age UK’s free Advice line on 0800 169 65 65 to check they’re receiving all the financial support available. Alternatively, people can visit www.ageuk.org.uk/money or contact their local Age UK for information and advice.

Age UK hosts a free and anonymous Benefits Calculator which can provide an estimate of the benefits that people could be entitled to.

Learning and Work Institute (L&W) is an independent policy and research organisation focused on lifelong learning and better work. Our vision is for a fair and prosperous society where learning and work enable everyone to realise their potential. We research what works, influence policy and develop new ideas to improve practice. Find out more about our work at: learningandwork.org.uk

[1] Age UK analysis of data drawn from waves 9 and 10 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, in which participants were given literacy and numeracy tests. The literacy test consisted of four questions, and participants were defined as having problems with literacy if they answered any of the four incorrectly. The numeracy test consisted of six questions, and participants were defined as having problems with numeracy if they answered fewer than four of them correctly.

[2] Kerr, M (2021) Paying the price: The cost of very poor adult literacy, Pro Bono Economics (The research defines people with ‘very poor’ literacy skills as those who have only limited vocabulary and cannot read lengthy texts on unfamiliar topics).