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Age Concern's Director General, Gordon Lishman, said:

"News that the cost of living is continuing to rise will come as no surprise to millions of pensioners who are finding it increasingly difficult to pay inflation-busting food, fuel and water bills. This, coupled with last week’s disgraceful news that a further 300,000 pensioners have been pushed into poverty, clearly shows that the Government must step up its efforts to help all those who need it.

"Small increases to the basic state pension each year have simply failed to keep pace with the escalating cost of living for older people. The Government should increase the state pension to at least £124 a week, re-instate the link to earnings as soon as possible, and do much more to get benefits money to those who need it so that all pensioners can afford a decent quality of life.”

 

-Ends-

Notes to editors

• The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of annual inflation was 3.3% in May, up from 3% the previous month, according to figures released today from the ONS.
• Age Concern publishes free fact sheets, including 'Help with heating', 'A brief guide to money benefits' and 'Making the most of your money' – available by calling Age Concern’s Information Line on freephone 0800 00 99 66, or by visiting our website.

FACTFILE

• Despite high levels of pensioner poverty and rising bills, older people are more likely than any other group to miss out on benefits cash.
• Up to £4.7 billion in benefits is going unclaimed by some of the poorest and most vulnerable pensioners, because they don’t know that they are entitled, are worried about the complexity of the process or are embarrassed about claiming.
• Older people are the group most likely to be in fuel poverty accounting for around 50% of affected households.
• Age Concern estimates that around 2.25 million older households are currently living in fuel poverty, with at least 250,000 of these households pushed into fuel poverty by price rises this year alone.
• Age Concern polling revealed that more than a third (35%) of people are worried that an older friend or relative is missing out on vital money benefits.
  

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