Veronica Fenn, 82, spoke to the Daily Express about how she could not even afford to boil her kettle to make a cup of coffee until she heard from Independent Age about Pension Credit, a means-tested state benefit aimed at older people.
As the cost of living crisis deepens, at Independent Age we have seen a 60 per cent increase in calls to our helpline about benefits and entitlements. Some of our helpline callers shared their experiences with This is Money.
Reacting to the Chancellor's Spring Statement, Morgan Vine, Head of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, said: “The Chancellor’s Statement will only have increased the anxieties many older people are feeling as they brace for a harsh year ahead." Read more about our response in the Daily Express, Daily Mirror and the Liverpool Echo.
An Oxfordshire pensioner spoke to the Daily Express about how she went from "scrimping and scraping" to a comfortable retirement, by claiming a state pension boost after following advice from Independent Age.
Independent Age partnered with Colchester Borough Council to host an activity fair tailor-made for older people in Essex, where people could try singing, dancing and other fun hobbies. Independent Age Essex team member Julie Bennett spoke to Smiley News about the 'life changing' effect some of these activities can have for older people.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP backed Independent Age's calls on the government to do more to support older people in this Times Red Box article. He highlighted our recent research which revealed that two in five (40 per cent) older people spent at least one year in poverty over the last decade.
Morgan Vine, Head of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, spoke to MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee on the need for the government to reform the pension credit system. She said that paying pension credit automatically to qualifying pensioners would help tackle the stigma many feel when applying. Read more about her evidence session in the Independent, BBC, Daily Mirror and Big Issue.
Analysis reveals that 60% of patients are waiting longer than 18 weeks for treatment, with only 2% of trusts meeting targets to treat people before the legal deadline. Morgan Vine, Head of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, highlights the sheer number of older people experiencing pain whilst waiting and urges the government to go further in supporting them in the Mail Online.
