Independent Age will deliver a £1.1bn invoice to the government to highlight the value of Pension Credit still going unclaimed. The charity estimates that the money is large enough to pay the annual average energy bill for 454,000 households. Read more about the campaign in the Daily Mirror.
As part of the ongoing campaign for a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing in England, Independent Age released a video and held an event in parliament. The video included footballer Sir Geoff Hurst, radio DJ Tony Blackburn, choreographer and theatre director Dame Arlene Phillips, actor Don Warrington and TV chef Rustie Lee who all added their voices to the campaign. The campaign and video was covered by over a hundred national and regional news outlets including The Mirror, The Times (print), The Express, The Scotsman (print), The Herald, Evening Standard.
Independent Age's comment on the tragic death of Barbara Bolton, 87, from hypothermia after she feared turning on her heating, was used extensively in the Greater Manchester Evening News both in print and online. John Palmer, Director of Policy and Communications, expressed his sadness and anger at the avoidable death of Barbara, and the fact that many more older people experiencing poverty have been ‘stuck in bed’ during the cold months. He urges people to reach out to IA if they are in need of support, and check their eligibility for Pension Credit.
Independent Age received a request from the Daily Mail to give comment on how our helpline calls have been affected by the increased cost of living. John Palmer, Director of Policy and Communications, explained how money worries are now the main topic of concern in these calls. Hundreds of calls a month coming through to our helpline are now asking for cost of living support, grants, or a way to increase their income. The Daily mail quoted John both in print and online.
The government postponed a decision on bringing forward the State Pension age increase. We issued a comment welcoming this decision that was featured in The Guardian. They also referenced our research that shows that previous rise in the state pension age had resulted in increased poverty among older people.
72 organisations have joined together to call for better representation for older people across government-policy making. Led by charities Independent Age, Age UK, the Centre for Ageing Better and campaigning organisation the National Pensioners Convention, the group has today launched its consensus statement on the need for a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing in England. The campaign launch received coverage in The Mirror and The Express
Following the Chancellor's Spring Budget, several of IA's media volunteers were used by national press in profile pieces discussing the impact the budget would have on different groups. Yvonne spoke to the Daily Mail, Veronica spoke to The i (print) and Thabani submitted a question to ITV's consumer editor. All articles mention Independent Age.
This article covers the expected rise in energy bills coming in April, following the end of the government's energy price guarantee. The i interviewed IA media volunteer Veronica on her experience of the cost of living crisis. The article also used a comment from Morgan Vine, Head of Policy and Influencing, who described the expected rise of £500 to be 'catastrophic' for those already struggling to pay bills. Read the article here
