"My wife Carol and I live in a one-bedroom flat that costs us £111 a week. That doesn’t include any of the bills. She’s a cleaner, but she just lost one of her jobs. Her money was our way to pay the rent. There’s not a lot of work around here. They class us as ‘the valleys’, and minimum wage is only £10.42 an hour.
I’m 67 and on PIP [Personal Independence Payment] – I’ve got epilepsy. We’ve got no savings, and I’m nearly maxed out on my credit card. We looked at Universal Credit, but they said because Carol’s working, it takes us over the threshold. Some weeks we can’t even afford to buy food. We’re really struggling financially. We haven’t asked our children to help us, because they’ve got their own families to worry about."
"Without Carol’s second job, we’ll only just be able to cover the rent – nothing else.
I worked 51 years to get where I am right now, and it doesn’t seem right that we can’t get help when we need it."
Like many in later life, Philip and Carol have difficulty managing on their low income. By sharing their story, they’re helping us showing decision makers that change is urgently needed to improve later life for all.
Through our campaigns, research and services like our free Helpline, we’re making a real difference to the lives of older people facing financial hardship. Your support helps us do this. Together we can end pensioner poverty.
Aminah's storyLike many, the cost-of-living crisis has hit Aminah hard as she struggles to balance rising bills and rent.
Stephen's storyDespite saving for their retirement, Stephen and his wife soon found they were having to cut back on basics to get by.
Two million too manyWe believe there are two million too many older people living in poverty. Read about our campaign and download campaigning resources.
Together against pensioner poverty: our statement of intentRead our Statement of Intent that organisations and individuals can sign up to and show their commitment to tackling pensioner poverty.