Across the UK, there are around two million older people in poverty. That’s enough to fill Birmingham, Glasgow and Oxford. For many of this group, things just aren’t working. Find out more about Marion, her story and what changes we need the next Government to commit to, so that nobody has to face financial hardship in later life.

Marion lives in Newcastle and had a varied career, including roles in education, technology and politics. Although retired, she will starting a temporary full time job in April. She plays a key role in her community as a city councillor. As part of her role, she works with people of all ages, but is clear that we’re defined by more than simply our age.

While Marion’s always worked, as have many others, that doesn’t guarantee a later life without money worries. She was affected by changes to the State Pension age for women born in the 1950s, which increased their qualifying age from 60 to 65 or 66. 

“My flat’s a leasehold, and so I have to pay very high service charges. My energy bills have also sharply increased. I receive an allowance as a councillor, which just takes me over the threshold of support for Pension Credit – which means I miss out on the additional help it unlocks.” 

Marion often has to take drastic action to make her budget stretch, which means foregoing some essentials. “You have to be prudent, and I’ve not used the heating for several years now. I just wrap up in blankets. You become acclimatised to the fact you can’t just bang the heating on and have hot water running out the tap. There is a cost to it and sometimes you can’t afford that. Hot water in my world is a luxury.” 

As we all get older, Marion believes that a commissioner can help shine a light on the issues that affect people in later life, such as poverty, ageism and discrimination.

“There are so many different experiences of ageing, and we need a commissioner that’s independent and has that authority to get things done. In this world, we have the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’, and too much of what we hear about ageing is shaped by people who have enough. An independent commissioner would make sure that people who don’t have what they need in later life, particularly where I am in the North East, are heard.”

As part of our Two Million Too Many campaign, Independent Age is calling on political parties to introduce a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing if elected. A Commissioner would act as a voice for later life, championing the wants and needs of older people.