UK pensioner poverty ‘must be stopped’

The levels of older Brits suffering economic difficult is “worrying and shameful”, it has been argued.

A spokesperson, speaking on behalf of the charity Age Concern said the authorities should be doing more to help pensioners in the UK.

He said: “The government needs to make it much easier and much simpler for pensioners to apply for and receive benefits and pensioner credit.”

Calling the administration involved “a bureaucratic minefield”, the source explained that Britain is one of the world’s richest countries, yet it has the one of the highest levels of pensioner poverty in Europe.

According to recently revealed figures by the European Commission, nearly one-third of individuals aged over 65 were living in dire financial situations.

This is compared to around 19 per cent in most leading EU countries.

The National Pensioners Convention released its manifesto in June 2009, which called for the average weekly pension for retired people to be increased to above the official poverty level.

By Francis Finch