Building systems that deliver security, not struggle, for pensioners in Scotland

In a wealthy and compassionate society, everyone should be able to afford a decent and dignified life. But a growing number of older people don’t have enough money to live on.  Today in Scotland, 160,000 pensioners live in poverty – more than at any time in almost 20 years.

Independent Age has supported older people for over 160 years. Our mission is simple: no older person should live in poverty. 

Every day, we hear about the injustice of pensioner poverty from the people who contact us for advice and support: older people forced to cut back on food, older private tenants trapped by unaffordable rent and older disabled people anxious at rising energy costs in homes that leak heat. These stories indicate structural issues that need long-term attention.

The past few years have shone a spotlight on some of these issues, revealing the gaps in our social security and housing systems that older people too often fall through. With inflation driving up the prices of everyday essentials like food, over half of older people on a low income are skipping meals. Staggering increases in energy bills have also left over 80% of low-income pensioners cutting back on heating.  And rising housing costs mean that 1 in 4 older people now live in homes that are either becoming unaffordable or already are. 

The above figures come from the first Older People’s Economic Wellbeing Index Scotland that we published earlier this year, revealing the unacceptable level of financial hardship and uncertainty faced by older people across Scotland. 

Pensioner poverty persists because of policy choices. Ending pensioner poverty undoubtedly requires action from government at all levels across the UK. In Scotland, there have been welcome developments over recent years, such as the annual uprating of Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in line with inflation, and the improvements to the housing system that the recent Housing (Scotland) Bill will introduce for older people.

However, there is more that can be done in Scotland to turn the tide on rising pensioner poverty. As attention turns to the 2026 Scottish election, it’s vital political parties ensure tackling pensioner poverty is a key part of the work of the next Scottish Parliament. 

People of all ages in Scotland support this: 9 in 10 recognise poverty is a growing problem for older people, and a similar majority want more action on pensioner poverty from the Scottish Government.

There’s five key policy actions that the next Scottish Parliament can progress to build secure foundations for every older person in Scotland, as set out in our manifesto Security not Struggle.  

1. Implement a national Pensioner Poverty Strategy: produce a long-term, action focussed plan to boost incomes, reduce costs and improve the housing system.
2. Appoint a Commissioner for Older People: an independent voice and champion of older people’s issues and rights. 
3. Deliver a decent and dignified social security system: improve social security support for older carers and older disabled people, and progress a Minimum Income Guarantee.
4. Reduce energy bills: implement a warm homes programme for older people.
5. Guarantee the right to a secure and affordable home: build more social homes.

Scotland has an ageing population and that should be a success story. However, without improvements to our systems, our ageing population could mean that we see more pensioners pulled into poverty (an additional 20,000 by 2031).  We believe that together we can change this. It’s time for our systems to deliver security, not struggle for older people across Scotland.

This article is sponsored by Independent Age. 

www.independentage.org