Fiona Hall, service user and media volunteer for Independent Age, gave a powerful interview about the reality of financial hardship in later life to iNews. Fiona also spoke about the importance of the triple lock to protect older people’s incomes. The article included a comment from Joanna Elson CBE, Chief Executive, in which she called for the government to commission a cross party review into poverty in later life. Read the full article here.
Independent Age case study Tracy Birrell, 65, has revealed she has been surviving on just one meal a day and cut down to a shower a week which she combines with washing her clothes – but is still thousands of pounds in debt due to rising costs. Tracy told i life is a constant struggle and that those from the older generation like her are “forgotten people” as they fight to cope with financial hardship. The article ends with a statement from Joanna Elson, Chief Executive of Independent Age, says that unfortunately Tracy’s story is becoming increasingly common and calls on the government and utility companies to do more to support vulnerable people. Read the full article here.
Independent Age was featured in this article discussing the possibility of the triple lock being raised by 7.8% rather than 8.5%. iNews used a quote from Morgan Vine in which she says older people in financial hardship ‘can’t cut back any further’. Read the full article here.
The Daily Record covered Independent Age's reaction to inflation statistics and resultant triple lock estimate for next year. Independent Age is calling on the UK Government to introduce additional financial support this winter for the “most vulnerable, including older people living on low incomes”. This involves the introduction of an energy social tariff and a cross-party review to agree on the level of income everyone needs in later life to avoid poverty.
GB News ran a story on the importance of older people claiming benefits they’re entitled to. We provided a comment from Fran McSweeney - Head of National Services and a case study. The article covers the story of Dave, who had complications following treatment for prostate cancer. He rang the IA helpline where an advisor explained that he should claim Attendance Allowance which in turn made him eligible for Pension Credit which unlocked access to discounts and other financial support. Read the whole story here.
A coalition of 19 organisations, including Independent Age, have written an open letter to Jeremy Hunt urging him to increase Local Housing Allowance (LHA). The rates of LHA have been frozen since April 2020 and the chancellor has been warned that more people will be pushed into homelessness unless the freeze is ended. You can read the full article in the Telegraph here.
As part of Vodafone's ‘everyone.connected’ campaign, they have teamed up with Emma Willis to create a mini-docuseries called ‘Disconnected’. The articles in The Sun, The Independent, Express and over 50 other outlets covers the first episode and the research carried out by Vodafone. The series will explore the issues faced by those without internet connectivity as well as some of the charities working with Vodafone to help improve digital exclusion. Independent Age features in episode 3 with James Hails - Head of Partnerships and Philanthropy – speaking to Emma about our HiDigital collaboration with Vodafone UK. Emma also speaks to Ismeal, an Independent Age service user, who has benefitted from Independent Age’s help. The third episode can be watched here.
iNews spoke to Independent Age case study Michael Roberts, who was handed a Section 21 notice on the same day he received a cancer diagnosis. Michael had been renting his bungalow for 19 years but was given just 2 months to find a new home. Morgan Vine – Head of Policy and Influencing – gave a comment to iNews expressing her concern for Michael and the need for the government to bring the Renters Reform Bill before parliament to ensure better protection for the growing number of renters in the UK. Read the full story here.
