Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Investigating the triggers into claiming pension credit
- Authors:
- BHATTACHARY Darren, SLADE Zoe
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 63p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This research investigated the events that act as a trigger to thinking about, making enquiries about or claiming Pension Credit for existing pensioners. The research involved 55 qualitative depth interviews with pensioners in ten areas of the United Kingdom (UK). Interviews lasted for approximately 30 minutes and were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed. Pensioners’ awareness of and their perceived need for Pension Credit had an impact upon the customer journey. Four distinct segments emerged based upon these two factors. There were those not comfortable discussing financial matters, other than with close family. They had low awareness and low perceived need of Pension Credit. They had low awareness but a high perceived need of Pension Credit. Those that thought they had enough money to ‘survive on’ and thought they would be ineligible. They had high awareness and a low perceived need of Pension Credit. The most financially vulnerable group were too proud to get additional support – viewing Pension Credit as a handout. They had a high awareness of and a high perceived need for Pension Credit.
Minding the money: carers and the management of financial assets in later life: report of a scoping study
- Authors:
- ARKSEY Hilary, et al
- Publisher:
- University of York. Social Policy Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 84p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- York
Growing numbers of older people need help managing their finances. Longer life expectancy is leading to increases in physical and cognitive impairments that can affect individuals’ capacity to manage their own affairs. Difficulties range from mobility problems that make it hard to get to a bank or post office, to severe dementia requiring another person to take responsibility for all financial matters. As close relatives and friends are the main source of support, they are most likely to help older people with financial management. At the same time, older people’s financial resources are increasingly complex. Growing proportions of post-retirement incomes are derived from occupational pensions and private investments, or claimed through benefits and tax credits. Most people now entering older age also have substantial housing wealth. Difficult decisions may be required concerning investments and savings in later life: converting capital to income; property maintenance and insurance; and equity release through reverse mortgage or downsizing accommodation. These decisions take place in the context of diverse legal and institutional arrangements governing taxation, social security, pensions, and social care charges.
Public sector pension schemes in Scotland
- Authors:
- AUDITOR GENERAL FOR SCOTLAND, ACCOUNTS COMMISSION
- Publisher:
- Audit Scotland
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 24p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
This document looks at the main public sector pension schemes in Scotland, how they are funded and what challenges lie ahead in their management. It will be of interest to those who are responsible for public sector pensions, to those who fund them, and to pension scheme members. It does not cover the state pension scheme, private pensions or wider matters concerning retirement income.
An end to the means?
- Author:
- YOUNG Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 13.1.05, 2005, pp.32-33.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Pension credit has not been in operation for more than a year and it has helped many people over 60. However, there are sill aspects of the system that are unpopular. The recent interim report by the Pensions Commission puts the success of pension credit in a long-term perspective.
Give Brown some credit
- Author:
- VAUX Gary
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 31.01.02, 2002, p.41.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Looks at the new pension credit due for 2003 and find five million set to gain.
Tightropes and tripwires: New Labour's proposals and means-testing in old age
- Authors:
- RAKE Katherine, FALKINGHAM Jane, EVANS Martin
- Publisher:
- London School of Economics. Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion
- Publication year:
- 1999
- Pagination:
- 25p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This paper analyses the proposals contained in the Government Green Paper,'A New Contract for Welfare: Partnership in Pensions' for low paid workers and the potential of the new rules to guarantee a decent income in old age. It discusses the general principles inherent in the design of the British pension system, analyses the balance of these principles as represented in the Green Paper, and examines how the Government's proposals protect individuals from a means-tested old age. Identifies a number of design faults that could extend means-testing to a larger number of low paid workers. The paper then models lifetime incomes for a range of hypothetical, low-income individuals and their partners under the Green Paper's proposals.
Poverty in later life
- Author:
- AGE UK
- Publisher:
- Age UK
- Publication year:
- 2021
- Pagination:
- 11
- Place of publication:
- London
This briefing looks at levels of pensioner poverty in the UK, changes over time, groups at greatest risk and considers what life is like for older people living on a low income. Key points include: although poverty levels are lower than they were 20 years ago, the latest figures show 2.1 million (18 per cent) of pensioners in the UK live in poverty; rates have risen since 2013-14 when 1.6 million (14 per cent) lived in poverty; some groups are at particular risk – 38 per cent of private tenants and 36 per cent of social rented sector tenants, live in poverty compared to 14 per cent of older people who own their home outright and 33 per cent of Asian or Asian British pensioners and 30 per cent of Black or Black British pensioners, are in poverty compared to 16 per cent of White pensioners; financial disadvantage is not just about income coming in – it is harder to manage on a modest income when people have extra costs, for example due to disability or care needs or if heating bills are high because they live in a cold, poorly insulated home; the Government should set out a clear reform programme, in partnership with third sector organisations and others, to abolish poverty in later life; in an ideal world, the State Pension system should provide an income sufficient to cover basic needs, and everyone would have opportunities to build up additional private incomes which would allow a comfortable retirement; however, there is a long way to go to achieve this aim and, in the meantime, far more needs to be done to increase the take-up of benefit entitlements. (Edited publisher abstract)
Customers' experiences of contact with the Pension, Disability and Carers Service
- Authors:
- WHITFIELD Grahame, et al
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 63p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report highlights findings from a research project investigating the circumstances surrounding the ways in which people who were customers of both The Pension Service (TPS) and the Disability and Carers Service (DCS) came into contact with the agency’s services. It was commissioned by the Pension, Disability and Carers Service. In depth interviews were held with men and women, 60 and older, drawn from the DCS customer database. Three discussion groups were also held. The report examines ways to overcome the barriers people experience in becoming aware of and contacting the service, making claims and in understanding the information provided and required by PDCS. It also examines how to harness the key role of family/friends and local partners in raising awareness among, and providing support to, older people in accessing services. Finally, the report outlines ways to better understand and respond to customers’ preferences and needs, and to manage and meet customers’ expectations of the service.
State pension deferral: public awareness and attitudes
- Authors:
- COLEMAN Nick, et al
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 79p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This is the report of qualitative and quantitative research commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in order to develop understanding of State Pension deferral. The study's key objectives were to investigate the characteristics of those people past State Pension Age who do, and do not, defer claiming their State Pension, to explore awareness of deferral policies and to understand what motivates people's decisions.
Understanding older people's experiences of poverty and material deprivation
- Authors:
- DOMINY Nicola, KEMPSON Elaine
- Publisher:
- Corporate Document Services; Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 87p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Leeds
The overall aims of the project were to provide an understanding of older people's experiences of poverty and their understanding of a range of indicators used to measure material deprivation. Therefore as well as providing a rich description of older people's saving and spending habits it also sought to understand how they interpreted material deprivation indicators. It was based on indepth interviews and focus groups and was undertaken by the Personal Finance Research Centre at the University of Bristol. Readers are recommended to also consult another DWP report published at the same time: Are Poor Pensioner Deprived? Undertaken by the University of Essex, it focuses on secondary analysis of material deprivation data.