Pensioner reliance on state benefits hits highest level in decades

Quarter of single pensioners dependent on state

Hannah Godfrey
clock • 1 min read

One in six (17%) pensioners in the UK are surviving on the State Pension alone, the highest portion in more than two decades, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

In fact, the proportion of those relying solely on state benefits has increased by three percentage points, up from 14% in the 2017/18 tax year. Single pensioners are the most dependent on the state, with a quarter having no additional income to state benefits - the highest proportion ever recorded. Equiniti propositions and solutions director Chris Connelly said improving the awareness of retirement savings was the key to increasing the amount of income available to those entering retirement. "These figures underline how crucial it is that people continue to learn about the import...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Retirement

Advisers concerned about regulatory scrutiny in decumulation phase

Advisers concerned about regulatory scrutiny in decumulation phase

Retirement planning ‘dominates’ client advice requests

Isabel Baxter
clock 27 November 2024 • 3 min read
Advisers call for new products to tackle retirement planning challenges

Advisers call for new products to tackle retirement planning challenges

Retirement products ‘don’t meet modern needs’

Isabel Baxter
clock 25 November 2024 • 3 min read
How advisers can play a role in boosting wellbeing in retirement

How advisers can play a role in boosting wellbeing in retirement

A happy retirement is the 'north star'

Cecilia Furner
clock 08 November 2024 • 3 min read