Huge surge in pensioner poverty in Hackney

A rising number of pensioners are turning to Hackney Foodbank for support - with some surviving on just £37 per week.

The food bank has been responding to a 95% increase in demand from people aged over 65 in the past year and say living on a shoestring is causing many anxiety and isolation.

According to new data from the Office for National Statistics, life expectancy for the average person in Hackney has fallen. A man born in Hackney between 2020 and 2022 is expected to live 14.4 months less than one born a decade ago (76.71 years).   Women are expected to live 11.7 months less than one born a decade ago (81.8 years).

Health experts say poverty, long NHS waits, the impact of Covid and a rise in obesity are to blame. Elsewhere in London, average male life expectancy has increased (to 82.37 years in Richmond upon Thames and to 79.9 in Wandsworth).

Lara Callaway, a Caseworker at Hackney Foodbank, said: “Poverty undoubtedly has an impact on physical and mental health and that in turn could reduce life expectancy.

“We’ve seen so many pensioners lately – the high price of gas and electricity is one of the biggest reasons they’re coming in. We meet people who are sitting in the cold all day and skipping meals.”

“Many are living in social housing that’s drafty and damp – they often don’t have carpets.  We meet older people who, after paying for gas and electricity, are surviving on as little as £37 per week.”

Hackney Foodbank has been supporting people with fuel vouchers and, in partnership with Cadent Gas, have been giving out electric blankets and kits to make homes more energy efficient (including insulation and draft excluders).

Lara added: “Poverty has a huge impact on the older people we see. If you haven’t got money, you can’t go out and do anything, all you can do is be at home and survive. Older age is when you have time to see your friends and do nice things. People who have worked hard for much of their lives are struggling.  They aren’t really surviving – they’re getting into arrears and are experiencing severe mental health issues like anxiety and depression.”

The UK pension age is currently 66 – it’s set to rise to 67 between May 2026 and March 2028 and to 68 from 2044. Those born after April 1970 may not be able to claim their pension until the age of 71.

Those eligible for a State Pension need to have paid National Insurance contributions for enough qualifying years.   Those on low income, may be entitled to Pension Credit, even if they don’t receive a State Pension. www.gov.uk/pension-credit