Response to Prime Minister's Triple Lock and Social Care Announcement
Age Scotland's response to the Prime Minister's announcement on the future of the State Pension Triple Lock and linked plans to increase investment in social care in England.
While welcoming greater political attention on social care, Age Scotland has highlighted the importance of maintaining financial security for pensioners and warned that the Prime Minister's proposed trade-off between the Triple Lock and increased social care spending in England would not necessarily have the same effect in Scotland.
Adam Stachura, Age Scotland’s policy director said:
“It’s refreshing and incredibly welcome to hear the Prime Minister give social care the political attention it rightfully deserves. Too many people don’t have their needs met and its cost can be crippling. Reform of social care and improving the outcomes for people should be a priority of governments across the UK.
“However, the situation is different in Scotland as its funding and delivery is devolved. So, the Prime Minister’s proposed trade-off between the future value of the State Pension, by removing the Triple Lock, for increased spending on social care in England only impacts people here if the Scottish Government of the day decide to spend every pound of that associated money in this way. That isn’t a given, and even then it’s tricky.
“The Triple Lock has been important. It has helped lift the standard of living of most pensioners to something more decent and given confidence to many on low incomes that it won’t be eroded in the face of a volatile economy. But pensioner poverty in Scotland is too high and isn’t going to fall unless governments support people with sufficient income in later life and ensure they are receiving everything they are entitled to. We still have a long way to go on this.
“Hundreds of thousands of older people in Scotland live on low and very modest incomes without financial security. Ultimately, the State Pension has to keep up with the cost of living and protecting these low-income pensioners, and those like them in the future, will be the ultimate test of the UK Government."
