New analysis shows that, while the numbers of female pensioners in the UK have fallen by 740,000 since 2010-11 because of the rise in State Pension Age, the numbers of women living in poverty have stayed steady at 1.1 million. Almost half of these would be entitled to Pension Credit if they claimed.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates that there are 470,000 single women not receiving the Pension Credit they are entitled to. It is notable that these figures are far higher than the numbers of single men (150,000) and pensioner couples (200,000) who are missing out.
Ahead of Mother’s Day and as part of Age UK’s Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight campaign, the charity is urging women in this situation to claim the money to which they are entitled and which could transform their lives.
An older woman’s financial position is generally linked to their circumstances over their lifetime, as well as being partly determined by the costs they face today.
On average, women have lower individual retirement incomes than men, reflecting their lower average earnings and time out of the labour market or working part-time, raising children and/or providing care to older and disabled relatives or friends.
Appeal to families and friends
Age UK urges families and friends to check in with their older loved ones, older women especially, and encourage them to claim Pension Credit and other entitlements for which they may be eligible.
This is all the more important if these older women are struggling with the relentlessly high cost of living. Pension Credit tops up older people’s income to a minimum level and acts as a gateway to other forms of financial help too.
There has also been a substantial rise in the average amount pensioners were missing out on, from £37 to £50 per week, bringing the overall amount of unclaimed to £2.1 billion.
The latest available statistics show nearly 2 in 5 of those pensioner families eligible to claim Pension Credit – 38%, equivalent to 1 million pensioners – are missing out on average £2600 per year, with many also not accessing the other benefits for which Pension Credit acts as a gateway.
These include council tax discount, help with energy costs, a free TV licence for over 75s and more. This extra money could make an enormous difference to an older person’s quality of life, enabling them to stay warm and well through the winter.
Ahead of annual April price increases, Age UK urges every pensioner to do three things:
• Check eligibility for Pension Credit and other pensioner benefits.
• Apply early -you can apply up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age.
• Encourage others to check too, especially anyone you know who is on a low income or struggling with energy and food costs.
Age UK offers a free, confidential Advice Line service for older people, their families, friends, carers and professionals.
In January 2026, the Age UK Benefits Team completed 538 benefit entitlement checks, of which 66% related to older people who were found to be entitled to benefits.
They identified an average of £6,593 potential extra annual income per person for those eligible – a life changing amount in many cases. The total amount of benefits identified in January 2026 for older people by Age UK’s Advice Line was an extraordinary £3,205,092.
Caroline Abrahams CBE, Charity Director at Age UK said: “Many older women are intensely self-reliant, reluctant to ask for help, and conscious that there are others who may be worse off than they are.
“That’s why some gentle prompting to look into their eligibility for Pension Credit from those they trust is so important. It could make the difference between an older woman having to worry constantly about money on the one hand, and living a comfortable and peaceful life on the other.
“In the face of the latest worrying figures showing Pension Credit take up going down rather than up, the Government must also clearly do more to raise public awareness and support older men and older women who may be eligible to claim. There is absolutely no room for complacency.”
Age UK urges anyone who’s struggling and worried to contact Age UK on 0800 169 6565 or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/benefits for support. The Advice Line is open 365 days a year (8am – 7pm).
Local Age UKs also offer tailored services and support. To find your nearest visit: Age UK services in your area
