Pensioners `suffering financially during recession`

Pensioners are suffering financially as a result of the ongoing economic downturn, it has been claimed.

According to Kate Jopling, head of public affairs at Age Concern and Help the Aged, older people are cutting back on the essentials in order to save money - and potentially to avoid getting into debt problems.

Research conducted by Age Concern and Help the Aged, which have joined together to create a new charity, found that 22 per cent of people aged 60 and over are skipping meals to save on food bills, while 42 per cent are struggling to afford essential items.

Ms Jopling said: "Some older people are lucky enough to have substantial rates of savings but others are really struggling by on very modest savings, which makes a big difference to their lives."

She added that for people at the bottom of the income structure, recent falls in interest rates have proved particularly damaging.