Pension credit cuts linked to increased deaths in over 85s
Research claims to have found a connection between cuts to welfare and mortality rates in the elderly.
Government cuts to pension credits could be a factor in a sharp increase in the mortality rate of the over 85s, according to a new study.
In 2011 official figures showed that the long-term decline in death rates among the over 85s had begun to reverse.
Various reasons have been given for the change ranging from the weather to an increase in flu cases, but new research claims to have found a link between the cuts to pension credits and the increase in death rates in this age group.
The theory
The Chancellor George Osborne brought in a reduction to pension credits – benefit payments made to elderly people on low incomes – between 2011 and 2013.
Researchers at four universities led by Dr Rachel Loopstra from the University of Oxford say that the impact of that cut in income could have contributed to an increase in deaths.
For example, the cuts could have caused anxiety, increasing the chance of a heart attack or stroke. Alternatively, the reduction in income could have affected the elderly’s ability to pay for food or heating, leaving them more vulnerable to illness.
The paper, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, states that the drop in the pension credit in 2012 corresponded with a 1.4% increase in death rates among people aged over 85.
“Both recent and proposed future changes to welfare spending fall heavily upon pensioners,” says Dr Loopstra. “Healthcare professionals have a crucial role in drawing attention to the consequences of these cuts and advocating publicly for policies that protect some of the most vulnerable individuals in society.”
The reduction in pension credit was relatively small, falling from £2,482 in 2011 to £2,349 in 2013 but the researchers point out that for the poorest members of society a change of “even a few pounds could make a considerable difference to disposable income”.
What the Government says
The Department for Work and Pensions has strongly refuted the paper's findings. “It’s completely misleading to link these figures,” a spokesperson said.
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Take any factor that changes year on year and you can make a connection. My thoughts would be the hugely increased electricity bills caused by obscene subsidies to wind and solar barons and their payments to those whose land they lease. Kill renewable subsidies, not the vulnerable ! When the government reduces our carbon emissions to zero in the UK we will ALL have to stop breathing after being frozen to death by energy sources that cannot guarantee a supply 24/7/365 !
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It's a reduction of £131. That must be a very small percentage of the TOTAL income of the people affected. An increase of 1.4% in the mortality rate of people over 85 is not a "sharp" increase. It is a small increase. There could be many explanations, possibly several factors coming together. It is far too early to conclude that the increase in the mortality rate is directly caused by the reduction in pension credit - unless you believe that to start with and are looking for something which might support your opinion
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If the government put more people on the job to take out all the scroungers It would take back millions, I was shown how to get this cash and if like most you have the bottle to put on a show it is money in the bank.all that is required is to crawl on your hands and knees and tell them that you have trouble using a knife and fork and show pain on your face, a good Christian upstanding person would not do such a dishonest act to defraud the government. I moved away from the country and live happily I just get my pension and have to pay for my medical out of my pension, I can at least lie with some dignity. The Government need to more work it taking out the imposters, then they can look after the real needy people.
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21 March 2016