Pensioners most hit by inflation

Age Concern wants more financial help to be given to pensioners

Age Concern has called for more help for pensioners, as new research suggests they are being hit harder by inflation rises than anyone else.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies claims living costs for the oldest and poorest pensioners leapt 9% in a year, nearly double the official rate of inflation.

It said pensioners have been particularly affected by the hikes in fuel and food costs.

Ministers said pensioners will be getting extra support from this winter.

These include an extra £100 for the over-80s this winter.

BBC social affairs correspondent Sue Littlemore said that, because the over-65s spend a much higher share of their budgets on fuel and food, "pensioner inflation" is running so high.

Age Concern said that an emergency package is needed to help out those pensioners who are struggling.

Brendan Paddy from Age Concern said: "What the government needs to do is actually take into account the rate of inflation affecting the people receiving the pension and receiving other means-tested benefits.

"If it does that, it may be looking at much more substantial increases to those benefits and to the pension than it's currently giving people."