Peers say”Outdated” age-specific benefits for older people should be replaced with the support for the young to “deliver a fairer society”.
The Committee on Intergenerational Fairness called for a focus on housing and training policies, rather than benefits such as free TV licenses. Campaigners warned against the changes saying the pensioner poverty was rising.
The committee issued a series of recommendations to “retain the supportive relationship between generations” and to plan for the “100-year life” that younger people can expect.
The suggested improvements include:
- Ensuring local authorities have specific planning policies to meet the housing needs of younger and older people
- Making sure those who work for the “gig” economy – getting paid per “gig” – have the same rights as other workers
- Increasing training funding for those young people who don’t go to college or university.
The peers also propose changes to benefits for older people, including:
- Removing the triple lock for pensions, ensuring the weekly allowance rises by a minimum of 2.5% every year
- Phasing out free TV licences based on age (it is currently free for over 75s) and ensuring the government decides on whether to give free licences based on household income
- Limiting free bus passes for the over 65s and winter fuel payments until five years after retirement age
Conservative peer Lord True said: “Both young and older people recognise the contribution the other makes and the challenges they face.
“However, there is a risk that those connections could be undermined if the government does not get a grip on key issues such as access to housing, secure employment and fairness in tax and benefits.”
The current life expectancy in the UK is currently 82.9 years for women and 79.2 years for men.
Age UK have disagreed with the committee and said that young people should not be helped “at the expense of the older generation”.
Lord True added: “Young people told us they feel short changed by the housing market, so we are recommending policies to deliver a significant increase in the supply of social and private housing and recommend protections to give renters long term security be backed a new regulatory framework.
“We also need to change how we view education and training. Longer working lives mean older workers need support to reskill and continue to contribute in the workplace and younger people, particularly those who do not go to university need the government to prioritise and fund further education and vocational training.”
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: “We know that buses are a vital way for older and disabled people to maintain their independence, which is why we renewed our commitment to continue the free bus pass scheme last year.
“There are no plans to amend this legislation and we are committed to ensuring that free local bus travel continues for these groups.”
