Britain’s oldest pensioners are effectively being cheated out of more than £1,000 thanks to a shocking state pension shortfall, new analysis reveals.
While millions rely on the triple lock to protect their retirement income, many elderly retirees are being left behind due to outdated and complex rules that unfairly penalise them.
Under the current system, men born before April 6, 1951, and women born before April 6, 1953, miss out on the full triple lock increase because they receive the old state pension—and not all of it is protected by the same inflation-busting rises as the new pension.
This means their payments have risen more slowly since 2016, leaving them significantly worse off than younger retirees. According to analysis by AJ Bell, this shortfall will cost them at least £1,031 by April 2025.
More than 9.3 million pensioners are still on the old system, compared to just 3.4 million receiving the new state pension. And the gap between the two groups keeps growing.
At present, the basic old state pension pays just £169.20 a week (£8,798 a year)—a staggering £3,000 less than the new state pension, which is £11,502.40 a year.
While those on the old system can receive extra earnings-related payments from Serps, these increases are not fully covered by the triple lock, meaning they rise at a slower rate.
This unfair system means that two pensioners who received identical payments in 2016 now face a growing divide—simply because one retired before the government changed the rules.
Critics have slammed the flawed system, warning that some of the most vulnerable and elderly pensioners are being punished through no fault of their own.
Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb admitted that pensioners on the new system benefit more from the triple lock but claimed fixing the problem would be “horribly complex.”
Meanwhile, Age UK’s Caroline Abrahams said many pensioners would feel “angry and resentful”, especially if they had paid their full National Insurance contributions but still receive less than younger retirees.
She told The Telegraph: “If you are in advanced old age and struggling to make ends meet, it must be galling to learn that others who retired more recently are getting a higher state pension.”
Despite growing concerns, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has denied there is an issue.
A spokesperson insisted: “The Government is committed to ensuring pensioners enjoy dignity and respect in retirement.”
But many older Britons aren’t buying it—and the calls for urgent reform are only getting louder.
Do YOU think the government should step in and fix this pension scandal? Have your say in the comments below!
