‘I can’t afford a house in my home town or claim DWP benefits - the state pension is not enough!’
The 67-year-old is among the many older Brits struggling with the housing crisis
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Older Britons are urging any future Government to put in place a state pension so that every pensioner “can pay their bills and live on” amid the backdrop of the UK’s housing crisis. Rob Trewhella, 67, from Penzance, Cornwall claims the state pension but is unable to access vital benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), including Pension Credit, which could ease the expense.
This is despite the fact that he is a tax-paying pensioner who has seen his housing costs skyrocket and is stuck on a waiting list to find more suitable property through his local council. Due to the lack of DWP support, Trewhella works as a taxi driver which he uses to supplement his income; a necessity due to the lack of extra support available for him.
Speaking exclusively to GB News, the 67-year-old shared how AirBnB culture in Britain’s seaside towns and lack of adequate social housing are crippling the livelihoods of older people. Private renting has become increasingly expensive over the years and, contrary to popular belief, it is not a financial dilemma that is reserved solely for millennials and Gen Z.
Independent Age’s latest report has found that the number of people aged 6 plus living in the private rented sector is forecast to treble from four per cent to 13 per cent, with a sizable percentage expected to be in poverty. Currently living in a one-bedroom flat, Trewhella is hoping to move into a small, one-bedroom bungalow but the area’s property crisis has made this difficult.
He explained: “With Penzance being a holiday centre, the housing shortage has been exacerbated now by the fact AirBnb is popular. If they [residents] rent their place for a week, they will get a month’s rent. You will be foolish not to. I haven’t got a problem with that.
“However, I only applied for a one-bedroom bungalow. I’m not applying for a four-bedroom detached. A four-bedroom bungalow. I was number 286 to apply for that one-bedroom bungalow which is disgusting.”
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Rob shared his experience at Independent Age's conference this week
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Despite having had mortgages in the past, Trewhella never completed any of his terms and is currently paying more in housing costs than he did for his mortgage. However, the taxi does not want to leave the town he grew up in.
He added: “When you apply, one of the questions asks what connection do you have with Cornwall.
“I was schooled in Cornwall, I play rugby for the local team so I’ve got lots of connections.
“I moved down there when I was 10 years old, my dad was from Cornwall. I did escape when I was 35 until I was 55.
“Then I moved back. It’s my home. The list of properties that are available from the council each week range from between 20 to 40 a week.
“I might get one or two in the Penzance area but the others are in places like Falmouth and Bute which are miles away from where I live on my own.”
Despite working past state pension age, the 67-year-old is not entitled to means-tested support from the DWP.
“I found out I could claim Pension Credit if I only had £201 a week [coming in]. Before the state pension went up, which it did in April, I was on £203 a week,” Trewhella said.
On top of not being able to access Pension Credit or Housing Support, he realised he was at risk of paying more tax on his state pension and income.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Over 65s are increasingly at risk of falling into poverty
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“I’ve been paying tax since I was 17. I don’t want to pay tax anymore. Why should I pay tax?”
Thousands of pensioners are in a similar situation to Trewhella who is calling on MPs to do better by Britain’s elders when it comes to housing and support.
The Cornwall native said: “I would like to see a better availability of housing for elderly people due to a lot of people losing their ability once they get older. I know quite a few people who never go out their door. I want to see availability made to locals.
“We are the poorest payers of the state pension in Europe. We're at the bottom of the list. Why aren’t we paying all pensioners a state pension that they can pay their bills and live on.”
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