Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins has sought to highlight a new report from the House of Commons Library, commissioned by Labour, which shows that working pensioners could be an average of £1,400 worse off over the next two years.

The report confirms that a Tory triple whammy of soaring prices, a tax hike and a lower State Pension could see over 91,000 working pensioners in the East Midlands £1,400 worse off over the next two years.

A working pensioner earning the average salary, who is in receipt of the State Pension and liable to pay the Health and Social Care Levy, face a real-terms reduction in their income of £770 in 2022/23 and £622 in 2023/24, an almost £1,400 loss.

The analysis also shows the value of the State Pension is eroded in real-terms by nearly £300 next year and will still be lower in real-terms in 2023/24 even if it is uprated by 5.9%, the rate of inflation that is forecast for September 2022.

Commenting on the figures, Toby said:

“Many retired people across the East Midlands work, to contribute to our communities or to supplement their state pension which is facing a real terms cut this April.

“It is disgraceful that working pensioners are facing a triple whammy of soaring prices, tax rises and a real terms cut to their state pension. Under the Tories, pensioners are worse off.”

He added:

“Many of my constituents are contacting me as they are already struggling with rising energy costs and petrol prices – as well as food prices rocketing. This situation is likely only to get worse after National Insurance is hiked up in April.

The government should be taking action but Ministers appear to be unwilling to face the consequences of their polices”.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said:

“Instead of protecting pensioner incomes as Boris Johnson promised, the Tories are cutting the state pension and clobbering pensioners in work with a tax rise; leaving them worse off by an eye-watering £1400.

“It’s daylight robbery and Boris Johnson has betrayed retired people.

“Pensioner poverty is increasing with older people facing impossible choices between eating and heating. The upcoming NICs rise should be halted this week and action should be taken to reduce energy bills by hundreds of pounds for those who need help as Labour has proposed.”