A recent Government proposal would raise the age threshold for free medication in England from 60 to the state pension age, which is 66. The result of this would see tens of thousands of over 60s unable to receive a vital “freebie” benefit they would otherwise have been eligible for. Specifically, organisations such as Age UK are sounding the alarm that unpaid carers would be hit hardest if the state pension rule change was made law.
One in four people between the ages of 60 to 65 are unpaid carers for a loved one, which is around 860,000 people.
On top of this, of this group, less than one in 10 are in receipt of financial assistance from benefit payments such as Carer’s Allowance.
Some 56 percent of carers in this over 60s group who are not currently in paid employment will have stopped working to look after a loved one.
While some may be able to qualify for exemptions on their prescription costs, many will have to find alternative ways of paying for NHS medication.
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Age UK is calling on…
