Gordon Lishman, director-general at Age Concern, said: "Many pensioners will be furious that their council tax has almost doubled since 1997 yet the basic state pension has only increased by around a third. Spiralling increases in council tax are causing misery for thousands of older people, many of whom live on a low, fixed income and are already finding it difficult to make ends meet.
"A fairer system of taxation in place of council tax is urgently needed. But radical reform of the pensions system is also needed so that everyone has a decent income in retirement and can afford to pay their essential bills.
"In the meantime, benefits such as Pension Credit and Council Tax Benefit are available to help pensioners who are struggling to manage their bills. Despite council tax being a huge financial burden for many, a staggering £1.1 billion in Council Tax Benefit is left unclaimed by up to two million older people each year. We would urge older people to contact their local Age Concern to find out what extra help they could be entitled to."
